Color Harmony: A Guide to Creative Color Combinations

The primary target audience for this books seems to have been Japanese, with Westerners as an afterthought. The books does contain hundreds of color combinations, but throughout the book the 61 colors used to form different combinations are identified according to the Dai Nippon Inc Color (DIC) System. The book also contains swatches in 61 colors, which you can cut out with scissors, and which are on the back also identified according to DIC system. At the end of the book there is a conversion chart, where you can find what color in DIC system correspondes to what color in CMYK, but it is way less convenient that using color combination books like Color Harmony Workbook by Lisa Sawahata, which I have found to be infinitely better and much more practical and user-friendly for Westerners.

This book is a great tool for finding color combinations. It contains small samples of 2, 3, and 4-color combinations. At the bottom of each combination page is a tip for using colors together. My only quibble is that the samples are VERY small, probably because the footprint of the book is also small. Recommended for getting ideas on color.

I am currently studying color theory and composition. In my opinion the text part of the book give only very basics of the color theory. However, it is really easy to learn from it because of compact and in the same time just relevant information. This book gives an insight in (1) emotional impact of colors and their combinations; (2) suggests the recommended applications; (3) tells about colors' usage in different cultures and (4) provides samples and color combination guide.The samples and color combination guide is the best part of the book! The main thing is that you can apply ready samples and color combinations directly in your design. For the summary I would emphasize again that it is very handy for practical applications but dose not give considerable theoretical base. It is more than worth the money.

I am using this book since 1992 and have increased my senses of Color combinations and their applications every where I desire. Mainly I am using for designing beautiful motifs for Ladies printed garments. As well as I have used it for designing the reports for my submissions in the textile institute. Well done Hideaki Chijiiwa.Abdul Majid

This guide to createive color combinations is a must have for students and new designers. Information on what the colors mean (what feelings they give), color schemes, color combinations, color applications, color conversion, choosing colors, it's all there! A must have for designers! Worth every penny.