We can’t help but feel inspired when we encounter different types of purple in our daily lives. No matter which generation you grew up in, the various shades of purple always manage to stay on-trend. To achieve your desired type of purple, you must remember to use shades of blue and red. The two primary colors may emit contrasting emotions but that’s what makes purple unique. The marriage of calming blues and intense reds creates the elegance and energy of purple we know and love. Who knew this beloved color could be so complex?
When we buy stuff labeled “purple,” it doesn’t mean that other things feature the same shade or tone. That purple Starbucks tumbler you’ve been eyeing does not offer the same shade as your favorite purple t-shirt. Like most colors, experts broke down purple into different types to help us appreciate several shades. Don’t challenge art buffs and meticulous designers by saying all types of purple look the same. Learn to familiarize yourself with the different tones and shades of purple. Read the information we prepared about the different purple shades you need to know about.
History Behind the Different Types of Purple
Before anything else, let’s start with the basics. Like most things, the color purple presents a long history. Yes, we can get a beautiful purple shade after mixing blue and red. However, getting the purple shades we liked wasn’t easy in Ancient Times. The earliest records of the purple dye came from the City of Tyre. To honor the city, they named the expensive hue “Tyrian Purple.” People produced the dye by harvesting the mucus from Murex Snails. Back then, people considered the hue rare and exotic. Because of this, the types of purple available then came with a hefty price tag. Considered a rare dye, purple or violet became associated with royalty, wealth, and power.
We automatically relate purple or violet to royalty due to the long history behind the color. As mentioned, the purple dyes came with extravagant price tags due to their complicated process. Royalty and nobles from Rome, Egypt, and Persia held the color with such high regard. In recent history, famous personalities like Prince became associated with the color purple. Aside from being an accomplished musician, Prince made his legendary acting debut starring in the 1984 rock musical drama “Purple Rain.” The song and album with the same continue to garner fame to this day.
The Difference Between the Shades of Purple and Violet
Some people can’t help but argue over purple vs. violet. Visually, they look the same but their difference lies in their respective wavelengths. The violet color features about 380–450 nanometers in wavelength. This makes the royal hue belongs hold a place in the visible light spectrum. That small difference keeps it from being added to the hues under ultraviolet light. Overall, you can see violet with your eyes as a color containing more blue than red.
Unlike the violet color, a ratio of about 1:1 of blue and red forms the color purple we know of. When you think of it that way, the two colors bring out similar qualities. However, purple showcases the perfect blend of blue and red whereas violet stands out on its own. You can take the Shakespeare quote “violets are blue” into consideration. Our eyes see things differently from other animals. We see violets and associate them with more blue than red. When you look at a natural purple or violet pattern, our eyes cannot entirely see all of its details. For example, petals from a violet flower appear to animals and us. We see the violet petals as they are but they appear with more intricate patterns and colors to animals. Because of this, we often regard purple as a saturated version of violet. Additionally, the usual cameras we use cannot help our case. Since people designed cameras, they offer the same visuals as the human eye. Despite their visual similarities, the shades of purple and violet stand out by themselves.
Purple Color Palette: Pairing Colors That Go With Purple
All types of purple do look elegant enough by themselves. However, you may also use the color wheel to find shades that complement purple or violet. When you pair complementary colors together, the result is visually pleasing to almost everyone. Take the classic Christmas colors as an example. The colors green and red directly complement each other in the color wheel. The balance between the two colors resulted in the festive feel we know and love every holiday season. Using the color wheel, purple directly complements yellow. With this, you can easily pair your purple accessories, bags, etc with yellow or gold-toned products.