- 1. Colour Is Your Secret Weapon to Highlight Ideas
- 2. Don’t Forget Composition, Size, and Notes
- 3. One Colour and One Grey Keep It Clean and Focused
- 4. Colour Small Details or Backgrounds to Make Them Pop
- 5. Know Your Tools: Test Your Pens and Markers First
- 6. Make Your Sketches Speak with Colour Pops
- 7. Additional Zoom on Sketches
- 8. Your Turn: Share Your Colour Tricks!
1. Colour Is Your Secret Weapon to Highlight Ideas
In every design field—concept art, product design, cars, fashion—there’s a simple trick I use all the time: one pop of colour.
When you show your sketches to friends, colleagues, or clients, this splash of colour guides their eyes exactly where you want them. It’s fast, effective, and makes your best ideas shine instantly.
2. Don’t Forget Composition, Size, and Notes
Colour is powerful, but it’s not the only player:
- Composition,
- The size differences between your sketches,
- The personal notes all help tell your design story.
That’s the magic spark that grabs attention quickly and keeps it there.
3. One Colour and One Grey Keep It Clean and Focused
I keep my boards simple: one pop of colour and a cold grey for shadows. Sometimes I use warm grey, but cold grey gives a nice clean contrast. This combination works great on paper or digital. Keeping it simple means your audience isn’t overwhelmed and can focus on what matters.
4. Colour Small Details or Backgrounds to Make Them Pop
Here is my Mecha-Scoprion!
Add colour to joints, lighting spots, eyes, or props—tiny details that bring life to your sketches.
Another trick I love is colouring a light background behind a sketch to make it jump out.
Car designers use this a lot because it’s a super-fast way to spotlight their favorite parts.
5. Know Your Tools: Test Your Pens and Markers First
If you try new pens or markers, test them first on a scrap sheet.
You don’t want to mess up your sketch with slow-drying ink that smudges when your hand touches the paper.
I use simple markers I found in Vietnam; the tip bends softly like a little brush, which helps me control line weight with ease.
6. Make Your Sketches Speak with Colour Pops
Here is a mecha-spider!
Just a touch of colour in the right spots makes your sketches speak louder.
People get your message instantly, no long explanations needed. This technique is universal for all designers looking to make a strong visual impact.
7. Additional Zoom on Sketches
8. Your Turn: Share Your Colour Tricks!
What about you?
How do you use colour in your sketches?
I’m curious—drop your favourite tips in the comments and keep the creative energy flowing!
Cheers,
Chou-Tac
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