quick link from another post, hope it helps mate 
Quote:
Though i didn't mention 3 colour combos in that post, i think it still points to good 3 colour matches, ie: those not next to each other. Anyway, have fun with it, post your creations |
Originally Posted by Henri
 The colour wheel can be useful here. Generally colours that are opposite on the wheel (eg: red/green) work together to give a very striking contrast. Colours next to each other (eg: red/orange) work to give a more harmonious effect. Other combinations, although not wrong, aren't generally as pleasing on the eye. This is by no means a hard and fast rule, but might help |
Actually, colors opposite each other do *not* work well with each other if the same level of saturation and vividness. Think of really intense red and green stripes... the colors 'swim' if seen together.
When you put colors on the opposite side together, one or both of the colors need to be softened by desaturation (add black to mute the color or white to wash it out).
Unless you're going for the crazy psycho clown look, then, by all means, let the opposites fight!
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Yep, colours opposite each other give a very striking contrast... think i might have said that... 
Try a split complementary combination. Pick your main focus color, find its complement and choose the two colors to its side. Perhaps desaturate the secondary colors a bit. (EX - start with an orange, pick a blue green and a blue violet. Adjust as necessary.)
I think it would help to start with a color that is not as prominent among the classic heroes and branch from there.
@Liz!
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I disagree, slightly. Concept first, then colour choice. The first kind of dictates the colour choices, I tend to find. "Classic hero," however, isn't really a concept -- it's a style. If you can come up with some kind of theme for the character, you'd likely get a lot better feedback.
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Originally Posted by syrusbLiz
Try a split complementary combination. Pick your main focus color, find its complement and choose the two colors to its side. Perhaps desaturate the secondary colors a bit. (EX - start with an orange, pick a blue green and a blue violet. Adjust as necessary.)
I think it would help to start with a color that is not as prominent among the classic heroes and branch from there. |
Talen_Lee: Taking absorb pain is like branding 'H' on your forehead. Which stands for 'Failure'
Scarf_Girl: ever since I six slotted my Rp with cyber/emo Hami-O enhancements they haven't been able to touch me
I use combinations of green and orange, orange and purple, and purple and green regularly. Sometimes even all three!
I recently made this one for Next Food Network Star contestant Emily Ellyn.
Where do we go from here?
Thanks guys - you've given me some new directions to explore
When you see yourself in a crowded room / do your fingers itch,are you pistol-whipped
Will you step in line or release the glitch / can you fall asleep with a panic switch
I tend to start with a Black or White base, then pick a secondary color, then add any accent colors.
A large portion of my costumes follow this scheme:
Primary: Black OR White
Secondary: <Color>
Accent: White OR Black <OR 2nd Color>
None of that's all that Unusual, though.
@Oathbound & @Oathbound Too
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Oathbound
I tend to start with a Black or White base, then pick a secondary color, then add any accent colors.
A large portion of my costumes follow this scheme: Primary: Black OR White Secondary: <Color> Accent: White OR Black <OR 2nd Color> None of that's all that Unusual, though. |
To get to 'unusual', pick a softened color (black-muted or white-washed) other than black or white to be your 'base.' It's what the fashion biz calls a 'neutral' color.
So, take green. Mute it to a dark hunter-green, or lighten it to a pastel-green. That is now your base, i.e., neutral. To that, you can add bright and vivid green highlights, which is now your second color. To that, you can add a third color as the secondary base: a dark orange or a light purple or a bright yellow. You can even add another neutral such as black or white.
Also note that high shine colors act as neutrals since their vividness is washed out by the sheen and reflection. Thus a bright yellow-orange on a shiny metal costume piece is really a neutral and will read as golden.
This neutralization of color is the way of the blue jeans. The blue jeans is not a vivid blue: it's either a dark wash (black muted) or faded (white wash). That is a neutral on which any color top would work.
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Here are some variations on a theme I did a few years back. The same outfit can look strikingly different depending on the color scheme.
Here's one of Sparky's characters in a demoedit. When it comes to classic costumes, few are better than Sparky.
This is a brilliant design I ran into a few years ago. It captures the inspiration beautifully and also works as a classic 3-color superhero outfit.
Check out this stunning creation using 4 colors: brown, black, gold and white.
Another from my OPC files:
And THIS... man, words fail me at the sheer genius of this design. Four colors used magnificently. I wish I'd thought of this combo. One of my all-time faves.
The Alt Alphabet ~ OPC: Other People's Characters ~ Terrific Screenshots of Cool ~ Superhero Fiction
I want to make a classic 2-3 color hero - pure spandex with just patterns and solid color boots/gloves. What is an unusual but fitting combination? I see Red/Black, Blue/Gold, etc. done to death - any ideas?
Orange/white and pink/white seem sort of rare and vibrant - what do you color wheel experts thing?
Thanks!
When you see yourself in a crowded room / do your fingers itch,are you pistol-whipped
Will you step in line or release the glitch / can you fall asleep with a panic switch