Tool to explore the psychology of colour palettes

Neenah Paper's Think Ink tool is an intriguing way to create a colour palette based on a methodology of personality profiling called the Dewey Colour System.

Before the interesting Neenah Think Ink tool, a little background: If you visit deweycolorsystem.com, you will find more information on the science of colour psychology. In a nutshell, the site claims that the set of colour preferences you indicate via side-by-side selections is an accurate predictor of your personality type and the career choices most suitable to you. We started with the free personality profiler, and Dewey provided an analysis based on our colour-clicks, some of which is excerpted below:

You're a CREATOR
Nonconforming, Impulsive, Expressive, Romantic, Intuitive, Sensitive, and Emotional
These original types place a high value on aesthetic qualities and have a great need for self-expression. They enjoy working independently, being creative, using their imagination, and constantly learning something new. Fields of interest are art, drama, music, and writing or places where they can express, assemble, or implement creative ideas.

CREATOR OCCUPATIONS
Suggested careers are Advertising Executive, Architect, Web Designer, Creative Director, Public Relations, Fine or Commercial Artist, Interior Decorator, Lawyer, Librarian, Musician, Reporter, Art Teacher, Broadcaster, Technical Writer, English Teacher, Architect, Photographer, Medical Illustrator, Corporate Trainer, Author, Editor, Landscape Architect, Exhibit Builder, and Package Designer.

OK, interesting enough. What Neenah paper has done is to create both a website and iPhone application that take a base colour selection and suggests four sets of palettes for you to choose from, each of which evoke a certain reaction (think "pop" vs. "subdue"). These selections are supposedly somehow based on the Dewey Colour System model, though how isn't very clear. At any rate, once you've selected a palette, Neenah then suggests a set of paper options that best complement the palette you selected.

We've seen a number of colour palette generators in our day, but this one is interesting because it bases its recommendations on the tone you'd like to evoke, as well as the fact that the palette extends into paper selection, not just the colour scheme.

It's worth a quick look by visiting Neenah at:
http://www.neenahlink.com/colorunleashed/index.html. We've provided summary screen shots below.

THREE QUICK STEPS TO CREATE A PALETTE:

YOU BEGIN BY SELECTING A BASE COLOUR TO WORK WITH.

THINK INK SUGGESTS FOUR PALETTES BASED ON MOOD, TWO OF WHICH WE GRABBED.

FINALLY, THINK INK SUGGESTS PAPER OPTIONS BASED ON THE PALETTE YOU SELECT.