Studies show that red can have a physical effect, increasing the rate of respiration and raising blood pressure. Use red to grab attention and to get people to take action.

Red is power, hence the red 'power tie' and the 'red carpet' for celebrities and VIPs (very important people). Use red when you don't want to sink into the background. Use red to suggest speed combined with confidence and perhaps even a dash of danger. Red is the color of happiness and properity in China and is often used to attract good luck. It is often the color worn by brides in the East.

In combination with green, red is a Christmas color — a joyful season. In some cultures, red denotes purity, joy, and celebration.

Pink is a softer, less violent red. Pink is the sweet side of red. Both colors denote love but while red is hot passion, pink is romantic and charming. Use pink to convey playfulness (hot pink flamingoes) and tenderness (pastel pinks).

• Red Goes With...
Take a look at red on the color wheel.

• Harmonizing colors for red: Magenta and Yellow
harmonizing colors (adjacent) often work well together but if too close in value they can appear washed out or not have enough contrast

• Complementary colors for red: Purple and Green
complementary colors printed side by side can cause visual vibration making them a less then desirable combination

• Opposite color for red: Cyan (Blue)
colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel are said to clash — not always a bad combination if used carefully

• Red Color Combos

Red Color Combinations

These color palettes feature shades of red. Although I've made a few suggestions here and there about the 'amount' of each color to use, experiment. For best results don't use even amounts of each color in the palette. Choose one or two dominant colors and use the rest for accents. Keep in mind that due to the differences between color in print and on the Web that these colors may not appear the same on paper as they appear here on the screen.These aren't just random color combinations. Each of these are basedon actual historic and modern formulas used in posters, packaging, ads, and other design work over the past century. For a much more comprehensive selection of color combinations refer to The Designer's Guide to Color Combinations by Leslie Cabarga.

C10Y100K15 | C50Y100K20 | C10M100Y80 | C40K100 | White
This isn't a Christmas red and green.

C10M100Y100 | C100M5Y100 | M10Y100 | C40K100
Another red and green combo. Use lots of black and a bit of yellow to create an eye-popping look.

C100M40K30 | C85Y70K45 | M15Y70 | M70Y65 | C30M100Y70K30
Rich maroon, teal, and green team up for this palette.

M65Y25 | M30Y10 | C65M10 | M50Y45 | White | C40K100
Your pastels won't be washed out with a judicial dose of black to make those pinks pop.

C13Y12 | M15Y100K11 | M50Y10K25 | C15M100Y30 | C40K100 | White
Medium and dark pinks with a mustard yellow, with a little bit of black and white.

C4M65Y100 | C80M10Y40 | M90Y50 | C30M100Y80K20 | C20M40Y85K5 | C45
Shades of pink with a burst of orange. Placing the blue between the orange and pink helps avoid visual vibrations.

C10M15Y25K2 | C30M20Y40K13 | C8M90Y100K3 | C40K100
Using the gray and beige colors in place of white with black and red softens this color scheme. (Ummm... I mixed that black wrong, it should be black not the gray it appears on screen)

M100Y100 | M20Y100 | C40K100 | White
Use the yellow sparingly against red or use a touch of red against a background of yellow for two entirely different eye-popping looks. (same as above, that should be black not dark gray)

Keep it simple with just two colors plus white - in this case a deep maroon red and a peachy pink.