Choosing
A Color Scheme
by: Joanne Glasspoole
When you begin the design
of your Web site, one of the first things
you need to do is decide on a color scheme. Although
choosing colors seems like a relatively easy proposition,
it's not easy at all. In fact, it's hard.
One of the pluses we have as Web designers is that
millions of colors are at our disposal. Unlike the
print world, we do not have to pay for each color
we use. If we want to use a specific hue of yellow,
for example, all we need to know is the hexadecimal
code for that particular color.
One of the pitfalls of having millions of colors to
pick from is that some people go crazy and use every
color imaginable on their Web site. This is a big
no-no. Not only does it look unprofessional to use
20 different colors on your home page, but depending
on the colors you choose, your page may not be readable.
It is extremely important to pick hues that complement
each other. You will want to use a background color
that contrasts well with the color of your text. People
are used to reading black text on a white background.
I keep this fact in mind when I design my clients'
Web sites. Although I have never stuck with the black
and white color scheme, I try to use a dark font on
a light background. It makes for easier reading and
a more pleasant experience for my visitors.
Color affects our emotions. For example, the color
red makes us hungry. If you're on a diet, it wouldn't
be a good idea to set your table with a red tablecloth!
Colors like blue and green are cool. Have you noticed
in the summertime how sitting in a blue room automatically
makes you feel refreshed?
Yellow is a wonderful brightener. It is cheerful and
warm -- like the sun.
When using colors on your Web site, you need to consider
the mood you want to create and the audience you are
designing for.
If you are designing a Web site for children, red
is an excellent color choice, because it attracts
the eye and stimulates our metabolism. Red is cheerful
and exuberant.
Blue is an excellent choice for a business site because
it exudes professionalism, wealth and power.
If you are designing a Web site for a nature group,
greens and browns are natural choices because they
are colors that are commonly found in the outdoors.
Another important consideration when choosing color
schemes is cultural differences. For example, black
is the color most commonly associated with mourning
in the United States, but in Japan, white symbolizes
sorrow. In Malaysia, green is associated with disease,
and red symbolizes anger in Indonesia. As you can
see by just these three examples, color is interpreted
quite differently depending on the country. You must
be careful if you don't want to insult your visitors.
Choosing an appropriate color scheme for your Web
site is extremely important. Your color scheme must
be carefully considered because the wrong choices
could adversely affect your visitor's experience at
your Web site. You only have one chance to make a
good impression. Don't blow it!
For more information about choosing color schemes,
visit the following resources on the Web:
The Color Schemer
http://www.godigitalstudios.com/www/color
Clear Ink's Palette Man
http://www.paletteman.com/
Project Cool Developer Zone
http://www.projectcool.com/developer/reference/color-chart.html
VisiBone Web Design Color References
http://www.visibone.com/color/
A book that illustrates excellent use of color on
the Web is "Web Site Graphics: Color" by
Jeff Carlson, Toby Malina and Glenn Fleishman. For
more information about this book, visit http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564965163/glasspoolewebdev
About
The Author
Joanne Glasspoole is a Webmaster and freelance Web
designer. Visit her Web site for Internet and technology
news, insightful articles, and links to excellent
Webmaster resources to help you grow your online business.
http://www.glasspoole.com
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