Web Design, choosing the right color palette.

Do colors make a difference in conveying your ideas?  Of course they do.  You should be very intentional in choosing a color scheme to display your media in.  A good designer should steer you in the proper direction, but here are some things to consider.

First and foremost, choose a strong contrast between text and background.  ”Every visual presentation involves figure-ground relationships. This relationship between a subject (or figure) and its surrounding field (ground) will evidence a level of contrast; the more an object contrasts with its surrounds, the more visible it becomes” (from worqx).  Further along in the article it shows the difference between strong contrast as opposed to weak.  In a nutshell, choose a strong contrast because it’s easier to read, and causes less eye strain.

Use consistent colors.  Typically, most effective designers choose 4 to 7 colors, and use them concurrently and systematically throughout their designs.  Use contrastive shades of one color and choose the way the different colors blend together.

Here are some color meanings according to Webdesign.org

Red : energy, passion, excitement, power; also implies aggression, danger.

Blue : coolness, spirituality, freedom, patience, loyalty, peace, trustworthiness; can also imply sadness, depression.

Yellow : light, optimism, happiness, brightness, joy.

Green : life, naturalness, restfulness, health, wealth, prosperity; in certain contexts, can imply decay, toxicity.

Orange : friendliness, warmth, approachability, energy, playfulness, courage.

Violet : wisdom, sophistication, celebration.

White : purity, cleanliness, youth, freshness, peace.

Black : power, elegance, secrecy, mystery.

Gray : security, maturity, reliability.

Pink : romance a feminine color.

Brown : comfort, strength, stability, credibility.

Here are some things to consider when choosing colors.  In general one can say that the risk of using too many colours is greater than the risk of using too few. Too many colours will make the page feel too busy and it usually makes it harder for the viewer to find the information he or she wants. It is also more tiring to the eyes.

A page with too few colours, on the other hand, risks being seen as a bit boring, but this need not always be the case. One commonly used rule in these matters is to use three colours. Primary colour: … the main colour of the page. It will occupy most of the area and set the tone for the design as a whole. Secondary colour: … usually there to “back up” the primary colour. It is usually a colour that is pretty close to the primary colour. Highlight colour: … used to emphasize certain parts of the page … contrasts more with the primary and secondary colours … should be used with moderation.

Like I stated before, a good designer can direct and steer you in choosing colors that blend together as well as convey your products and services, and targets your audience most effectively.

Advertisement