How to Use Color Theory in Character Design and Like, Actually Know What You’re Doing!

28 thoughts on “How to Use Color Theory in Character Design and Like, Actually Know What You’re Doing!”

1. Am I the only one not having a hard time with colours…?

2. YouTube is full of hidden treasures and when you stumble upon a channel like yours is like finding a chest filled with gold coins. How haven't I found your channel before?

3. But how do you incorporate grayscale colors or a desaturated tone like French gray etc.

4. Aaaand now I know why my attempts at creating complementary color schemes always look like garbage. I haven't been tweaking the values. Thanks!

5. I have a character as an avatar for a commentary series I’m doing. Her default outfit is filled with bright colors, but this is kind of because she’s based off of me; I don’t mind wearing a lot of colors, in fact designating a socks-pants-shirt tricolor used to be part of my morning routine everyday, and whether the colors actually matched didn’t matter much. And since she’s a commentary character, not one for a particular story, there probably is a bit more freedom there. But still, I am thinking that maybe changing the clothing and emphasizing more on a few base colors might make her look better while still wearing bright colors, while I already tried to include light brown accents on some articles; like focusing on yellow with pink and lime green accents for tops and shoes instead of trying to make it lime with the other two as accents for just the shoes. She’s supposed to be a Mii, or at least that’s her base form, so having more cohesion around my “main” color might make sense (and so even though I did have thoughts of giving her colored hair, that was my excuse not to I guess, since Miis tend to have natural hair). I also had the idea for a “palette swap” which used calmer colors like blue and beige for tops and shoes, but I thought maybe I could make it a straight-up “alternate costume” instead of just a palette-swap, using the Girl Scout vest there, especially since khaki GS vests do actually exist while lime ones don’t, and it was the last one I actually wore, changing the “default” top of my character to a yellow shirt with lime and pink accents which take up much less area. I also previously changed her hat from one based off of Lyra from Pokémon’s puffy casket-ribbon hat to a baseball cap based off of Ethan’s instead, to both make her look more tomboyish and simplify her overall design. I really hope that I can keep her bright aesthetic while making it work.

6. +new favorite youtuber

7. Never combine yellow and cyan.

8. Don't use green. Green is not a creative color.

9. I’m looking for a course to get me started… I like drawing all characters, do you think you course would suit me ?

10. I knew about the opposite colors complimenting each other-thing, but never considered adding changes in vibrance (So the colors aren't all screaming at you at once) and I'm so glad you pointed that out. I HAVE always known that using less "true color" shades can make your project look more realistic. But it can come in handy with cartoon work as well.

11. You mean cyan, magenta and yellow. #TeamCMY

12. its like only needing one analogy but for some reason giving every analogy

13. Just started watching these videos, and they're very helpful, thanks!
    also, I comment on every video I watch.

14. How might you use color in a setting where everyone wears the same outfit? For example a film/comic that take place in a prison so all of the prisoners are wearing orange.

15. Lol I've been binge watching your videos for the past hour. Great tips!

16. I love how you used the coloring technique and value that applied to Unity & Variety.

17. well, what do you do in a situation were you're picking a color scheme, but your restricted in use of hues due to (for example) drawing traditionally and only having specific markers?

18. sees voltron in the background
    almost screames

19. It makes a HUEge difference xD

20. Thank you very much! Very useful!1 Practical, simple, clear! Thanks!!

21. 3:19 now I can’t stop looking at the legs

22. Alguém pelo amor de deus, traduz. ♥

23. What’s the name of the background music? 😮

24. For anyone wondering, the background tune (at least in the beginning) is from Lakey inspired, can't remember the specific song name though

25. there's no such thing as a bad colour, only bad combinations of colours.

26. can put subtitles in Spanish, please

27. I don't subscribe often, but I did to your channel because I really enjoy your videos. Watching the full video felt worth it and I learn new things from your advice. Thanks for the examples as well. I love the idea of moving a color to blue for shadows as you get darker values, and warmer if getting brighter.

28. green is not a creative color

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