Itten color wheel: what is it and how to use it

What is the Itten color wheel

The Swiss painter and New Art theorist Johannes Itten described in his book The Art of Color (1961) a color wheel still used by artists, designers, make-up artists, stylists and anyone else who deals with color. Because this tool helps to select shades so that they combine harmoniously.

It looks like this.

The segment in the middle is needed to understand how the circle works. In the center, the primary colors are red, blue and yellow. Through their mixing, all other shades are formed. For example, secondary, which are visible below. To get orange, you need to combine yellow and red, for green - yellow and blue, for purple - blue and red.

The outer circle contains primary, secondary and tertiary colors. This palette is usually used to work with shades. Next, we'll figure out how to do this.

How to use the Itten color wheel

There are a variety of schemes that allow you to select suitable colors. We will analyze the most popular of them, which affect two, three and four shades. More within the framework of a particular outfit is unlikely to be needed.

1. Complementary combination

These are two colors that are opposite each other.

2. Classic triad

Three colors that are at the ends of an equilateral triangle.

3. analog triad

Three adjacent colors.

4. Contrasting triad

A variant that is based on a complementary combination. You need to take two colors that are opposite each other. One of them will become the first corner of the triangle. The other two are shades to the right and left of the one we would choose in a complementary combination.

5. Tetrad

The four colors that are on the corners of the square.

6. Rectangle

Also four colors, but selected according to a different scheme. In this case, two adjacent shades are taken from those that are combined according to the complementary principle. For example, in the picture below it is green and fuchsia. But if we need not two colors, but four, we use their neighbors in the image: yellow, dark green, purple and red.

In general, these schemes will be enough for the selection of colors. But a logical problem arises: not all shades are present in Itten's color wheel. Yes, no barbie pink. Here you have to strain your imagination and understand where this color would be located on the circle and what combinations would suit it. But you can use a ready-made tool that takes into account these nuances. For example, there is color scheme from graphic design service Canva. In it, you can find the desired color manually or drive in its code. The code is also easy to find on the Internet, for example, on the site what color.

What else you need to know about the combination of colors to make the outfit look good

Here are some tips.

1. It is worth considering not only the shades, but also their saturation. For example, yellow and purple are perfectly combined in a complementary pattern. But if one of them is active, and the second is faded, in a pair they may not work. It is better if both of them are either bright or muted. However, if a saturated color is used with a calm one as an accent, it can look quite good.
2. Pay attention to the area each color occupies. If you take things of three shades, which will be approximately the same area, it may look too catchy (but not necessarily!). And almost a win-win option if the tones are used in different quantities - for example, a big thing, a small one and an accent. Let's say a miniskirt voluminous shirt and handbag.
3. It is no coincidence that black, white and their combinations are not in Itten's circle. These are neutral colors that can be added to an outfit. Although in the case of, say, gray, its saturation and temperature should be taken into account.
4. If you used a scheme that is designed for three or four colors, it is not necessary to use all of them, you can limit yourself to two. This combination will still look harmonious.

What female images can be collected using the Itten color wheel

Itten's color wheel helps you choose outfits all year round. And in autumn or spring it can be even more interesting: the more items of clothing in the image, the more colors you can combine. We offer several bows for the heat and for cooler weather.

1. Complementary combination

Green and pink are opposite each other. The first is used as a base, the second as an accent.

What to buy

• Green suit from Trendy Angel, 6 790 rubles →
• Pink T-shirt from Incity, 599 rubles →
• Pink sneakers from Ekonika, 15,990 rubles →
• Pink bag from Mango, 5 699 rubles →

2. Classic triad

On the color wheel, at the vertices of an equilateral triangle are purple, green, and orange. In this image, the first two colors are chosen in interesting shades, and a bright handbag has become an accent. And this is a good example of the fact that the rule about the same saturation of colors does not always work.

What to buy

• Lilac pants from Neohit, 2 350 rubles →
• Green blouse from Savage, 3 199 rubles →
• Orange bag from Keddo, 3 799 rubles →
• Beige sandals from Thomas Munz, 4 499 rubles →

3. analog triad

Three adjacent colors are used: yellow, light green and rich green. Although, if you replace the handbag with a darker one, it will become a more interesting accent.

What to buy

• Yellow coat from Vamponi, 11 300 rubles →
• Jumper in white and yellow stripes from Mango, 1 999 rubles →
• Green skirt from Obba, 3 299 rubles →
• Green bag from Pinkkarrot, 4 799 rubles →
• Yellow sneakers from "Two balls", 4 900 rubles →

4. Contrasting triad

In a complementary combination with green is red. And in this image, two colors adjacent to it are taken: pink and orange.

What to buy

• Pink skirt from Valoris, 2 550 rubles →
• Orange sweatshirt from Deseo, 1 999 rubles →
• Green bag from Baggini, 2 240 rubles →
• Green shoes from Vivian Royal, 5 590 rubles →

5. Tetrad

On the tops of the square in the circle are two pairs of antagonists: green and red, blue and yellow-orange. Pay attention to the fact that the shoes are not pure yellow, which completely fits the image into a notebook. It is worth noting that here the girl also boldly uses the fifth color for her handbag.

What to buy

• Green coat from Incity, 3 999 rubles →
• Red turtleneck from R&I, 3,900 rubles →
• Blue pants from Vedma, 4 020 rubles →
• Yellow shoes from T.Taccardi, 1 599 rubles →
• Blue bag from Mango, 5 999 rubles →

6. Rectangle

The image uses yellow, green, purple and red closer to orange. To the ear, this combination of colors can sound heavy. But the girl looks great, although she obviously will not get lost in the subway.

What to buy

• Yellow skirt from Liza Volkova, 1 255 rubles →
• Orange jacket from Koton, 3,300 rubles →
• Purple top from Noun, 2 099 rubles →
• Green bag from Public Desire, 3 686 rubles →
• Yellow sandals from Betsy, 2,199 rubles →