The Complete Color Reference Manual
   Color secrets revealed

 WEAR IT FOR:

Physical restoration, emotional restoration, or to bring in a romantic relationship, restore your physical endurance, express greater power, or to stand out in a crowd.

Red is a color that is stimulating, positive and vital to the body; has a stimulating affect on the nervous system; increases blood pressure, respiration and heart rate.

Partnered with yellow red can be 'hypnotic'; with beiges and browns red shows character; and with gold and white it displays a regal manner.

Red is perhaps the most dominant and dynamic of colors. Its energy has a strong influence on the growth of plants. Psychologically red is exciting and increases restlessness and nervous tension.

It represents an attraction to stimulus, and as such, provides an excellent environment for the creation (but not execution) of ideas. Under the influence of red, time is over-estimated, and weights seem heavier.

In practical applications 'pure' red can seldom be used. The full color is too overbearing and has too strong an after-image. Brilliant red is good for commanding attention.  

Because of the high frequency of red color blindness (around eight percent of men and half a percent of women), it has its limitations in applications for men. Modified forms of red (rose, maroon, and pink) are beautiful, expressive, universally appealing, and deeply emotional.

In its crimson tone it benefits those who worry and are fearful. Its vermilion shade will help to counteract depression and help to inspire action to solve the problem.

VISIBILITY

The most easily recognised and identified color and the easiest to see in daylight conditions. A bright red attracts attention to itself and will take a lot of dirt without losing its appearance. Yellowish reds have better visibility than bluish reds. Reds tend to 'disappear' in a dim light.

Can be used to signify 'class and speed' [as in a red sports car].  In contrast darker colors like brown are used to signify sturdiness and reliability in motor vehicles [particularly commercial vehicles].   

CHILDREN'S EMOTIONAL RESPONSE TO RED IS: 

Angry, thirsty, mean, sore eyes, fire, danger.

Red is the principal colour pertaining to areas of basic needs, such as food, clothing and shelter.

Red has always been attractive to human beings. The early people of North Africa and Asia Minor, including the Egyptians, considered themselves to be a red race. They dyed their flesh red. Red-bearded youths were sacrificed in Egypt to ensure an abundant harvest. 

The doctors, in the time of Edward II, directed that everything in a room should be red to prevent smallpox.

In Scotland and many other countries a piece of red string or cloth was tied to animals to protect them from death. In Egypt, the Orient, Russia and the Balkans, red is the colour of marriage; and in China a bride always dressed in red.

People who dislike red tend to be fearful, apprehensive, and unsettled.

GOOD HARMONIES:

RED       with white, pink, blue (vibrant effect), red (all reds go together), brilliant yellow, shocking pink.

BRIGHT    red with cream.

DEEP RED   with flesh, peach, ivory.

CORAL   with white.

FLAME  with darker yellows, white, blue.

MAGENTA   with orange, brown, green, other reds including mail-box red.

SCARLET   with royal blue (strong), midnight blue, brown.    

VERMILION   with emerald green.

Good contrasts are Scarlet with darker greys, or red with green.

FOR GOODS AND SERVICES RELATING TO:

Physical imaging, sports or exercise clubs, dining or dancing, political clubs and organisation, real estate, business, travel, food, meat products, and machinery, SCARLET to business markets. Use red for masculine toiletries.

ADDITIONAL NOTES ON RED:

Red is the colour of the heart, flesh, and emotion.

Red has the longest wavelength and lowest energy of all light.

It is thought to be the first color a baby sees at birth.

It is the 'expression' of nervous and glandular activity.

Red is the urge to achieve results, and to win success.

Its sensory perception is APPETITE, and its emotional perception is DESIRE.

When used as a packaging color, it makes the package appear larger and closer.

ORANGE / RED: represents 'force of will'.

ITS EFFECTS ARE: Desire, excitability, domination, sexuality.

 AND IT IS: Active, offensive, aggressive, autonomous, and competitive.