How to Use Bold Colors in Your Designs Using Stock Images
As a designer, you understand the importance of using bold colors to create visually appealing designs that stand out from the crowd. Using bold colors can be challenging, however, particularly if you’re working with stock images. In this article, we’ll explore strategies for using bold colors in your designs using stock images. We’ll cover tips for choosing the right images, creating color palettes, and using color in your designs.
Choosing the Right Images
When it comes to using bold colors in your designs, it’s important to choose the right stock images. Look for images that have bright, bold colors that complement your design. Avoid images that are too busy or have muted colors that will blend into the background. Consider using images that have contrasting colors, as these will help your design pop.
One great resource for finding bold, colorful images is Unsplash. Unsplash offers a vast selection of high-quality, royalty-free images that you can use in your designs. Another great option is Shutterstock, which offers a huge selection of images in various styles and colors.
Creating Color Palettes
Once you have selected your images, it’s time to create a color palette that complements your design. Start by selecting a few key colors from your images that you want to use in your design. Use a color palette tool, such as Coolors, to generate a color palette based on the colors you’ve selected.
When creating your color palette, keep in mind the color theory. Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel are complementary and create a strong contrast when used together. For example, if your image has a lot of blue, consider pairing it with orange or yellow to create a bold and striking contrast.
Using Color in Your Designs
Once you have your color palette, it’s time to start incorporating it into your designs. There are several ways you can use color to create bold designs using stock images.
Use Color Blocking
One effective way to use bold colors is through color blocking. This involves using large sections of color in your design to create a strong contrast between different elements. For example, you might use a bright red block of color behind a white text overlay to make the text stand out.
Use Color Filters
Another way to use bold colors is by applying color filters to your images. Color filters can be applied to images using software such as Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. Consider using a filter that enhances the colors in your image or adds a bold, contrasting color to your design.
Use Colorful Typography
Using colorful typography is another effective way to incorporate bold colors into your designs. Consider using bright, contrasting colors for your headlines and text overlays. Use a font that is easy to read and complements your design.
Use Colorful Icons and Illustrations
Finally, consider using colorful icons and illustrations to add interest to your designs. Icons and illustrations can be used to break up text or add visual interest to your design. Look for icons and illustrations that use the colors in your color palette to create a cohesive design.
Conclusion
In conclusion, using bold colors in your designs using stock images is a great way to create visually appealing designs that stand out from the crowd. When choosing your images, look for bold, bright colors that complement your design. Create a color palette using a color palette tool and incorporate it into your design using color blocking, color filters, colorful typography, and icons and illustrations. With these strategies, you can create bold, visually appealing designs that will grab your audience’s attention.
References
- Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/
- Shutterstock: https://www.shutterstock.com/
- Coolors: https://coolors.co