Colour
Colour is one of the most powerful things in design. It can make your work look professional and intentional, or it can make it feel messy and thrown together. Just like typography, colour has a personality—it communicates mood, emotion, and even the “vibe” of your brand. Think of it like wine and food: some combinations create harmony and calm, while others create contrast and excitement. Great designs often balance these two forces.
When you’re starting out, the first thing to do is look around. Browse Pinterest boards, other designs, or even photos that appeal to you. What colours are used? What feels good together? This is just like training your eye—you’re stocking up your creative “pantry” so that later, when you need to make decisions, you already have a sense of what works.
One of the easiest ways to explore colour combinations is through Adobe Kuler, a free online tool. You can upload images to extract colours directly by going to Create > Extract Theme, or simply browse a wide range of pre-made palettes under Explore. It’s a quick and intuitive way to see how different colours work together and to find inspiration for your designs or brand.
Once you’ve collected some inspiration, it’s time to build a colour palette. If you’re designing for a brand, you might already have 3 main colours from their brand guidelines. That’s perfect for packaging or something very controlled, but for digital design or more creative projects, you might need six or more colours to give yourself room to play.
You’ll want at least one very light colour for backgrounds, one bold highlight colour for emphasis, and one darker colour for blocks of text. Extra colours can be used for accents, highlights, or just to add contrast or harmony.
Next, test how your colours work together. Put them side by side and see how they interact. You will want a clear idea on the vibe you want to go for. Is it muted and calm? Is it energetic and out-of-the-box?
Sometimes tiny changes in shade can make a huge difference—two colours that look great separately might clash when used together. Keep in mind: too much contrast can feel chaotic, too much harmony can feel boring. This is why experimenting with combinations is so important.
Once you’ve settled on your palette, document it. This isn’t just about saving HEX codes (the web-friendly way of writing colour values). You’ll also want to note RGB values for digital projects and CMYK values for anything that might get printed. This way, you—or anyone else working on the project—can replicate the colours exactly. You’ll also want to give each colour a distinctive name so you can easily communicate about the colour with your team.
You can download our template colour palette which also includes several examples here.
Finally, see your colours in action. Put them in a mockup, try them on a mock website layout, or use them your mock social media layouts. Colours don’t exist in a vacuum—they interact with shapes, text, and images, so seeing them in context is essential.
How Colours Work: Technical Basics (for Print and Digital)
Now let’s break down the techy side of colours—but in plain language, don’t worry. Digital and print colours are not exactly the same, and understanding why will save you a lot of headaches.
RGB is what you see on screens. It stands for Red, Green, and Blue. Each of these colours can be adjusted from 0 to 255, and when you mix them at different levels, you can make millions of shades. RGB is “additive,” which means adding more light makes colours brighter. If you’ve ever worked in Photoshop or Canva, you’re seeing RGB colours on your screen. RGB values are perfect for defining colours for web, social media, and anything digital. It’s also worth noting that RGB colours will differ slightly from screen to screen, based on the user display settings.
HEX is just a shorthand for RGB. Instead of writing three numbers, you get a six-character code, like #FF0000 for bright red. We like HEX because it’s quick, neat, and works everywhere online.
CMYK is for print. CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black) - the 4x drums of ink that make up all printed colours. Unlike screens, printed colours are “subtractive.” That means the inks block light instead of emitting it. You mix different percentages of these four inks to get the colour you want. The way CMYK will appear on paper or substrate will always differ a bit from a screen. That’s why something that looks perfect digitally might be slightly off in print.
RGB · light
All three at once makes white. Screens.
CMYK · ink
All three at once makes mud. Paper.
Pantone (PMS) – Exact Colour Control
Sometimes CMYK just isn’t precise enough—especially if a brand has a signature colour that must look exactly right everywhere, like Tiffany Blue or Coca-Cola Red. That’s where Pantone, or PMS (Pantone Matching System), comes in. Think of it as a universal colour language for print. Pantone is for printed inks only (not digital).
Pantone works with physical books called Pantone guides. Each page shows a printed swatch with a unique Pantone number. Printers match the ink to the colour by eye using these books, ensuring consistency across different presses, papers, or locations. This makes Pantone perfect for brands that demand exact colour reproduction.
