Artificial Lexicon
Guide

How to Master Color in AI Art

Color gives AI art mood, story, and style before the subject has to explain itself. This guide keeps the method and points the long color lists to the wall where they belong.

Free Midjourney Stable Diffusion 8 min read

Why color matters

Welcome to a world where art meets artificial intelligence, a place where creativity is limitless and color is your best friend. If you’re new to the game of AI art creation with tools like Stable Diffusion and Midjourney, you’re in for a treat. Color palettes are the secret sauce that can turn a good piece into a great one. They are more than just a mix of shades, they set the tone, mood, and style of your digital masterpiece.

Whether you lean towards the bright spark of neon or the subtle allure of pastel shades, this guide will show you how to select and apply colors to elevate your artwork.

Color theory primer

Understanding color is key in AI art. It shapes mood and tells stories silently. Let’s begin with the basics of color. Hue refers to what we know as color, reds, blues, and so on. Saturation is about the richness of a color, and brightness determines how light or dark it is.

Primary colors, red, blue, and yellow, are the main ingredients that can’t be made by mixing others. They’re the starting point. Combine them, and you get secondary colors like orange and green. Tertiary colors like blue-green come from mixing primary and secondary colors.

In art, how you combine colors matters. Complementary colors, opposite on the color wheel, make each other stand out. Analogous colors, close to each other on the wheel, create a peaceful look.

Grasp these basics, and you’re set to use color palettes effectively in AI art, making your images more engaging.

Thematic palettes

Dive into thematic color palettes to infuse your AI artwork with emotion and atmosphere. These palettes are curated collections of colors that complement each other and set the tone for your piece. Looking for the vibrant feel of Art Deco or the calm of Zen minimalism? The perfect palette can elevate your art.

Each palette has the power to transport viewers to different times and places. By choosing one that aligns with your vision, you can infuse your AI-generated art with a strong sense of identity and emotion.

The complete set of 47 themed palettes now lives on the Colors & Palettes wall. Use this guide for the method, then use the wall when you need the names.
palette prompt[product photography, a cube], covered entirely in Scandinavian colors, color palette, vertical bands, smooth gradient, harmony, balanced composition, detailed, flat colors
palette prompta cityscape in the Art Deco style with golds, deep greens, and vibrant blues

Unique colors

Adding a splash of unique colors like Chartreuse or Burnt Sienna to your AI artwork can really make it pop. These aren’t your everyday colors, they carry their own mood and can add a special twist to your creations.

Chartreuse is a vibrant color, a mix between green and yellow, that screams energy and life. Burnt Sienna is a rich, earthy red-brown that brings warmth and depth. Cerulean is a sky-blue hue that is calm and soothing. Cobalt Blue gives a modern, sleek look or a contrast with warmer tones.

Amber can bring a touch of sunshine or evoke nostalgia in your artwork. It can also pull toward actual amber, so prompt for flat color and use negative prompts around translucency and transparency when needed.

named color prompt[product photography, a cube], covered entirely in flat Cobalt Blue color, flat illustration, single color, vector art
named color prompta botanical poster of spring herbs, Pistachio Color, clean linework, flat color, soft paper texture

Apply color in AI tools

Creating art with AI is an exciting process, and choosing the right color palette can make your artwork stand out. Here’s a simple guide to using specific color palettes in Stable Diffusion and Midjourney, perfect for beginners.

  1. Before you start, pick a thematic palette or a unique color. Imagine the mood and style you aim for in your artwork.
  2. In both Stable Diffusion and Midjourney, begin by entering a text prompt. This prompt guides the AI on what to generate.
  3. Include the name of your chosen palette or unique color in your text prompt.
  4. Once you’re happy with your prompt and settings, submit it and let the AI do its magic. It will generate an image based on your color choices.
  5. If the result isn’t quite what you wanted, refine your prompt, tweak the settings, and try again. AI art is about experimentation.

Remember, color can tell a story, set a scene, or evoke emotions, making your art truly unique.

assembled prompta quiet library reading room, Gothic Palette, deep reds, blues, and purples, black accents, candlelight, detailed wood shelves

Create your palette

Now that you’ve got this extensive list of thematic palettes and unique colors, you might be asking, “How do I create my own palette?” It’s easier than you think, and it’s a lot of fun. Here’s a simple way to get started:

  1. Start with one color that you love or feel drawn to. This will be your anchor and the heart of your palette.
  2. Look at the color wheel and find the color directly opposite your base color. This is its complement, which will make your base color stand out even more.
  3. Choose colors that sit next to your base color on the wheel. These similar colors create a harmonious look and feel.
  4. Take your base color and add white to create tints, or black to create shades. This gives you variety and depth within the same hue.
  5. From the list of unique colors, pick one that seems out of the ordinary. This unexpected pop of color can bring your palette to life and add an element of surprise.
  6. Use Stable Diffusion or Midjourney to create simple shapes or scenes with your new palette. See how the colors work together and make adjustments as needed.

There’s no right or wrong when it comes to your personal color palette. It’s all about what speaks to you and the story you want to tell with your art. So mix, match, and experiment until you find that perfect combination that really sings.

AI art offers the liberty to experiment boldly. If a color doesn’t fit, simply swap it out until you discover the harmony you seek. Dare to pair Cerulean with Amber, or merge a Gothic Palette with a touch of Chartreuse.

First published on Medium. Rewritten for this site.