Color.
配色。
It plays a vital role in design and everyday life.
它在设计和日常生活中起着至关重要的作用。
It can draw your eye to an image… evoke a certain mood or emotion… even communicate something important without using words at all.
配色能让人注意到一副图像，引起某种情绪或情感，甚至不需要言语就能传达重要的信息。
So how do we know which colors look good together, and which ones don't?
所以我们怎么才能知道哪些配色看上去和谐，哪些不和谐呢？
The answer is simple: Color theory.
答案很简单：配色理论。
Artists and designers have followed color theory for centuries, but anyone can learn more about it.
几个世纪以来，艺术家和设计师一直遵循色彩理论，并且任何人都可以了解更多相关知识。
It can help you feel confident in many different situations, whether it's choosing colors for a design, or putting together the perfect outfit.
色彩理论能让你在许多不同的场合感到自信，无论是为一个设计选择配色，还是搭配一套完美的衣服。
All it takes is a little insight, and you'll be looking at color in a whole new way.
只需要一点洞察力，你就能以一种全新的方式看待配色。
Let's start at the beginning—the very beginning—with a refresher on the basics.
让我们从头、从最开始复习一下配色的基础知识。
Remember learning about primary and secondary colors in school?
还记得在学校里学的原色和间色吗？
Then you already have some knowledge of color theory.
那时大家就已经掌握了一些色彩理论的知识。
Red and yellow make orange; yellow and blue make green; and blue and red make purple.
红色和黄色混合成橙色；黄色和蓝色混合成绿色；蓝色和红色混合成紫色。
If we mix these colors together, we get even more in-between shades, like red-orange and yellow-green.
如果我们把这些颜色混合在一起，我们会得到更多的间色，比如橙红色和黄绿色。
All together, they form what's called a color wheel.
它们共同构成了所谓的色环。
(You can probably see where it gets its name.) Now, let's take it one step further with hue, saturation, and value.
（这下你可能知道名字的由来了。）现在，让我们进一步了解色相、饱和度和明度。
These are terms you might never see in daily life, but they're the key to understanding more nuanced colors—like all those little paint chips at the home improvement store.
这些术语你可能不会在日常生活中遇到，但它们是理解更多有细微差别的颜色的关键，比如家装商店里的那些油漆碎屑。
Hue is the easiest one; it's basically just another word for "color."
色相是最简单的一个要素，它基本上就是“颜色”的另一种说法。
Saturation refers to intensity—in other words, whether the color appears more subtle or more vibrant.
饱和度指的是色度，换句话说，是颜色显得更浅还是更深。
Value has to do with how dark or light the color is, ranging from black to white.
明度与颜色的暗度或亮度有关，从黑色到白色。
As you can see, this gives us many different shades, from a deep reddish brown… to light pastel pink.
如你所见，明度给我们带来很多不同的色调，从深红棕色到淡粉色。
So how do we put this all together to create professional-looking color schemes?
那么，我们如何将这三要素结合在一起以创造专业的配色方案呢？
There are actually tried and true formulas based on something called color harmony that can help.
实际上，有一些基于色彩和谐的可靠公式可以帮助你。
All you need is the color wheel.
你所需要的就是色环。
The easiest formula for harmony is monochromatic because it only uses one color or hue.
最简单的和谐公式是单色，因为它只使用一种颜色或色相。
Just pick a spot on the color wheel, and use your knowledge of saturation and value to create variations.
只需在色环上选择一个点，然后使用饱和度和明度的知识来创造不同的变色。
The best thing about monochromatic color schemes is that they're guaranteed to match.
单色配色方案最好的一点是，它们保证是相配的。
An analogous color scheme uses colors that are next to each other on the wheel, like reds and oranges... or cooler colors, like blues and greens.
还有类似的配色方案是使用色环上相邻的颜色，比如红色和橙色……或者用冷色调，比如蓝色和绿色。
Don't be afraid to play with the palette and create your own unique interpretation.
不要怕调配调色板，大胆创造属于自己的独特配色。
That's what these formulas really are: starting points to help guide and inspire you.
这就是这些调色公式的真正含义：帮助指导和激励你开始。
Complementary colors are opposite each other on the wheel; for instance, blue and orange... or the classic red and green.
