Most guides tell you to use complimentary or analogous colors. Wada’s dictionary shows you specific historical examples. Need a color for a 1920s Japan-themed menu? Flip to the "Dark Brown" page.
Originally published in the 1930s, A Dictionary of Color Combinations (also known as Haishoku Soukan ) has seen a massive resurgence in popularity. But this isn’t your typical Pantone book. It is a historical artifact, a design bible, and an endless source of inspiration, all rolled into one. -PDF- A Dictionary of Color Combinations PDF by...
Here is everything you need to know about this cult-classic PDF and why it deserves a spot on your digital (or physical) shelf. Before we dive into the colors, we have to look at the man behind the eye. Sanzo Wada (1883–1967) was not just a color theorist. He was a prolific artist, film director, costume designer, and printmaker. He worked extensively in the Japanese film industry (winning an Academy Award for costume design for Gate of Hell in 1954) and later transitioned into abstract painting. Most guides tell you to use complimentary or