Types of Colour Wheel in Fashion Design
Understanding the types of colour wheel is fundamental in fashion design, textile work, and visual aesthetics. Different colour wheels are used depending on the purpose such as art, design, and printing.
Here are the main types:
1. Traditional Colour Wheel (RYB Model)
This is the most common colour wheel used in art, painting, and fashion design.
Primary Colours:
- Red
- Yellow
- Blue
Secondary Colours:
- Orange (Red + Yellow)
- Green (Yellow + Blue)
- Purple (Blue + Red)
Tertiary Colours:
- Mix of primary and secondary colours (e.g., Red-Orange, Blue-Green)
Best for: Designers, artists, tailoring colour combinations
2. RGB Colour Wheel (Digital Use)
This colour model is used in digital screens like mobile phones, televisions, and computers.
Primary Colours:
- Red
- Green
- Blue
Mixing Result: All colours combine to form White light
Best for: Graphic design, digital fashion illustration, websites
3. CMY / CMYK Colour Wheel (Printing)
This colour model is used in printing and fabric dyeing processes.
Primary Colours:
- Cyan
- Magenta
- Yellow
- Black (in CMYK)
Mixing Result: All colours combine to form dark/black
Best for: Textile printing, fabric dyeing, boutique production
4. Extended Colour Wheel (12 or 24 Colours)
This is a more detailed version of the traditional colour wheel.
Includes:
- Primary colours
- Secondary colours
- Tertiary colours
Used for Creating:
- Monochromatic colour schemes
- Analogous colour schemes
- Complementary colour combinations
Best for: Advanced fashion styling and fabric matching
5. Warm & Cool Colour Wheel
Colours are divided based on their temperature and emotional effect.
Warm Colours:
- Red
- Orange
- Yellow
(Energetic and bold feel)
Cool Colours:
- Blue
- Green
- Purple
(Calm and soothing feel)
Best for: Outfit mood setting and seasonal fashion collections
Quick Summary
- RYB Wheel → Basic fashion and art use
- RGB Wheel → Digital screens
- CMYK Wheel → Printing and dyeing
- Extended Wheel → Advanced colour combinations
- Warm/Cool Wheel → Mood and styling