互补色在色环上是相对的：例如，蓝色和橙色，或者经典的红绿搭配。
To avoid complementary color schemes that are too simplistic, add some variety by introducing lighter, darker, or desaturated tones.
为了避免过于简单的配色方案，可以通过引入浅色、深色或不饱和的色调来添加一些多样性。
A split-complementary color scheme uses the colors on either side of the complement.
拆分互补配色方案是使用补色两侧的颜色。
This gives you the same level of contrast, but more colors to work with (and potentially more interesting results).
该方案为大家提供了相同级别的对比度，但可以使用更多颜色（可能会有更有趣的结果）。
A triadic color scheme uses three colors that are evenly spaced, forming a perfect triangle on the wheel.
三元配色方案使用三种均匀分布的颜色，在色环上形成一个完美的三角形。
These combinations tend to be pretty striking—especially with primary or secondary colors—so be mindful when using them in your work.
这些组合往往是相当引人注目的，特别是用于主色和副色的时候，所以在你的工作中使用它们要小心。
Tetradic color schemes form a rectangle on the wheel, using not one but two complementary color pairs.
四元配色方案在色环上形成一个矩形，使用的不是一对而是两队互补色。
This formula works best if you let one color dominate while the others serve as an accent.
如果你用一种颜色做主色，其他颜色为配色，那么这个配色方案最好。
There are a few classic do's and don'ts when it comes to color.
说到颜色，下面有一些经典的注意事项。
For instance, have you ever seen colors that seem to vibrate when they're placed next to each other?
例如，你有没有见过一些搭配在一起非常刺眼的颜色？
The solution is to tone it down—literally—and there's a simple way do it.
字面上来说，解决办法就是降低它的色度，下面有一个简单的方法。
Start with one color, and try adjusting its lightness, darkness, or saturation.
从一种颜色开始，试着调整它的明度、暗度或饱和度。
Sometimes, a little contrast is all your color palette needs.
有时候，一点对比度是你的调色板所需要的。
Readability is an important factor in any design.
可读性在任何设计中都是一个重要的因素。
Your colors should be legible and easy on the eyes.
你的配色应该清晰可读，并且让眼睛感到舒适。
Sometimes that means not using color—at least not in every little detail.
有时这意味着不使用颜色——至少在每个小细节上都不使用。
Neutral colors like black, white, and gray can help you balance your design, so when you do use color, it really stands out.
像黑色、白色和灰色这样的中性色可以帮助你平衡设计，所以当你使用颜色时，它真的会很突出。
Every color sends a message.
每种颜色都传达一个信息。
It's important to consider the tone of your project, and choose a color palette that fits.
重要的是要考虑你的项目的基调，并选择一个合适的调色板。
For example, bright colors tend to have a fun or modern vibe.
例如，明亮的颜色往往具有趣味或现代的氛围。
Desaturated colors often appear more business-like.
不饱和的颜色通常看起来更商业。
Sometimes it just depends on the context—you'd be surprised how flexible color can be.
有时只取决于环境。你会惊讶颜色的灵活性。
You can find ideas for color schemes in all kinds of interesting places, from advertising and branding to famous works of art.
你可以从广告和品牌到著名的艺术作品等各种有趣的地方找到配色方案的想法。
You can even use a web resource to browse color palettes or generate your own.
你甚至可以使用网络资源来浏览调色板或生成你自己的调色板。
Even experienced designers take inspiration from the world around them.
即使是经验丰富的设计师也会从周围的世界获取灵感。
There's nothing wrong with finding something you like, and making it your own.
找到你喜欢的东西，然后把它吸收成自己的，这没有什么不对。
Everywhere you look, there's color, color, and more color.
无论你看向哪里，都是颜色、颜色和更多的颜色。
It can be intimidating to use it in your work, but it doesn't have to be.
在你的作品中运用色彩可能会让你紧张，但是没必要这样。
Just keep experimenting and remember what you've learned about color theory.
只要继续实验，并记住你所学的色彩理论。
Soon, choosing great-looking colors will feel like second nature.
很快，选择好看的颜色就会成为你的第二天性。
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