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Choosing the
Perfect Colors for Your Web Site
Teacher: Viki
Nygaard
When designing a Web site, most
people give a lot of attention to two major factors: the design
(graphics and logos) and the content. But what about the colors?
This is one of the most important things to consider when designing
your site. The colors of your Web site are important because
they will define the mood and emotions of your visitors as
well as reflect your identity and image branding.
Color is symbolism. We say someone
who is jealous is "green with envy". Someone who is sad is
said to be "blue". When we are angry, we "see red".
Colors affect us psychologically.
They can stimulate our appetite or suppress it. They can make
us happy, excited, angry or sad.
Let's take a look at colors and
what they mean to your visitors. Then we'll discover the different
color combinations and how they apply to your Web site.
Warm Colors
- Red - Red is one of
the most powerful and attention-getting colors. Red symbolizes
passion and fire, love and lust. It has been proven to raise
blood pressure and cause perspiration. Red reflects energy
and can motivate an individual to take action. It can also
symbolize war, violence, blood, and aggression. Pink, however,
is the softer side of red. Pink is romantic, calming and
feminine.
- Orange - Vibrant and
warm, orange is associated with autumn, pumpkins and Halloween.
It inherits many of the traits of red, but is less passionate.
Orange has been known to stimulate the appetite. As a citrus
color, it can also symbolize health.
- Yellow - Yellow symbolizes
sunshine and warmth. It can mean hope, light and energy.
On the other hand, it can mean weakness or illness, or symbolize
cowardice.
Cool Colors
- Green - Green signifies
health and growth (vegetation) and wealth (money). Green
symbolizes spring, renewal, and fertility. It can also mean
jealousy or inexperience.
- Blue - Blue is
one of the most calming colors and is associated with
the sky
and the sea. It is considered to be a "safe" color
and signifies intelligence, reassurance, and trust.
Blue has also been
known to be an appetite suppressant and can signify
depression and sadness.
- Purple - The combination
of red and blue, purple is one of the most intriguing colors
and symbolizes creativity. Purple is spiritual and mysterious.
Deep purple is associated with royalty and richness while
lavender is associated with romance and nostalgia.
Neutral Colors
- Black - Black can represent
power, elegance, and sophistication, but it can also represent
death (Western culture), evil, anger and sadness.
- White - White represents
cleanliness, purity, and spirituality. It represents life
and marriage in Western cultures, but it represents death
in Eastern cultures.
- Grey - Grey is the
combination of black and white. It is a conservative color.
Grey can symbolize security, maturity and reliability, but
it can also signify gloominess and sadness.
- Brown - We like
to classify brown as a "special" color. Sometimes brown
can be used as a neutral and sometimes as a warm color.
Either
way, brown represents credibility and stability, the
hearth, home and the earth.
A Special Note About Using
Colors on the Web
Although modern computers are
capable of displaying millions of colors on the screen, Web
design is limited to only 216 colors. The reason for this is
that Mac computers and PC's both use completely different color
palettes. However, they have 216 colors that are common to
both. These 216 colors are considered "Web safe". Using the
216 Web safe colors means that your Web site colors will look
fairly consistent on different computers (Mac or PC), different
operating systems (Windows or Mac), as well as different browsers
(Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator, to name two).
Choosing a Color Scheme
Once you understand colors and
their connotations you are ready to begin choosing a color
scheme for your site. But, where do you begin? Let's look at
different types of color combinations.
Monochromatic color schemes use
a single color. Differing values of the chosen color can be
used to create the feel of different colors. Monochromatic
color schemes are harmonious and peaceful. Using a single color
creates unity and can help to create or tie things together.
Analogous color combinations use
colors that are related, but not the same, to create visually
appealing schemes. A selection of blues and purples, or reds
and oranges create an analogous color scheme. Two or more colors
can be used in an analogous color scheme however, one color
is often used as a dominant color while others are used as
accents.
Contrasting colors are
complimentary and pleasing to the eye. Colors that are opposites
create contrasting color schemes. For instance, yellow and
purple or red and green are contrasting colors. Contrasting
color schemes generally use a warm color and a cool color but
it isn't necessary to use the startling and obvious combinations,
like blue and orange. You might try beige and light blue or
maroon and forest green to create very pleasing and contrasting
combinations.
- A word of caution concerning
contrasting colors. Generally, the eye has difficulty
focusing on contrasting colors at the same time. Orange
type in a blue background is very difficult for your viewer
to read. Use contrasting colors for your accents and avoid
setting strong contrasts as background and type colors
or take them down a notch. A light orange, almost cream,
dark blue background is much more readable and still a
contrasting combination.
Triadic color combinations are
comprised of three opposing colors. Red, yellow, and blue would
be a triadic color scheme. Like contrasting color combinations
it is not necessary to use full strength, startling combinations
to create effective triadic color schemes. Using a more subdued
value of one or more color can help to create greater subtlety,
harmony and readability for your site.
It can be a lot of fun to choose
colors. Color is all around us, from nature to our cars, furnishings
and the multitudes of designs we see on the Web and in print.
Look around at the colors that other designers have used. Ask
yourself what you like about them, or what you don't like.
Nature is an unbeatable resource. Flowers and birds, mountains
and deserts all provide fabulous color combinations. When you
see a color combination that thrills you jot it down and save
it for the future. You never know when you may be in need of
a fabulous color scheme for a new site or an update.
About the teacher:
Viki Nygaard is
President of Mount Evans Designs specializing in professional
Web design. For those businesses who insist on quality but must
maintain a budget, visit http://www.mountevansdesigns.com today.
You'll be thrilled with the exceptional designs and the affordable
rates!
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