See How to Pick Your Brand Colors using Canva and Coolers

Written by Nina Fogden on February 20, 2024

Ever find yourself staring at a blank screen, paralyzed by the "how to pick brand colors" question? You're not alone! Choosing the perfect colors for your brand feels like deciphering an ancient scroll, right? Relax, dear entrepreneur, and put down the dusty scrolls – I'm here to demystify the process with a fun and easy method!

I know, brand colors seem mystical, something taught by mythical marketing creatures in secret branding caves. But fear not! As a friendly guide (think branding fairy godmother, minus the sparkles!), I'm here to share a simple process using Canva and Coolers that'll help you pick colors that captivate your audience and make your brand sing.

This process has been a hit with my clients, whether they're website newbies staring at a blank page or ambitious entrepreneurs just starting out. So, whether you've never thought about brand colors before or are swimming in a sea of indecision, this method will be your life raft!

Think of it like this: Canva becomes your color playground, and Coolers your personal color alchemist. Together, they'll transform your brand vision into a stunning palette that shouts your personality from the rooftops (metaphorically, of course). Whether you're launching a new website, refreshing your social media presence, or just starting your brand journey, this article is here to make picking your brand colors a fun and fulfilling experience

So, ditch the confusion and join me on this color-picking adventure! Try out the process, let me know how it goes, and watch your brand blossom with the perfect color story.

Why Choose Canva and Coolers for Selecting Brand Colors

I’m not joking when I tell you that I see people feel like they need a Ph.D. in Color Psychology just to pick the right shade of blue for their brand. Forget indecision and ditch the color theory anxiety!! With Canva and Coolers, you can skip the color theory lectures and dive straight into learning how to pick brand colors that will define your identity for years to come.

Let's face it, color is more than just a pretty hue on a screen. It's the foundation of your brand identity, the shade that people will recognize and associate with your business for generations. Just think of Barbie pink or Tiffany green – those colors instantly evoke their respective brands.

But worry not, my fellow brand-builder, you don't need to be a color expert to harness its power. That's where Canva and Coolers come in.

Embark on a journey to discover the significance of brand colors and how they can elevate your brand identity. With Canva and Coolers, you can harness the power of color psychology and create a visually compelling brand that resonates with your audience.

Discover the Magic: How to Pick Brand Colors with Color Psychology

Now that we've set the stage for the importance of brand colors, let's dive a little deeper (but not get caught up in procrastination, remember) into the fascinating world of color psychology and explore how you can leverage it to select the perfect hues for your brand.

Color psychology offers invaluable insights into how different colors evoke emotions, influence perceptions, and even shape behaviors. While it may seem daunting at first, fear not! Canva and Coolers are here to simplify the process and empower you to make informed decisions without the need for a PhD in color theory.

Picture this: You're scrolling through your favorite website, and you come across a button in a bold shade of red. Without even realizing it, you feel a surge of excitement and urgency – that's the magic of color psychology at work! But how do you tap into this power to create a brand that resonates with your audience?

Let's break it down with a few technical examples. Consider the color blue: it's often associated with trust and reliability, which is why you'll often see it used by banks and financial institutions. Or take the color yellow: it's known for its cheerful and optimistic vibe, making it a popular choice for brands that want to convey a sense of positivity and warmth. (I guess that’s me 😉

But color psychology goes beyond just emotions – it can also influence our behavior. Take the color red, for instance: it's been shown to increase heart rate and stimulate appetite, which is why you'll often find it used in fast-food logos and restaurant décor.

So, when it comes to picking brand colors, it's essential to consider not just what looks good, but also how those colors will make your audience feel and act. By harnessing the power of color psychology, you can create a brand that resonates with your audience on a deeper level and leaves a lasting impression.

Creating Your Mood Board in Canva

Building a brand's color palette requires more than just technical knowledge. It demands a spark of inspiration, fueled by exploring visuals that capture the brand's essence and ignite your creative spirit. Plus mood boards are fun!! Canva provides the perfect platform for creating mood boards that capture your aesthetic preferences. Forget the struggle of how to pick brand colors with traditional methods. With this fun approach, you can experiment with colors that inspire you, getting out of your head and into the heart of your brand.

