Color theory provides guidance for mixing colors to create aesthetically pleasing blends, maximize readability, and convey meaning through cultural associations. At its core, color is composed of light. Primary colors cannot be created by mixing other colors, while secondary colors are made by mixing primaries and tertiary colors mix primaries and secondaries. Colors can be arranged on a color wheel to purposefully choose combinations based on their properties, such as using complementary colors opposite each other for contrast or analogous colors next to each other for harmony. Color contrast is important for readability when choosing text and background colors.