Triadic colors

삼각 배색

Three hues spaced exactly 120° apart on the wheel — strong contrast that feels more balanced than a straight complementary pair.

Also known as: Triad삼색 조화
···
html
<div class="wrap">
  <div class="wheel" id="wheel"><div class="marker" id="m0"></div><div class="marker" id="m1"></div><div class="marker" id="m2"></div></div>
  <div class="swatches" id="sws"></div>
</div>
css
.wrap{display:grid;grid-template-columns:auto 1fr;gap:clamp(14px,4vmin,28px);align-items:center;width:min(560px,94%)}
.wheel{position:relative;width:clamp(100px,32vmin,190px);height:clamp(100px,32vmin,190px);border-radius:50%;cursor:grab;touch-action:none;
  background:conic-gradient(hsl(0 80% 55%),hsl(60 80% 55%),hsl(120 80% 55%),hsl(180 80% 55%),hsl(240 80% 55%),hsl(300 80% 55%),hsl(360 80% 55%));
  box-shadow:0 0 0 1px var(--line),0 10px 26px rgba(0,0,0,.18)}
.marker{position:absolute;width:18%;height:18%;min-width:14px;min-height:14px;border-radius:50%;background:#fff;border:3px solid var(--fg);transform:translate(-50%,-50%);box-shadow:0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,.35)}
.swatches{display:grid;gap:8px}
.sw{height:clamp(24px,5.6vmin,34px);border-radius:8px;border:1px solid var(--line);display:flex;align-items:center;padding:0 10px;font:700 clamp(10px,2.6vmin,12px)/1 ui-monospace,monospace;color:#fff;text-shadow:0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,.4)}
js
const OFFSETS = [0, 120, 240];
const wheel = document.getElementById('wheel');
const markers = OFFSETS.map((_, i) => document.getElementById('m' + i));
const sws = document.getElementById('sws');
sws.innerHTML = OFFSETS.map((_, i) => '<div class="sw" id="s' + i + '"></div>').join('');
const swatchEls = OFFSETS.map((_, i) => document.getElementById('s' + i));

let base = 20, autoRotate = true;
function place(hue, el, R) {
  const rad = hue * Math.PI / 180;
  el.style.left = (50 + R * Math.sin(rad)) + '%';
  el.style.top = (50 - R * Math.cos(rad)) + '%';
}
function render() {
  OFFSETS.forEach((off, i) => {
    const h = (base + off + 360) % 360;
    place(h, markers[i], 41);
    const c = 'hsl(' + h + ', 76%, 53%)';
    markers[i].style.background = c;
    swatchEls[i].style.background = c;
    swatchEls[i].textContent = Math.round(h) + '°';
  });
}
function angleFromEvent(e) {
  const r = wheel.getBoundingClientRect();
  const cx = r.left + r.width / 2, cy = r.top + r.height / 2;
  const deg = Math.atan2(e.clientX - cx, -(e.clientY - cy)) * 180 / Math.PI;
  return (deg + 360) % 360;
}
wheel.addEventListener('pointerdown', e => { autoRotate = false; wheel.setPointerCapture(e.pointerId); base = angleFromEvent(e); render(); });
wheel.addEventListener('pointermove', e => { if (e.buttons) { base = angleFromEvent(e); render(); } });

(function tick() {
  if (autoRotate) base = (base + 0.3) % 360;
  render();
  requestAnimationFrame(tick);
})();

Add 120° and 240° to a base hue and you get a triad. Because it's an equilateral split, the "tension" between the three hues spreads out evenly instead of concentrating in one pair.

Using all three at equal saturation and area gets loud fast. In practice, pick one as the dominant, low-saturation color and reserve the other two for small accents — icons, tags, badges.

A primary-color triad (red/yellow/blue) reads as playful — toy and kids' brands love it. A desaturated triad reads as more considered illustration or brand palette work.

When to use

For categorical colors in data viz, or a brand palette that wants to feel colorful but still deliberate.