I usually just go with what feels right, relying on experience.
But to be more specific — I did spend a lot of time studying color theory: color maps, tutorials, and works by other CG artists.
Eventually, I figured out what workflow suits me best and picked up a few tricks that help improve the final result.
So now, most of the time, I trust my instincts —
but when something feels off, I go back to the basics and those proven techniques.
1 If you have some experience building maps, strict color consistency isn’t that important.
But if you don’t — it’s safer to stick to your chosen palette to avoid turning the scene into a mess of colors.
2 Yeah, I do go back and check earlier assets sometimes.
But honestly, the best way is to look at good references and build something of your own based on them.
