Yellow is the color of sunshine. It's associated with joy, happiness, intellect,
and energy.
Yellow produces a warming effect, arouses cheerfulness, stimulates mental activity,
and generates muscle energy. Yellow is often associated with food. Bright, pure
yellow is an attention getter, which is the reason taxicabs are painted this color.
When overused, yellow may have a disturbing effect; it is known that babies cry
more in yellow rooms. Yellow is seen before other colors when placed against black;
this combination is often used to issue a warning. In heraldry, yellow indicates
honor and loyalty. Later the meaning of yellow was connected with cowardice.
Use yellow to evoke pleasant, cheerful feelings. You can choose yellow to promote
children's products and items related to leisure. Yellow is very effective for
attracting attention, so use it to highlight the most important elements of your
design. Men usually perceive yellow as a very lighthearted, 'childish' color,
so it is not recommended to use yellow when selling prestigious, expensive products
to men - nobody will buy a yellow business suit or a yellow Mercedes. Yellow is
an unstable and spontaneous color, so avoid using yellow if you want to suggest
stability and safety. Light yellow tends to disappear into white, so it usually
needs a dark color to highlight it. Shades of yellow are visually unappealing
because they loose cheerfulness and become dingy.
Dull (dingy) yellow represents caution, decay, sickness, and jealousy.
Light yellow is associated with intellect, freshness, and joy.
Source: http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html
While yellow is considered an optimistic color, people lose their tempers more
often in yellow rooms, and babies will cry more. It is the most difficult color
for the eye to take in, so it can be overpowering if overused. Yellow enhances
concentration, hence its use for legal pads. It also speeds metabolism.
Using Yellow with Other Colors:
Use yellow to perk up a more subdued cool palette of blues and grays. Use lemon
yellow with orange to carry out a healthy, summery, citrus theme. Very pale yellows
can work as neutrals alongside darker or richer colors. Yellow and blue are a
high contrast, eye-popping combination. Mix yellow with neutral gray and a dash
of black for a high-tech look. Try a hot, exciting mix of red and yellow.For an
earthy palette, especially for fall, mix yellow, olive green, and brown. While
yellows and bright or light greens can be part of a natural, fruity color palette,
be careful not to use colors too close in value or they will appear washed out.
What's the secret to perfect color combinations? The 60-30-10 Rule:
60% dominant color, 30% secondary color, and 10% accent color. Professionals
use it because it works every time.
Learn more about the 60-30-10 color rule
here
