Celebrate the New Year with a New Vectorworks Color Palette

What if we told you that several different paint manufacturers’ Color of the Year selections were now available within Vectorworks?

What if we told you that these Color of the Year selections also point towards a larger movement in the design industry?

Still curious? Keep on reading!

In what’s now a yearly tradition, paint manufacturers from around the world announce their Color of the Year selections to established designers and curious minds alike. These colors serve as a moment to reflect on the previous year, but also look forward to the trends and exciting designs that will come in the year ahead.

Let’s take a look at some of the different Color of the Year selections, and how you can download them inside Vectorworks.

Behr’s 2023 Color of the Year is a simple neutral named “Blank Canvas.” In addition to stating that “Blank Canvas creates a welcoming atmosphere for entries and hallways,” the manufacturer's interactive announcement page features accent colors to accompany Blank Canvas.

Better Homes & Gardens’ 2023 Color of the Year, per their website, is Canyon Ridge. This color was created “ thinking of sunsets over sweeping desert landscapes, like the red rock spires of Zion National Park. The color is a versatile design choice and works well painted across a full room or as a subtle accent wall.”

Dulux Trade’s 2023 Color of the Year is called Wild Wonder . According to their announcement of the color, “ Wild Wonder™ is a light and earthy shade with a glowing tone that connects us with the natural world. It brings positivity and energy to our living and working spaces .. .”

Dunn-Edwards’ 2023 Color of the Year is Terra Rosa. The paint manufacturer says that the color“ is a deep, rosy pink hue with a touch of terra-cotta influence that exudes confidence, creativity, and coziness.”

Dutch Boy Paints has announced Rustic Greige as its 2023 Color of the Year. The color “is all about the need to escape, relax and recharge. It’s about retreating to a calmer, simpler lifestyle inspired by the peace and clarity of tones derived from nature,” said Ashley Banbury, NCIDQ and senior color designer of Dutch Boy Paints.

Humorously referred to as “bluish-greenish-something-in-betweenish” in their announcement, Glidden’s 2023 Color of the Year is Vining Ivy. They say that the color “serves up versatile vibes, making it an on-trend addition to any room. No matter if you think it looks more blue or more green, either way, it’s a vibe.”

Keeping the flora-inspired trend going, Krylon announced their 2023 Color of the Year as Spanish Moss. According to Businesswire.com ,“Spanish Moss is a natural hue that brings the poetic expressions of nature into the home.”

Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year is Viva Magenta. According to their site, “It is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative.”

Sherwin-Williams’ 2023 Color of the Year is Redend Point. The brownish hue was picked in an effort to “embrace a spirit of connection with the world around,” per their website.

Last but not least in this list is Valspar, who predicted a gentle, 12-color palette to steal the show in 2023. The manufacturer highlighted colors like Ivory Brown and Gentle Violet to be "Comfortable. Joyous. Beautiful."

As you can tell from the paint manufacturers' statements, nearly all of the colors have two things in common: nature and you.

Whether the color is meant to energize, inspire, or relax you, they all seam to be influenced by the natural world and have the well-being of people in mind.

Such a focus is finally getting the attention it deserves in the design world, and we couldn't be more excited.

The hues and predictions made above are all now at your fingertips in Vectorworks! To download and install please click on the following link:

DOWNLOAD THE COLOR PALETTE

Once downloaded, you’ll need to simply place the .xml file into the application folder.

For Mac customers to locate the palette : Finder> Applications> Vectorworks 2023> Libraries> Default> Color Palettes

For Windows customers to locate the palette: C:\ Program Files\ Vectorworks 2023\ Libraries\ Default\ Color Palettes

Once the file has been placed, restart Vectorworks.

Then, in the Attributes palette, go to the color selection pop-over. In the "Active Document" pull-down menu you'll find the Color of the Year palette under the "Other Palettes" option.

Now, you’ll be able to use the new custom color palette in Vectorworks as a solid fill on objects — which is useful for creating presentation boards and communicating your design intent. You can also use the Renderworks texture shader to apply to your 3D models and create stunning renderings of your designs.

For more info on creating renderings and communicating your design intent, check out the two stories below:

READ | “Stunning, Realistic Renderings Using Textures in Vectorworks”

READ | “Communicate Your Interior Design Vision to Clients”