An InDesign color harmony exercise (CS5)

By Ross F. Collins, professor of communication, North Dakota State University, Fargo

Let the Kuler panel help!

Consider the flyer at right, in progress. You need to choose two or three spot colors. What is appropriate considering the fitness theme of this flyer? How will you harmonize your choice. Try the exercise below.

1. Create New Document in InDesign, or if possible, download the InDesign document at right and open. Select a base color using spot colors and the Pantone solid matte options in the InDesign Swatches panel.

2. From the InDesign Window pulldown, choose Extensions, and Kuler.

3. In the Kuler panel, Choose the Create option.

4. Select a rule: analogous, complementary, triad, etc.

5. With your chosen color selected, choose the small overlapping squares icon in the Kuler panel, "Add current fill color as base color." (See illustration below for reference.)

6. Once you have the colors you like, choose the swatch with plus sign icon at bottom, "Add this theme to swatches."

7. Use these colors in your document.