Digital Trends
Photography

Cinema Palettes shows how colors are used to set mood of iconic films

Gannon Burgett
By —

cinema palettes twitter account color theory
The color palette of Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. Cinema Palettes/Twitter
Color theory might sound like nothing more than a cinematic buzzword you last heard in your 300-level fine arts course at university. But the reality is, color theory is the set of rules and guidelines upon which cinematographers rely on to affect the tone and mood of a movie, beyond the soundtrack.

To dive deeper into the colors used in films new and old, a Twitter account under the name Cinema Palettes takes a still from a movie and pulls out a color palette based on the scene captured. This color palette is presented below the selected frame, giving us a better visual upon which to break down the film’s mood based on known color theory principles.

As of this writing, the account has 256 screenshots and accompanying color palettes displayed; everything from the 1957 Aubrey Hepburn film, Funny Face, to Ridley Scott’s 2015 space adventure, The Martian.

Browsing through the collection, it’s interesting to look at the various themes that come across when viewing a movie’s color palettes at a more macro level.

Take, for example, Wes Anderson films. Anderson is known for a very eclectic visual approach to movies, but upon looking at the palettes for his movies Moonrise Kingdom and The Royal Tenenbaums, it becomes even more obvious just how bright and diverse his scenes are.

Below, we’ve gathered some of our favorite palette collections so far:

Editors' Recommendations

Don't Miss

Star Wars: Episode IX -- The Rise of Skywalker: Everything we know so far
Up Next

Amazon launches its restaurant service in New York City and Dallas, Texas
marvel avengers endgame review null
Movies & TV

In Avengers: Endgame, Marvel saved its best (and biggest) for last

Marvel Studios concludes its 22-film saga with Avengers: Endgame, the sequel to Avengers: Infinity War and the culmination of more than a decade of movies. It gives fans one of the franchise's most epic and emotional installments so far.
Posted — By Rick Marshall
Captain Marvel review
Movies & TV

Watch the Captain Marvel, other MCU post-credits scenes before Avengers: Endgame

Catch up on the Marvel Cinematic Universe's ongoing storyline before Avengers: Endgame's big finale by watching the post-credits scenes for every Marvel film, including Captain Marvel, via Twitter.
Posted — By Chris Gates
Movies & TV

The best movies on Amazon Prime Video right now (April 2019)

Amazon Prime Video provides subscribers with access to a host of fantastic films, but sorting through the catalog can be a major undertaking. Luckily, we've done the work for you. Here are the best movies on Amazon Prime Video right now.
Posted — By Rick Marshall
Movies & TV

These are the best movies on Hulu right now (April 2019)

From dramas to blockbusters, Hulu offers some great films to its subscribers. Check out the best movies on Hulu, whether you're into charming adventure tales or gruesome horror stories.
Posted — By Will Nicol
photography news april 20 2019 lexarphotocontestwinnder
Photography

Photography News: Instagram’s disappearing likes, the best photos of the year

In this week's Photography News, see why Instagram is testing a version that excludes the number of likes a post gets. Also, see the impressive winners from two photography contests and the latest features coming to the Fujifilm X-T3.
Posted — By Hillary Grigonis
Panasonic Lumix S1R Review
Photography

Panasonic Lumix S1R vs. Sony A7R III: Which pixel-shift powerhouse is better?

The Lumix S1R and Sony A7R III are different in design, but similar in performance, and both offer pixel-shift high resolution modes which pull even more detail out of their already high-resolution sensors. Here's how they compare.
Posted — By Daven Mathies
awesome tech you cant buy yet jet landmine robot feat
Emerging Tech

Awesome Tech You Can’t Buy Yet: Robots that eat landmines and clean your floors

Check out our roundup of the best new crowdfunding projects and product announcements that hit the web this week. You may not be able to buy this stuff yet, but it's fun to gawk!
Posted — By Drew Prindle
how to get followers on instagram 1
Photography

Earn more likes on your photos with the best cameras for Instagram

Looking to snap better Instagrams? Instagram doesn't demand high-resolution files, but upgrading your camera can deliver better bokeh and low-light quality. Here our the best cameras for Instagram.
Posted — By Hillary Grigonis
Ricoh Theta
Photography

Capture life in every direction with the best 360 cameras

While 360 cameras are still a new technology, that doesn't mean there's not a few that are worth a look. Whether you want to shoot from the middle or just need a simple, affordable option, here are the best 360 cameras on the market.
Posted — By Daven Mathies
Sony RX100 VI review
Photography

These point-and-shoot cameras make your smartphone pics look like cave paintings

If your smartphone camera isn't giving you the results you want, maybe it's time to step up your game. The latest and greatest point-and-shoot cameras offer large sensors, tough bodies, and long lenses -- something no phone can touch.
Posted — By Hillary Grigonis
Best GoPro
Photography

These are the best action cameras money can buy, from GoPro to Garmin and more

Action cameras are great tools for capturing videos of your everyday activities, whether it's a birthday party or the steepest slope you've ever descended on your snowboard. These are the best money can buy.
Posted — By Gannon Burgett
best vlogging cameras
Photography

Starting your very own vlog? Here are the best cameras to buy

Any camera that shoots video can be used to vlog, but a few models stand out from the crowd thanks to superior image quality, ergonomics, and usability. When it comes to putting your life on YouTube, here are the best cameras for the job.
Posted — By Daven Mathies
Google Pixel 3
Mobile

Which smartphone has the best camera? We found the sharpest shooters

They say that the best camera is always the one you have with you and that makes your smartphone camera very important indeed. Join us for a closer look at the best camera phones available right now.
Posted — By Simon Hill
Olympus Tough TG-4
Photography

Wet or dry, these rugged waterproof cameras capture your every adventure

Rugged cameras are designed to withstand nature's elements. These waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof shooters can go wherever you take them, making them the perfect travel companions.
Posted — By Hillary Grigonis