Vintage styles and color palettes are always making a comeback. Transform the look and feel of your designs with these 25 free retro color combinations.
Cover image via Chamille White.
Vintage and retro elements always seem to make a comeback in the creative world, and for good reason, too. Throwbacks to the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s in marketing designs, product packaging, fashion, and more evokes nostalgia, a positive emotional response that brings consumers back to “the good ol’ days” (even if they weren’t technically alive during that time). Society’s warm thoughts about the past means that brands successfully hinting at retro authenticity reap the benefits of better brand recognition and even increased sales.
While retro elements continuously cycle through design trends, there is always a modern interpretation when it’s applied to campaigns and designs. From vintage filters on minimalist images to retro text effects overlaid with modern typefaces and desaturated color palettes, you’ll always notice a subtle spin that keeps vintage imagery looking fresh.
You can create a subtle yet effective retro feel in your designs by simply changing the color palette. Each of these 25 palettes is inspired by vintage imagery from Shutterstock and can be applied to anything from a pattern to brand elements. For quick color updates, download the swatch file below to bring them into Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or InDesign with ease. In design programs such as Shutterstock Editor, you can type in the six-digit hex code in the Stroke or Fill Color menus within the Custom tab.
Looking to save one of these images for color inspiration down the road? Be sure to pin it to your Pinterest boards for easy reference.
1. Surf & Sunsets
Image via Kanchana P.
Call attention to your group or club meetings with this minimal template from Shutterstock Editor. Customize background elements and insert images for that personal touch.
2. Vintage Lens
Image via Valentina_G.
3. Lustrous Lamps
Image via Pushish Images.
Warm orange tones paired with cooler hues guarantees retro vibes. Use this color palette in your next design to introduce subtle hints of the past.
4. Kayak Crew
Image via Nejron Photo.
5. Antique Armchair
Image via Khaled ElAdawy.
6. Retro Charm
Image via Photographee.eu.
Alert customers of new home decor trends and direct them to your website with this customizable template from Editor.
7. Tiled Texture
Image via SOMMAI.
8. Subdued Swirls
Image via LanaN.
9. Nostalgic Autumn
Image via jakkapan.
Attract viewers with nostalgic elements such as vintage cameras and polaroids, paired with eye-catching palettes, in your next marketing design.
10. Tropical Palms
Image via Svetlana Klementyeva.
11. World Traveler
Image via Annette Shaff.
Promote your next sales event to potential customers with this bold template in Shutterstock Editor.
12. Bright Bicycle
Image via Superlime.
13. Vast Voyages
Image via jakkapan.
Evoke an adventurous journey to the beach with vintage coastal color palettes; apply this combination to a badge or t-shirt graphic for a classic retro look.
14. Mountainous Trek
Image via Vectorpocket.
15. Weekend Getaway
Image via Poprotskiy Alexey.
16. Scenic Elevations
Image via Evgeny Bakharev.
Impress viewers with striking views of the mountaintops using this effortless Shutterstock Editor template.
17. Tranquil Trails
Image via stockfotoart.
18. Vinyl Grooves
Image via tomertu.
19. Audio Waves
Image via Cerberoff.
Channel the not-so-distant past in your logo or badge with muted color palettes sampled from vintage cassettes.
20. Wild Wanderlust
Image via Red monkey.
21. Sunset Beach
Image via iMoved Studio.
Share your adventurous trip to the beach with this breezy template in Shutterstock Editor.
22. Retro Rides
Image via Nejron Photo.
23. Cruising Convertible
Image via EpicStockMedia.
Share summer vibes and dreamy sunset drives with this warm-toned color palette.
24. Pin-Ups & Piers
Image via sergey causelove.
25. Roller Rink
Image via Pao Laroid.
Complementary and subdued hues make for a versatile retro palette; add this palette to logos or badges for a blast from the past.
Download Swatch Files
Download these 25 free swatch palettes by clicking the link below. Each of these swatches is available in the RGB color profile, ideal for both online and web designs.
Swatch files allow you to quickly apply color to any design element in your document with ease.
These swatch files can be opened in Adobe design programs in just a few clicks. In other design applications, you can easily type the six-digit hex codes found on each color swatch in the palettes above.
How to Use Your Free Swatches in Adobe Illustrator
Click the hamburger dropdown in the Swatches panel and select Open Swatch Library > Other Library and select one of the swatch files.
How to Use Your Free Swatches in Adobe Photoshop and InDesign
In the Swatches panel, select the hamburger dropdown menu and click Load Swatches and select an individual swatch file to see it pop up within the panel.
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