Perfect your palette: 2020 color trends

Go bold with Totally Teal and Rustic Red. Soothe readers with Sea Garden and a Latte. Jump start 2020 planning with a sneak peek at the color trends for next year.

Every spring, Balfour sends a planning kit to motivate staffs and assist organization for the new book. In addition to the font guide, ladder and wall calendar, the kit features color trends for the upcoming school year.

The 2019-2020 selections pair eight process colors to create a bold color palette. Each combination is designed for use with Balfour’s yearbook publishing solutions (StudioWorks, encore, myYear and BalfourTools). The color name that appears with each swatch can be found in the X-Color palettes of each software platform. These process mix colors should be used on four-color pages.

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Staffs could feature all eight colors or mix and match their favorite hues. The color trends chart also suggest four color combinations using the trending colors. Each palette brings a different feel to a spread, section or book.

Under the Sea uses greens and blues for a cool color cast, reminiscent of the ocean. Spring Garden is a fresh pop of bright colors. Paradise Beach pairs the vibrant Emerald City and Coral Reef with the soothing neutral Latte. Revolution also mixes the gray Latte with the striking teal and red hues.

2020 color trends 

Where do color trends originate?

Trends in colors are identified in advance through the extensive research of the fashion, graphic design, entertainment and interior design industries. At Balfour, we research industry forecasts to put the must-have color trends in your hands. We do intensive research so you can create the best book possible.

Tips for using color

-Use color for emphasis in headlines or graphics to provide variety in design

-Pick a color palette and use all the colors in the opening. Then, for the other sections, use a single color from the palette. This unifies the book but gives all sections an individual flair.

-Check for readability when running type on color backgrounds. For example, avoid reversing type out on light backgrounds or printing in black on dark backgrounds.

-Think about all the elements of your design when planning color. White space or black text can make the smallest amount of color pop off the page.

Find a color combination that inspires your 2020 vision. We can’t wait to see if you Pink Out the book or go Totally Teal. Maybe you’ll take a trip to the Spring Garden or Emerald City. And we all could use a Latte.

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