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November 28, 2024
min read

Everything About the Color Red

Explore the impact of red in design and branding

The color red is known for its bold presence, often associated with intense emotions, energy, and strength. Tracing as far back as the Paleolithic Age, red has symbolized a range of concepts, from love and passion to wealth and even destruction, for tens of thousands of years. 

In modern design and visual media, red continues to evoke powerful reactions, making it a favored choice for brands seeking to create a lasting impact. In this article, we’ll explore the meaning and impact of the color red, its strategic use in design and branding, how to use it with brand’s color palette, and how Recraft’s AI recoloring tools can help visuals stand out. Let’s dive in!

The meaning behind the color red

Red has a rich history, having played a role in different societies for thousands of years. In ancient cultures, red symbolized life and vitality because of its association with blood. For instance, Ancient Egyptian women would color their cheeks and lips with red ochre as a way to look more lively for celebrations—something that’s still practiced in modern cultures. 

Today, the way we perceive the color red is more complex: It can vary greatly depending on the context. In marketing and design, red often represents love, excitement, and even urgency. But it’s also a color associated with caution and warning signs, like “stop” or “do not enter.”

Brands often use it to elicit strong responses from their audiences, which is why people frequently see it in the logos and marketing materials of companies aiming to convey boldness and energy. Think Tesla, Red Bull, and Coca-Cola.  

Using red in brand color palette

If designers are thinking of using red in brand’s color palette, it’s important to understand how different shades and tones can affect perception. Bright, saturated reds are bold and attention-grabbing, while darker shades like burgundy or maroon communicate sophistication and elegance.

Tips for using red in visuals

Looking to control these aspects with precision? Recraft’s AI-powered tools allows to fine-tune the colors in palette to create cohesive visuals with minimal effort.   

Exploring red on the color wheel

Understanding color theory and the color wheel can help creators pair red effectively with other colors. Here are the most popular combinations: 

Complementary

Complementary colors sit directly across from one another on the color wheel.  A complementary combination creates high contrast so the colors appear more bright and intense. Red is situated opposite green on the color wheel, making green its complementary color.

Analogous

Unlike complementary combinations, which only include two colors, analogous combinations feature three colors that sit side by side on the color wheel. Red’s analogous colors are orange and pink.

Monochromatic

A monochromatic combination includes three shades or tones of a single color. Due to its subtlety, this combination makes it easy to create harmonious visuals. In the case of red, these tones may include crimson, scarlet, or burgundy.

With Recraft’s color wheel tool, users can experiment with these combinations, allowing for precise adjustments to match the perfect hue and shade for their design projects.

Recolor images to red with Recraft’s AI tool

As the SOTA image generation and editing tool, Recraft is transforming the way designers and everyday users edit images. Recraft’s advanced technology and intuitive features allow anyone to adjust colors, modify key elements, and create cohesive visuals.

One of Recraft’s standout features is AI-powered recoloring. Whether looking to recolor or edit the background of an image or bring a specific shade of red into focus, Recraft allows for detailed adjustments to create your perfect color scheme.

Here’s why Recraft excels in the world of color editing:


Precise AI generation:
Recraft allows users to control crucial design elements such as composition, style, and colors. You can even use specific HEX codes for more control over color schemes.


Brand cohesion:
Select exact shades from the color wheel to match brand’s color palette. Or create your own branded styles from scratch.


Advanced control:
Play around with settings like saturation, brightness, and contrast to achieve the exact color and shade creator is aiming for.


Efficiency with AI:
Recraft’s AI allows for quick adjustments, enabling users to polish image colors and create color palettes in seconds.

FAQs

1. What emotions does the color red evoke in design?
Red is known for evoking different emotions depending on the cultural context. Many associate the color with passion, excitement, and urgency, but red can also symbolize danger and destruction. While its impact can vary, red generally creates a powerful statement in design and branding.

2. How can I use red effectively in my brand colors?
Consider how red aligns with brand message and existing color palette. It should integrate seamlessly when used with your other brand colors. To achieve this cohesion, experiment with the saturation, brightness, and intensity. This can help get that perfect shade of red!

3. What is the best way to recolor images with red?
Recraft’s AI recoloring tool makes it easy to recolor images in red. Select the area needed to recolor and choose your desired shade. You can pick a color directly from the color wheel or type in the relevant HEX code.

4. Which colors work best with red?
There are many colors that pair well with red. You can’t go wrong with a complementary color like green or analogous colors like orange and pink. Recraft’s color wheel can help find the ideal combo for your visuals and designs. 

5. Why should I use AI to recolor images?
Using AI for image recoloring has several advantages, including: 

Ready to showcase your designs? Dive into Recraft.

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