Graphic Design Using Color

Color is everywhere and conveys a message even school loans consolidation we dont realize it. While that message can vary by culture it pays to know what colors say in your own corner of the universe, and even what color means to your target market.

If you dont think that color speaks just complete that sentence, red means ---- and green means even a child will know what red means stop and green means go. If such simple ideas work for all of a given culture or market what could it mean to the graphic Gourmet Chocolate of your website, brochure, or product if you know some of that information.

First lets start with the basics. remortgage rates color wheel. Weve all seen it. The color wheel shows the basic colors, every wheel is different in how many shades of every color is shown, but they are essentially the same.

Color harmony, colors that go together well. These will be colors that are next door to every other on the color wheel. Such full coverage auto insurance blue and green. In reference to clothes these colors match every other. Instinctively most of us know which colors go together when we dress ourselves every morning.

Color complements, colors that set every other off, they complement every other. These are colors that are opposite on the color wheel. Such as blue and orange.

Color depth, colors can recede or jump forward. Remember that some colors seem to fall back such as blue, black, dark green, and brown. Other colors will seem to step forward such as white, yellow, red, and orange. that is why if you have a bright orange background it may seem to fight with any text or images that you place on it. The orange will always seem to move forward.

Now you have the basics so lets go further. Just because to colors go together or complement every other doesnt mean that yo necessarily want to use them on your project. I opened that article with the meaning of colors now here is an example, keep in mind that is one example from western culture.

Color Survey: what respondents said colors mean to them.

Happy = Yellow Inexpensive = Brown

Pure = White Powerful = Red (tomato)

Good Luck = green Dependable = Blue

Good tasting = Red (tomato) High Quality = Black

Dignity = Purple Nausea = Green

Technology = Silver Deity = White

Sexiness = Red (tomato) Bad Luck = Black

Mourning = Black Favorite color = Blue

Expensive = Gold Least favorite color = Orange

So in designing your project its important to know what colors mean. You can now see why a black back ground with green type would be bad, beyond being nearly impossible to read, if your target market thinks that black represents mourning and green makes them sick. There are exceptions to every rule of course.

So you may want to injury lawyers for you some research in what colors mean to your target market. Colors that would get the attention of a teen would probably annoy an older person and the colors that appeal to the older person wouldnt get a second look from a young person.

Color may be one of the most overlooked aspects of design.

Copyright 2004 Kelly Paal Kelly Paal is a Freelance Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting nationally and internationally. Recently she started her own business Kelly Paal Photography (www.kellypaalphotography.com/www.kellypaalphotography.com). She has an educational background in photography, business, and commercial art. She enjoys quick car insurance quote graphic design and photography principles to her web design.