Design your way

When you use a yellow color palette, you’ll be drawing on one of the brightest of all colors.  Yellow is attention-grabbing, warm and alive.

Nature shows us many different shades of yellow.  We are familiar with the deep orange-yellow of egg yolks, bright yellow daffodils, soft yellow lemons or the deep yellow color of bees.

Yellow plays a big part in our contemporary world.  It’s the color of happy faces, Brazilian football shirts, and yellow has also been used in danger signs.

Using a yellow color palette and the universal meanings of yellow

• Throughout the world, yellow symbolizes the return of the sun. It has been associated with warmth and happiness.
• In Ancient Egypt as well as in the Hindu faith, yellow shades have been associated with gods and goddesses.
• All around the world, the color yellow is used in traffic lights to symbolize the need to slow down or be cautious.
• In Egypt the yellow color was used to symbolize mourning, and during the Middle Ages yellow was worn to symbolize death.
• Although yellow is symbolic of cowardice in western countries, in Japan yellow symbolizes courage.
• In India, yellow is worn as a color of peace.

The color yellow in nature and culture

Using a yellow color will always feel warm and sunny.  However, like red, yellow has two different meanings.  From one perspective yellow is about sunny warmth, enjoyment and celebration.  From a different perspective cowards are described as being ‘yellow’.  Yellow is also the color of deceit.

The color yellow is very bright and highly visible.  Despite some negative connotations, it remains a very warm color.  It is because yellow is so visible that it is often used to symbolize danger as well as for emergency vehicles.

Throughout time, yellow has been used as a symbol of hope – a symbol that the sun will return out of the darkness.  Women wore yellow ribbons in the hope that their men would return from war, and yellow ribbons are still a sign used as a welcome for loved ones who have gone away.  However, although yellow is soft and welcoming, there is no doubt that it may also signal danger or caution (although yellow is not as threatening as red).

Using shades of yellow in digital and print design

Using a yellow color palette can help you to create exciting designs.  Although shades of yellow can be used alone in digital and print media, yellow works best when combined with other colors.  Yellow will give your designs a fresh, sunny and even fruity atmosphere.

If you are looking for a warm color without the intensity or darkness of red and orange, yellow makes a great substitute.  You can also use a bright shade of golden yellow to substitute for a gold color palette.

Yellow color combinations you can use:

• If your color palette is using subdued tones, sunny yellow will lift your designs.
• If you’re interested in creating a warm summer theme, yellow and orange make great color combinations.
• Combine rich, dark colors with pale yellows to add a vivid contrast.
• If you want to create a striking color combination, yellow and blue make great choices.
• Neutrals such as grey and a yellow color make a sophisticated combination. You could combine blacks for a strikingly modern appeal.
• If you want your designs to be warm and exciting, combine red with the color yellow.
• Add shades of yellow to olive green or brown to create an earthy palette which symbolizes harvest colors and landscapes as summer turns to fall.
• When you combine shades of yellow with lime greens you’ll create an upbeat, fruity design which feels fresh and clean. Keep colors different enough so that they look alive rather than pale and washed out.

How to create yellow color palettes

When you create a yellow color palette, you’ll be able to combine the color yellow with other colors (obviously).  You’ll be able to mix shades of yellow with neutrals, or shades of reds, greens and blues.  The result can be earthy, sophisticated, fresh, psychedelic or rich.   Here are some attractive color combinations using the color yellow:

• 2 colors: shades of blue combined with the color yellow.
• 3 colors: mix the primary colors blue, red and yellow.

Some familiar phrases associated with yellow

Positive phrases

A yellow ribbon symbolizes the hope of a love returning, as in the song “Tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree.”

The phrase ‘mellow yellow’ refers to feeling completely at ease and relaxed.

Negative phrases:

Yellow-bellied refers to cowardliness.  Cowards are considered to be yellow, and are sometimes called ‘cowardly custard’ after the yellow pudding.

Yellow journalism is seen to be unethical or irresponsible journalism which is used for drama or sensationalism rather than a sharing of stories or information.

