Color Overlay by Colorwheels
Colorize your stories with our free transparent color overlays. Apply a color overlay on your photos and images to create a different aesthetic and effect, from vintage, dreamy to dramatic, and more. Find the perfect color overlay to enhance your storytelling with Colorwheels.
What is a color overlay?
A color overlay is a semi-transparent color layer to cover an image, photo, or video. It emphasizes specific color tints and tones to bring out certain color aesthetics. Sometimes, it may even neutralize certain colors.
The use of color overlays improves the text reading experience, adds an attention-grabbing effect, and helps to evoke emotions and feelings through color choice.
How to use a color overlay on an image?
Color overlays by Colorwheels are already preset for the ease of our users. Simply upload an image to preview the effects of our various overlays applied to your image. Choose the most fitting overlay that appeals to you, and download it instantly by clicking the button on the right bottom corner of the image.
Overlays add another level of depth to your image or photo. Use one of our free overlays to add more complexity to your image with just a few clicks!
Ways to use overlays effectively
Transparent overlays come in all types, from color, band to shape. The main idea for using an overlay is to give new layers and depth to an image by covering a part or full of it. Here are some ways to use overlays:
To bring warmth or coolness to an image
To create a neutral background for typography
To add some color and set a mood to an image
To maintain a consistent brand color for creative assets
To emphasize a key message or call to action
Color effects using transparent overlays
Incorporating transparent color overlays in a photo or design is commonly used to grab attention and create a dynamic effect. You can use certain color tones and tints to associate specific moods and atmospheres to the image.
Take an empty hallway photo as an example. Applying a sickly green color overlay will create an uneasy, even haunted feeling to the image. However, with a sepia color overlay, the feelings of the same photo will instead give off a nostalgic, vintage or even retro vibe.
How to make an overlay on photo using Colorwheels X and E?
With our online design tools, you can create all types of overlay from scratch that adds depth to your design or photo. First, click ‘add element’ on the left panel of your editor interface. Simply choose any design element you want by selecting the ‘shape’ tag or input relevant keywords. Then, customize its color and reduce the transparency to your liking.
One fun thing about using overlays is that they can overlap each other, meaning you could have a circle under a rectangle which you could then place typography over. With various design elements available in Colorwheels, you can create almost any overlays possible with Colorwheels X and E!