This is Well Used in My Office
I've tried a number of color guides but find myself going back to this again and again.
When I'm starting a project, usually a larger publication, I like to have a set of colors to pull from for accents, text highlights, and graphic elements. Sometimes I pull those colors from surrounding photos but often I like to have an arsenal to pull from in my color palette.
This book has a great selection of colors broken down by vibrancy, mood, feeling, etc. For each group of colors, there are probably 16 colors that are part of the set. Each color is displayed in partnership with others in the group to show how they work together individually. Each color block has the CMYK breakdown and an RGB formula.
The only thing I would wish for is a a list of CMYK or RGB formulas at the beginning of each color set so that I had one list to copy from. As is stands, as each color appears in the smaller breakdowns, the formulas are printed. The problem is that each color may appear numerous times as it is paired with other colors. It is hard to know if you have the formulas for an entire set without double checking lists over and over.
Better yet, a downloadable plug-in color palette that could be appended to Illustrator, Photoshop or Quark would be a great benefit.
I like the versatility of the book but it could be improved upon just a little.
I love the convenient size and the durable vinyl cover. I like that it is part of a set by Jim Krause. I have all of his index books and I love grabbing them in times of need.
A Nice Selection of Color Combinations
For anyone who does color work on the computer, one of the hardest things is trying to find that perfect color for your particular project. Enter the Color Index. As advertised, it includes 1100 color combinations with the accompanying CMYK and RGB "recipes." Its a very helpful guide, but it is also an embarrassment of riches that could have been organized better.
Color Index is a little pocket guide, printed on sturdy, glossy paper stock, with a rubber cover. It is good and thick (about 360 pages) and doesn't give the impression that it will be falling apart anytime soon (a problem I've had with other art books in the recent past). It is separated into 11 chapters; Chapter One, "Basics," focuses on "color fundamentals." the following chapters include Active, Quiet, Progressive, Rich, Muted, Culture/Era, Natural, and Accent - these are different kinds of color combinations. For instance, "Quiet" includes Cool Hues; Pale, Muted; Darker Tones; and Light Tints. Culture/Era, as another example, includes Art Nouveau and Art Deco combinations. This is very useful if you are trying to get some sort of specific feel to your end product.
There are, however, some little problems. At no time, for example, does the book break itself down by hues (for instance, there is no section that just has various reds, various yellows, blues, etc.) nor is there any gradation chart of color (this is left to Color Index 2: Over 1500 New Color Combinations. For Print and Web Media. CMYK and RGB Formulas.). This book is what it is - a series of colors that go together, complete with their "recipes." If you want to get this book, I seriously also recommend getting Color Index 2, which succeeds in stopping the gaps where this book fails. Although, don't get me wrong - this is a great resource.
excellent resource
This is an excellent resource for any designer. It is very handy and durable. This book organizes color palettes by style: Basic, Active, Quiet, Progressive, Rich, Cultural, Natural, etc.
Color Index 2 is different because it organizes color palettes by 'root' colors: Blue, Violet, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, and Mixed.
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