Using a yellow color palette in your designs

When you use shades of yellow in your graphic design projects it’s worth noticing the subtle variations which exist.  There is no single yellow color.  Instead, there are shades of gold, mustard colors, ochre’s and bright yellows.  There are deep yellow shades but no dark yellows.  Although many colors become more intense when combined with the color black, yellow reacts badly, becoming an unappealing, sickly green color.

Points to think about when you design using shades of yellow?

Yellow is a bright and very eye catching color which attracts a great deal of attention.  People are able to see yellow in at a glance.  We are also far more likely to see yellow in our peripheral vision than any other color.

Yellow offers a source of light and reflexivity, which is why rooms painted in yellow often have a vivid appearance.  Used carefully, yellow can be illuminating.  However, too much yellow can be overwhelming.

Although yellow has been related to both sunny warmth and even associations with cowardliness, yellow can also be aggressive.  Yellow is very intense and might sometimes appear too demanding or even aggressive. When yellow is used in large quantities it can become irritating.

The various shades of yellow

Yellow shades can range from deep mustard to bright golden yellow.  Paler yellow colors such as cream or lemon are very popular.

Mellow Yellow Color

Hex #F8DE7E
RGB 248 222 126

Royal Yellow Color

Hex #FADA5E
RGB 250 218 94

Gold Color

Hex #F9A602
RGB 249 166 2

Cyber Yellow Color

Hex #FFD300
RGB 255 211 0

Trombone Color

Hex #D2B55B
RGB 210 181 91

Khaki Color

Hex #C3B091
RGB 195 176 145

Goldenrod Color

Hex #DAA520
RGB 218 165 32

Banana Color

Hex #FCF4A3
RGB 252 244 163

Tuscany Color

Hex #FCD12A
RGB 252 209 42

Honey Color

Hex #FFC30B
RGB 255 195 11

Dijon Color

Hex #C49102
RGB 196 145 2

Bumblebee Color

Hex #FCE205
RGB 252 226 5

Fire Yellow Color

Hex #FDA50F
RGB 253 165 15

Ochre Color

Hex #CC7722
RGB 204 119 34

Amber Color

Hex #FFBF00
RGB 255 191 0

Flax Color

Hex #EEDC82
RGB 238 220 130

Cream Color

Hex #FFFDD0
RGB 255 253 208

Beige Color

Hex #F5F5DC
RGB 245 245 220

Peach Color

Hex #FFE5B4
RGB 255 229 180

Lemon Color

Hex #EFFD5F
RGB 239 253 95

Laguna Color

Hex #F8E473
RGB 248 228 115

Mustard Color

Hex #FEDC56
RGB 254 220 86

Navajo Color

Hex #FFDDAF
RGB 255 221 175

Ecru Color

Hex #CEB180
RGB 206 177 128

Creating yellow color combinations

Now that you have an idea of the subtle shades of yellow available, you’ll be able to think of how to add shades of yellow into your designs.  Yellow makes a sunny companion to darker colors, adding warmth as well as an eye catching appeal to your designs.

As mentioned earlier, yellow and blue make an attractive color combination, with the warmth of yellow contrasting with peaceful blues.

Purple contrasts highly with yellow, creating an attractive and vibrant effect.

Yellow mixed with deep greens remind us of buttercups or daffodils, giving an earthy appearance.  Deep moss or olive greens will add an earthy touch.

Draw on lemon, orange and lime for a fresh, fruity palette.

Black, when combined with a bright yellow color, can create a modern, very striking look.  Think of the industrial appeal of a bumble bee.

Ending thoughts on using a yellow color palette

 Yellow is a naturally sunny, light and vibrant color.  The color yellow has therefore been associated with spring, summer sunshine, happiness, and enjoyment.  Yellow remains an enchanting color which, when used carefully, will add life to your print or digital designs.

From mustard yellow to a bright golden yellow color, there are shades of yellow for every design.  We hope this guide assists you in creating subtle and attractive designs.

If you enjoyed reading this article about using yellow color, you should read these as well:

• Logo colors and why they’re important
• Pastel colors: The basics, usage, and website color schemes
• Muted Colors: Definition and How to Use Them In Websites and Apps

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