Using the Color Scheme palette

The Color Scheme palette creates a color scheme based on the color you select. You can then apply the colors of the scheme to the objects in your composition.

Color schemes are based on the relative positions of colors on the color wheel. Analogous colors are next to each other on the color wheel. These colors are similar and create tonal color schemes made up of, for example, all warm colors such as reds. Complementary colors are across from each other on the color wheel. These colors are opposites and create dynamic color schemes made up of distinct colors that stand out from one another.


Color Scheme palette A. The base color B. Lock color scheme C. Show background in Color Scheme palette D. Number of colors in the scheme E. Equidistant Colors scheme F. Complementary Colors scheme G. Split Complementary scheme

The Color Scheme palette displays up to six colors in a set, according to the number of colors and color scheme option you choose:

Split Complementary

Base color and its complement's analogous colors .

Complementary Analogous

Base color, its analogous color, and their complements .

Tetrad

• Base color and its three equidistant colors .

Triad

• Base color and its two equidistant colors .

Sextet

• Base color and its five equidistant colors .

Here are some guidelines to note when using the Color Scheme palette:

• Some colors are not available in Web browsers. If you have selected the Web-safe color option in the Color palette, only Web-safe colors are displayed in the color scheme.
• The base color is indicated by a larger black circle.
• Choosing a highlighted complement as the new base color does not necessarily yield the same set of colors as the original base color.

To create a color scheme using the Color Scheme palette:

1. Select a color to use as the base color, using the eyedropper tool , the Color palette or the Color Scheme tiles on the toolbox, or by selecting an object.
2. Choose Window > Color Scheme.
3. Choose how to display the base and complementary colors using the Color Scheme palette menu at the top right of the palette:
• Triangles displays the colors as overlapping triangles.
• Honey Comb displays the colors as interlocking honeycomb shapes.
4. Select the Show background in Color Scheme palette button to display the background color of the composition in the color scheme preview box.
5. Choose a color scheme from the menu at the bottom of the Color Scheme palette.
6. Deselect Lock current color scheme, which is selected by default.
7. Select the number of colors for the scheme using the up and down arrows.
8. Select the object to which you want to apply a color.
9. Click the color in the Color Scheme palette or the Color Scheme tile in the toolbox. Lock Colors will be selected to prevent the colors in the Color Scheme palette from changing when you select a new color.

To save a color scheme and use it in other LiveMotion compositions, open a new Composition window, create a number of basic objects, and apply each of the scheme's colors to an object. Then save the composition. You can later open the composition and use the eyedropper tool to apply the colors from the saved composition to the objects of another composition.

Related Subtopics:

Using the Opacity palette