The best movie palettes
Long before the appearance of full color cinematography, the creators of silent films used color for visual storytelling or to recreate any effects. Over time, the directors who put the main emphasis on the visual flow, started to create their own color palettes that are remembered not worse than the film itself.
Build a special mood of the film pretty much depends on the creation of a limited, catchy and memorable color palette. That is, the filmmakers use a few colors from the entire visible spectrum. Let's look at a selection of the best color palettes in the history of cinema.
Limited color
In films with a color limitation, everything is black and white, except for one key object that stands out against the background of the faded environment due to the very bright color. In fact, this is the first color technique in the cinema, because earlier the color could be added exclusively by hand, by painting the film. In modern cinema, this technique is used in order to emphasize the emotional tension as in the movie «Schindler's List».
The most striking example of the use of a palette with limited color is «Sin City». The color in this film is used so narrowly that it becomes an important, integral part of the plot.
A monochrome palette
The essence of using a monochrome palette is to select one color on the color wheel, play with saturation, but still only stick to it. A similar technique is often used to separate the time frame of the story or to demonstrate flashbacks of one of the characters.
For example, in the film «Only God Forgives» the blue color and its shades are used to show the departure of the hero Ryan Gosling from reality. According to Ingar Bergman, the director of «Screams and Whispers», the red color helps to reflect the interior of the soul.
A complementary colors
In the complementary palette, one color is taken and the opposite color is selected. It is quite attractive, eye pleasing color palette. The most striking example of this scheme is the combination of orange and blue, which have become boring for the viewer because of the widespread use in Hollywood blockbusters. Filmmakers use this technique not from laziness, in fact it is the best way to show the human skin. Perhaps the most memorable example of this contrast is the film «Mad max: Fury Road».
But nothing prevents us to turn the color wheel and get much more original contrasts, as in the film «Curse of the Golden flower» directed by Zhang Yimou.
Triad
The triad is three colors, located at an equal distance from each other on the color wheel. Such combination you could see in a game «Twister». This scheme can ideally create a light, carefree mood. Triad vitalize the scene, even if the colors are not saturated.
Triad is one of the less popular color schemes in the films. It is difficult to implement, but gives quite a striking effect. Prominent examples are the paintings of Jean-Luc Godard's «Pierrot Le fou» or «Contempt». In this case there is a triad of red, blue and green colors.
Neon palette
Playing with brightness and saturation you can get an unusual neon effect. It is used to recreate the aesthetics of signage of Tokyo at night. Here as the «Blade Runner» (both the original and the sequel) and of course «The Neon Demon». Muted mid-tones in these works is still there, but neon takes the maximum amount of screen time. Everything here is either all black or all drowning in neon light.
Pastel palette
The pastel colors is used mostly in old comedies or fairy tales. Pastel colors can be found in the «The Danish Girl» and even «The Shining», but master of these palette is considered to be Wes Anderson, and the most striking example of his work – «Hotel „Grand Budapest“.
The muted palette
Unsaturated, dark, nude palettes are a favorite of the entire post-apocalyptic genre. Under a muted color palette may be meant desaturation, discoloration of everything around, such as in the film „The Road“ by John Hillcoot. It is the gloomy image of faded everyday life not only attracts the eye, but also cuts into the subconscious, because it is associated with large-scale catastrophes. The world of „Matrix“ by Andrew and Laurence Wachowski shows in unsaturated greenish tones.
Color can affect us not only psychologically but also physically and often we do not notice this. Color is a powerful tool, knowledge of color theory gives us the ability to control what is happening around with colors and shades.
If you want to practice creating your own color palettes — you can try the mobile app Color Assist. It allows you to quickly and easily select the most suitable color solutions on color wheel.