  • Gather Inspiration: Start by collecting images, photographs, and designs that inspire you. These can be anything from nature scenes to artwork, fashion photos, or even images from your favorite websites.
  • Create Your Mood Board: Open Canva and select a Mood Board template or a grid. Personally, I like to use a simple grid that I can swipe my photos into. Begin arranging your chosen images on the canvas, experimenting with different layouts until you find a composition that reflects your style and vision.
Screenshot of selecting grids in Canva for how to to pick brand colors in Canva
An example of a how to pick brand colors mood board made from a Canva grid. The grid has Caribbean images with blues, orange and, yellows and Caribbean scenes.

Your Color Search Ends Here! How to Pick Brand Colors & Identify Hex Codes in Canva

Once you discover a color you adore, secure its hex code! This empowers you to use it consistently and evaluate its possible inclusion in your brand color palette. Capturing hex codes is a vital step in how to pick brand colors that represent your brand effectively.

  • Identifying Color Swatches: Whilst the whole grid can be downloaded as an image, you can also identify the colors by grabbing the hex codes now and use both ways to start exploring color palettes in Coolers. Once your images are in place, it's time to extract the colors that catch your eye. Use Canva's color picker tool to select specific hues from your images and add them to your mood board as color swatches.
Screenshot of hovering over colors to identify the hex codes in Canva
  • Experiment with Layouts: Play around with the placement of your color swatches, arranging them in different combinations to see how they interact. Don't be afraid to mix and match – the goal is to find a palette that feels cohesive and representative of your brand.
  • Refine and Finalize: Take some time to review your mood board and make any necessary adjustments. Pay attention to the overall balance of colors and the mood they evoke. Once you're happy with the composition, save and download your mood board and prepare to take the next step in the process.

Generating Color Palettes with Coolers

With your mood board prepped, let's breathe life into your brand vision with color! Coolers is here to empower you in choosing your brand colors. Upload your creation, and watch the magic happen. Its smart algorithms analyze your selected hues and recommend cohesive palettes, streamlining the how to pick brand colors process.

  • Upload Your Mood Board: Start by uploading your Canva mood board to Coolers. Simply drag and drop the image file onto the Coolers interface, and let the tool work its magic.
Screenshot of Coolers tools to show how to pick brand colors highlighting where the palette generator and image picker are with arrows
  • Explore Color Palettes: Once your mood board is uploaded, Coolers will analyze the colors present and generate a variety of color palettes based on your input. Explore the different options presented, paying attention to the color combinations and how they align with your brand vision. You can enjoy features like locking the colors you like and moving the order, have a play like I’m doing in this video.

Watch How to Pick Brand Colors with Coolers

  • Customize and Fine-Tune: Coolers allows you to customize your color palettes further, adjusting individual hues and saturation levels to achieve the perfect balance. Experiment with different variations until you find a palette that resonates with you.
  • Save and Export: Once you've settled on a color palette, save it within Coolers for future reference. You can also export the palette as a PDF or image file, making it easy to share with collaborators or incorporate into your design projects.
Screenshot of where to export your color palette in Coolers
An example exported PDF of a color palette  from Coolers, including hex codes.

I’m going to conclude that you can’t get stuck on how to pick your brand colors anymore. Coolers empowers you to break free with two exciting options:

  • Image Picker: Upload your mood board and let the tool help you pick your brand colors! It analyzes its colors, generating harmonious palettes that capture your visual inspiration and translate your brand vision into stunning color stories.
  • Palette Generator: Got specific colors in mind? This option helps you pick your brand colors by letting you input them directly and explore different variations and combinations. Fine-tune your palette to perfection and find the perfect match for your brand identity.

Remember, regardless of the method you choose, the goal is to overcome any hurdles and move forward with picking your brand colors. Choose the option that feels most intuitive and sparks your creativity, and watch your brand identity come alive with a powerful color palette!

You could also narrow your choice down to 2-3 palettes and play with them in Canva. The process of using the colors to make mock-ups of social media posts, or whatever graphics you want, takes you out of your head and thinking about how to choose your color palette and into doing something that will determine how you feel about your color palette in a working example. I encourage you to try writing your headings, and company name, on white and dark backgrounds, making mock social media posts, and exploring what these colors will be like for you or the people you hire to work with. It’s more fun than sitting and staring at the colors 😉

By combining the visual inspiration of Canva mood boards with the analytical power of Coolers, you can simplify the process of how to pick your brand colors and create a cohesive aesthetic that truly represents your brand identity. So go ahead, unleash your creativity, and discover the perfect color palette for your next project!

I hope this has been useful.  Happy branding!!

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