Good and Bad Color Combos

[marauder]

The recent recommendations for BBT's 2014 lineup got me thinking about color schemes. We already have a best stock color combinations topic, but I wanted to explore the topic from a more pragmatic perspective. The other topic centered around ideals, this topic will center more around general suggestions and explanations.

I will actually start off with color schemes that I don't want to see anymore in stock blasters.



I can't stand massive combinations of orange and yellow. It's not just that it's bright, but I also think it looks kind of tacky and amateurish.



Also not a fan of big combinations of yellow and green.

Here's some more color combos I'm not a fan of:




I absolutely love the combination of grey or silver with a splash of color. I wonder if Buzz Bee could get away with this without being sued. Thoughts?



I actually don't like the 150's colors nearly as much as the above two blasters.



A different combination of blues with some yellow also looks great. This is one of my favorite color schemes. The blue and yellow of the Gorgon/Python2 is also pretty good and I wouldn't complain if it continued to see a lot of use. Here's a similar color scheme to the Vindicator's:



I've posted some more in the best stock color combinations topic.


And lastly, I absolutely ABSOLUTELY love this color scheme.

In summary though, I don't want to see anymore super bright color schemes. Orange and yellow should only be used for accents or tanks but not body colors. I'm fine with lime being used as a body color, but not if yellow or orange is used with it. Blues are always good, and greys and silvers are great for the body color.

I'm looking forward to seeing if BBT comes out with some nice color schemes next year. Super Soaker's look pretty awful.

[isoaker]

Colors - definitely a subjective area with some science (and pseudo-science) associated with how and why people prefer some combinations over others. While some desired color combos are possible, I should note that the reason so many water blasters use the yellow-green color combo is, for some reason, they tend to sell remarkably well. My guess is that it has that "spring"-like feel and parents tend to gravitate towards products that look benign/safe. Older kids and adult purchasing for themselves tend to gravitate towards darker, more 'mature' color schemes, but the size of the older market, even in the height of the Super Soaker, is still a far cry from the size of the younger children's market for water blasters.

As for me, I always liked how the original CPS series used the same basic grey for their bodies and mixed up reservoir and pressure chamber colors. I also really liked the color combo from the XP310/XP220 darker teal/yellow look.

[the oncoming storm]

let me share my personal favorite color scheme the XP 300 http://www.isoaker.net/isnet/topic4723.html

[marauder]

Colors - definitely a subjective area with some science (and pseudo-science) associated with how and why people prefer some combinations over others. While some desired color combos are possible, I should note that the reason so many water blasters use the yellow-green color combo is, for some reason, they tend to sell remarkably well. My guess is that it has that "spring"-like feel and parents tend to gravitate towards products that look benign/safe.

Wow, that's very interesting. Well, I guess the good thing, as far as the rest of us are concerned, is that that means that smaller blasters are more likely to be released in yellow and lime and the larger blasters are more likely to have more "mature" colors. Where have you read or heard about this?

[isoaker]

Wow, that's very interesting. Well, I guess the good thing, as far as the rest of us are concerned, is that that means that smaller blasters are more likely to be released in yellow and lime and the larger blasters are more likely to have more "mature" colors. Where have you read or heard about this?

Where else?

[HBWW]

Honestly, I'd easily trade aesthetics for ergonomics, range/capacity, and other battle performance factors any day. Then again, I generally don't like the look/feel of most water guns except a select few. Favorite styles are Flash Flood and the best of the CPS line, although I wish the 1200, 2700, and 1500 had a more sleek and linear look like the 2000/2500 and 1000. I like my CPS blasters looking badass with a hint of tacticool.

As far as color scheme goes, I prefer the more neutral tones, less bright and less saturated. The Buzz Bee Ultimate Missile Blast has a good color scheme.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like BBT can really pick up too far on the militaristic style of the N-strike look, unless they can compete in the same space as Hasbro. (Although this time it's easier since they've advanced their attempts to destroy the SS brand.) Anyway, I guess what I'm after is something that both looks like a toy, and has colors/designs that don't look obnoxious and have some minimum level of battle practicality in mind. Perhaps that's not really possible these days, although the Ultimate Missile Blast suggests otherwise.