Limited palette

A small set of repeated colors unifies the image and makes the color count feel restrained.

Visual traits

• Few main colors
• Repeated colors
• Unified color range

Expected changes

• Number of main colors is more likely to decrease
• The same colors are more likely to repeat

Definition

A limited palette restricts the main hues used in an image to a small set, creating unity through constrained color count. It does not require particular hues, only achromatic values, or low saturation.

In more detail

An image may be built from two or three hues, or another small set with their value variations. The chosen hues may be warm or cool, and complementary or analogous relation is selected separately. It is distinct from natural many-color mixing and from a single-hue image.

Includes

• An image unified by a small set of main hues
• A palette intentionally restrained in color count

Excludes

• A palette using many hues equally
• Grayscale only
• A specific complementary relationship

What this does not imply

• A particular hue
• Grayscale
• Low tonal contrast

Variability

Color count, saturation, and value separation can be adjusted separately.

Usage

• Restrict main hues to a small set

Distinguish similar expressions

• Specify hue relationship separately

Typical uses

• Unify an image with few colors
• Restrain color count to make form easier to read

Possible failure modes

• Too many hues appear
• Only one hue remains
• Few colors lack cohesion