Pantone also includes special colours that CMYK can’t reproduce, like metallics, fluorescents, or other out-of-gamut hues. This opens up creative possibilities for packaging, luxury branding, or high-end stationery.
The downside? Pantone books and guides are expensive, so using them only makes sense when colour precision is critical. For most projects, especially digital or everyday print, CMYK or RGB is sufficient.
There are also online Pantone tools and converters. These let you approximate Pantone colours digitally or convert to CMYK for printing. They’re handy if you don’t have a physical book, but they aren’t as precise as matching by eye on paper.
Key takeaway: Use Pantone books when you need exact, consistent, or special colours. Otherwise, RGB and CMYK usually get the job done.
HEX · for anything on a screen
#E63946
Six characters, and the one you will use most. Paste it into Canva, a website, an email template, a social tool — it works everywhere online and there is nothing to convert.
R 230 G 57 B 70
Exactly the same colour, written the long way. Each channel runs 0–255. Useful when a tool asks for the three numbers, and worth knowing because it shows you what the HEX is actually saying.
C 0 M 87 Y 62 K 4
The print version, as four ink percentages. Note it is an approximation — this red sits near the edge of what CMYK can reach, so on paper it will land slightly duller than your screen suggests.
Pantone 1788 C
A pre-mixed ink, matched to a physical swatch book. Costs more and takes an extra plate on press, but it is the only way to guarantee the same red on a business card, a tote bag and a shop sign.
Spot Colour and Gloss
There’s also spot colour and spot gloss, which are similar ideas but applied in specific ways when printing. A spot colour is a single pre-mixed ink used to get a perfect match, and spot gloss is a clear shiny layer applied to parts of your design to create visual interest on a matte background. Metallic foil works in a similar way but adds a reflective, metallic shine that feels premium. You probably won’t do these yourself in Canva, but it’s good to know what your printer can do if you need it.
The influence of substrate or texture
Even the paper itself matters. Glossy, matte, satin, textured, or smooth finishes all change how colours look. A dark navy might feel richer on matte stock but almost flat on gloss. Paper weight, measured in GSM, also affects feel and quality.
When in Doubt, Ask Your Printer for a Sample
Printing can be tricky. Even if you’ve done all your research, chosen your colours carefully, and matched them in CMYK, RGB, or Pantone, what you see on screen or in your colour guides doesn’t always translate perfectly to paper. Different printers, papers, and inks can all affect how your colours actually appear.
If you’re ever unsure—especially when dealing with tricky colours, spot inks, metallics, or foils—the easiest way to avoid disappointment is to ask your printer for a physical sample before committing to a full run. This is sometimes called a proof. It lets you see exactly how your design will look in print and gives you a chance to tweak anything before it’s too late.
It’s a simple step that can save time, money, and frustration. Even experienced designers do it! Think of it as your safety net—better to check a small sample than be surprised by the final product.
Tip: When requesting a sample, clearly indicate which colours, finishes, and papers you want to test. The more specific you are, the more useful the proof will be.
Don’t Have Pantone? Your Printer Can Help
Not every designer or marketer has access to Pantone swatches, and that’s okay! If you don’t have Pantone, you can still achieve consistent colours by asking your printer to match your chosen CMYK or spot colours as closely as possible.
The key is to request a sample before printing the full run. This gives you a chance to see exactly how the colour will look on the actual paper and with the selected finish. Printers can adjust the mix slightly to get it right, but nothing beats seeing it in real life.
Remember: even small differences in shade can make a design look “off,” so a sample is your safety net and a simple way to ensure your colours pop exactly as intended.
Putting It All Together
When it comes to colour, think of it in two parts: the creative process and the technical details.
The creative process is all about research, experimenting, and finding combinations that convey the mood, style, and personality you want. It’s about training your eye, testing palettes in context, and making sure colours harmonise or contrast in the way you intend.
The technical side is about translating your choices into digital or print reality. Understanding RGB, HEX, CMYK, and Pantone ensures your colours appear consistently whether on a website, social media post, brochure, or packaging. Combine both sides, and your designs will look cohesive, intentional, and professional—every single time.
Keep our cheat sheet handy when you start working with colour → Download