Purposefully using colors in Affinity Designer

Colors play a crucial role in designing illustrations and designs in Affinity Designer. They not only help convey emotions and moods but can also significantly influence the structure and clarity of a composition. In this guide, you will learn how to effectively mix, select, and save colors in Affinity Designer to implement your creative projects optimally.

Key Insights

• Handling the color window and color tools
• Creating and using color swatches
• Importing and exporting color palettes
• Using the color picker to select colors

Step-by-Step Guide to Color Design

Show Color Window

To work efficiently with colors in Affinity Designer, it is important to have the color window visible. If the color window is not already open, go to “View” and navigate to the “Studio” section. There you will find the option “Color”. Additionally, we will also work with the “Swatches” panel, so you can show this as well.

Understanding Color Selection Tools

In the toolbar, you will find various tools that work with colors, both for fills and outlines. When you select the pencil tool, you will see that it only works with outlines. In contrast, the vector brush can be used for both fills and outlines. A shape tool like the rectangle tool allows you to draw a rectangle, but it is initially without a fill and shows only an outline.

Selecting Colors for Fill and Outline

To assign a color to your rectangle for the fill or outline, double-click on the small ring in the color panel. You can now choose a color, for example, a shade of red. Affinity Designer automatically defines a certain thickness for the outline, which you can adjust as desired. Move the width slider to the right to increase the thickness.

Adjusting Hue and Saturation

To change the fill color of your rectangle, click at the top on the fill field or select the color panel. Here you can select the desired hue and adjust the saturation as well as the brightness. For example, you can choose a blue hue and adjust the saturation and brightness by clicking accordingly in the color circle.

RGB and HSL Color Selection

Affinity Designer also offers selection via RGB, HSL, and CMYK. With RGB selection, you can adjust the values for red, green, and blue, while with HSL, you determine the brightness, saturation, and hue. Try out the different sliders to find the color that best fits your project.

Saving Colors

A color that you particularly like can be saved in the swatches panel. Select the color you want to save and go to the “Swatches” option in the menu. Here you can create swatches or select from existing ones. You can choose between a program palette and a document palette.

Using the Color Picker

The color picker is a handy tool for selecting colors directly from your image. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the picker over the desired color. Release the mouse, and the color will be updated in your settings. This allows you to quickly select colors from your design or an external source.

Exporting and Sharing Color Palettes

If you want to share your color palette with others, select the corresponding palette and go to the menu to choose the “Export Palette” option. You can name the palette and specify the location. This palette can later be imported by a colleague.

Importing Color Palettes

To import a color palette, go to the corresponding menu and select “Import Palette”. Here you can choose between program palettes and document palettes. This is particularly useful when you want to share files and colors between different projects.

Summary – Effectively Using Colors in Affinity Designer

Affinity Designer offers a wealth of tools and features to effectively mix, select, and save colors. Whether you want to use an existing palette or create your own, the possibilities are diverse and make your creative work easier.