A Guide to Selecting Colors for Game Visual Effects

Game visual effects often captivate audiences with their vibrant colors and mesmerizing displays. However, finding the perfect color combination for your effects can be a daunting task. To help you achieve this, we've broken down the game FX design pipeline into four key tips for adding extra depth and cohesion to your effects. It may seem counterintuitive, but starting with a grayscale palette can be an effective way to ensure your colors will have a lasting impact. By stripping away hue and saturation, you can focus on creating focal points and establishing contrast between design elements. This approach will also help you determine your hues and saturation levels later on, as you'll already have a solid foundation in value. You can use tools like Photoshop's desaturation option or Windows' grayscale color filter to check your values while working. Ensuring strong value contrast is also essential for accessibility, as it provides clarity for all types of colorblindness. When choosing values, consider the energy and dynamics of the effect you're designing. For example, the core of an explosion should be bright, while the surrounding smoke should be darker. Each element should have contrast with the next to maintain visibility. As you progress, you can introduce volume and lighting to enhance your design. It's crucial to remember that game effects are dynamic and should change over time. Breaking down your design into phases can help you define these changes and select values accordingly. Deciding on a main color and supporting colors early on will also help you create a cohesive look. Main colors should be the brightest and most saturated, while supporting colors should be more subdued. Hue relationships play a significant role in readability, and planning your hues upfront is essential. Complementary, analogous, monochromatic, and triadic relationships can create visually pleasing effects. Saturation works similarly to value, with high saturation drawing attention and low saturation creating a calmer feel. When choosing your palette, consider the meaning and identity of your colors and narrow down the relationships you want to use. A small amount of variation is always better than none, but too much variation can be overwhelming. Color depth should work across the entire composition, and contrast should be used purposefully to draw the viewer's attention. Color can evoke emotions and tell a story, and combinations of colors can convey complex feelings. While there are existing color palettes that can inspire your designs, don't be afraid to experiment and try out new combinations. As an FX artist, you'll always be learning, so don't hesitate to play around and explore the world of color.