Analogous color scheme

Analogous colors are a group of three colors next to each other on a color wheel, such as blue, blue-green, and green. This color scheme is usually pleasant and comfortable to look at. The colors in an analogous color scheme are harmonious and never clash with one other.

You can see this scheme in many movies, for example, in the Steven Soderbergh’s Traffic.

There are a few more principles that you should bear in mind:

The background affects your perception

The background behind an object may make its color appear differently. You can use this trick and arrange your background color in the way that it creates a story. For example, the cinematography of the Fight Club is quite eloquent here as two different doorways behind the main hero show the deceptive enlightenment through self-destruction which is one of the key ideas of this film.

Lighting and color are good partners

Light is in tandem with your color scheme. It can either saturate or muffle your colors. For example, when viewed for a long time, a cold color may be perceived as warm. To avoid confusion, keep balance and don’t overuse the elements.

In the Mind Hunter, the overall tone of the scene is complemented by some small details such as an advert in the parking lot, so that the viewer correctly perceives the mood. Thanks to such details, the color perception doesn’t waver.

Avoid a pitch-black color

It has no shades, and therefore it doesn’t trigger any emotions. If you look at a classical painting, you won’t see any black shadows because you can hardly find them in real life. Light is always reflected and refracted and forms different shades.

In cinematography, even when you have the night or space scenes, darkness is created due to shades of blue, gray, and other colors. If you look at Alien or Invasion, you can see that even the most fantastic design seems realistic, because it avoids black color and consists of shades, highlights, and other elements that make it look three-dimensional.

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How to work with lighting

You need to figure out the lighting scheme in order to combine lighting and color in your work properly:

1. Drawing Light is, as a rule, located on top or in front and forms the main spot of light, as well as shadows cast by the object
2. Fill Light washes out shadows and dark areas

3. Contre-Jour Light produces backlighting of the silhouette

4. Modeling Light is a side light that is much more often used in the studio than on a film set.

These four general types of lighting are good for photos, videos, and 3D modeling. If you are making a film, you need to use 7–40 light sources. However, there are such cameramen as Roger Deakins, who sometimes worked with only three light sources on the set of the most famous films by Denis Villeneuve, the Coen brothers, and Sam Mendes.

Another important thing is the geometry of different types of light sources. There is always a key light that creates the contrast, and an additional one. If you look at the films from the John Wick franchise, you can see how the combined light sources in action scenes help to keep the viewer's attention.

The principles of visual storytelling are universal for all types of art: with the help of color and light, you can improve your storytelling, create a unique atmosphere, highlight an important detail, and direct the viewer's gaze.

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