Enjoyment of color is a subjective thing but there are some rules you can follow to make your web pages look good to the majority of people. Green writing on a red background? Don't even go there. Yellow on orange? Might as well title the page ‘No point trying to read this – you'll never make it to the end'. Anything on yellow? Maybe not…
The Color Wheel
At the heart of every color related lies the color wheel. The color wheel illustrates the relationship between the primary colors – red, yellow and blue – and the secondary colors – green, orange and purple. When you mix two primary colors you get a secondary color. On the color wheel, each secondary color is placed between the two primary colors which are mixed to produce the secondary – for example, when you mix yellow and blue, you get green, therefore green is to be found between yellow and blue on the color wheel.
Colors which sit opposite each other on the color wheel are opposite or ‘complementary' colors. So, for example, green is a complement of red. Complementary colors balance each other – if you have too much red showing on a page, green can offset it. But red writing on green or green writing is a big no-no. Remember the old saying (even if you've never heard it before), ‘Red and green should never be seen, unless there's a color in between.' Of course, if you have a cunning eye for design then such rules can be broken, but for the less visually adept, avoiding green and red combinations is a good thing.
Contrasting colors are similar to complementary colors. Black and white is the most obvious contrasting colors and makes the most legible combination of colors (even if, strictly speaking, black and white are not colors). However, other color combinations can work well – it just takes some experimenting to produce a good result. The color wheel can help – find the color you want, move directly opposite and then pick the color to the left or right of the directly opposing color for a good contrasting color.
Designing a color combination for a web page means getting the background color to work with the color of text, links and visited links. Achieving a good color balance of colors means working in good contrasting or complementary hues, while making sure the text is clear and easy to read. As a general rule of thumb, try to choose one color which links the pages of your website in one way and mark your different sections with contrasting colors.
Setting the Mood
Bear in mind that different colors evoke different feelings and moods. There are warm colors – red and oranges, for example – and colder colors – blues and greens. The mood of a color can change according to the value and saturation of the hue. Cold colors are not necessary unfriendly; they are often seen as peaceful, relaxing shades – for example, a cool, soft aqua can be reminiscent of a Caribbean sea.
Try to choose colors that reflect your subject matter. If you're selling groovy retro lava lamps, for example, you wouldn't choose to design a site in natural, earth brown and green hues. A human rights sight isn't going to saturate its pages with bold, intense colors when it's informing you of atrocities around the world. And it's no accident that news sites ensure legibility by having black text on white.
Just as there's a font to suit your needs, so there's a color just right for your website. Get your hands dirty with a paint program and experiment with the color palette. Open up a new image that nearly fills your screen and fill it with color as you mix and match. It's the modern day equivalent of wielding a paintbrush and playing with paint.
Mix hard, have fun and watch you don't splatter drops on your new shirt.
Adding Color To Black And White
The days of a simple white or ivory wedding gown are all but gone. Today, it is becoming more and more widely accepted to add color to designer wedding gowns. Modern designer wedding gowns offer a wide variety of hues and accent colors as a refreshing alternative to the traditional white wedding dress. The addition of color to designer wedding gowns has allowed many a bride to walk down the aisle comfortable in their own unique personal style.
Traditionally, white or ivory has been the primary color for wedding gowns. This trend supposedly began around 1840 when England's Queen Victoria tied the knot in the color. From the moment Victoria married, white and ivory quickly became the color to be married in. Before that, women chose their ?best dress? to wear on their wedding day. The dress did not necessarily have to be either white or ivory. History truly does repeat itself, even if it is fashion history.
Color Allows for Options
Contemporary wedding designers know that varying shades of white is no longer mandatory when it comes to making a beautiful wedding dress. The best designers are constantly reinventing the wedding gown to have the best of both worlds, the essence of that dream dress that so many brides have and a fresh, modern, and contemporary look. Best of all, adding color to designer wedding gowns has given brides so many more options for their special day.
Adding color to a designer wedding gown obviously allows for a more creative look, but also allows the bride to incorporate even more of her own personal style. The wedding gown's color can coordinate with the wedding color scheme and make it even more romantic for the couple. Popular colors today include red, bright burgundy, pink, lavender, and blue. Blue is also a popular choice, as it alleviates the ?something blue? that a bride must find. (Remember, the ?something blue? allows the couple to enjoy a lifelong devotion to each other and fidelity.)
Adding Color to a White Gown
If you have found the perfect wedding gown, but it is pristine snow-white, here are some suggestions on how to add color. You would not want to dye the dress and risk ruining it, but you can add color to an already white wedding gown by making a trip to your favorite dressmaker, seamstress, or tailor.
A trained professional will be able to help you come up with some fabulous ideas on adding color to your white wedding gown. A great, inexpensive way to add a burst of color to a designer wedding gown is to add piping or a lace overlay in the color of your choice. This doesn't even have to be a permanent addition, which is even better. (A temporary color addition may be a good idea if you hope to pass the dress down to a daughter one day.)
If You Are Intimidated by Color
Many brides long for that unique wedding gown but are intimidated by adding such a bold color statement to the dress. It is important to keep a clear head about it and remember that it is your special day. Whatever you prefer in regards to your wedding gown is perfectly acceptable. However, if you are not ready to take the plunge (aside from tying the knot) think about adding color to your designer wedding gown by doing it through accessories.
If you must stick with a white wedding dress, you can add a little color by wearing bright blue shoes or your favorite color elbow-length gloves. You can also always remove the gloves at the last minute. Wedding shoes are a logical area to add color, especially if you are not sure you want to ?mess with the dress.? Another way to add color to your dress is to wear brightly colored jewelry or hair accessories. This will make the color pop without breaking from the white dress.
Colorful Bride, Colorful Dress
When making these decisions it is always important to remember that it is your wedding day and your dress. Do not be afraid to show your true style and if that means adding a bit of color to your designer wedding gown, no one should object. Adding color to your wedding gown is a great way to stand out and give you an extra edge which can make your event even more memorable.
When thinking about adding any color to your wedding gown, it is important to remember that the photos will last a lifetime, so you should always be sure you love the color. Avoid choosing colors simply because the latest trends or fads demand it, but only if you truly are happy with the look. Be creative and go with what makes you feel comfortable and beautiful.
Both Sandra Prior & Arianna1 are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Arianna1 has sinced written about articles on various topics from Computers and The Internet, Wedding Bells and Wedding Gowns. Arianna Jordan is a freelance writer who writes about the fashion industry, often discussing specific kind of dresses such as elegant bridal gown. Arianna1's top article generates over 5400 views. Bookmark Arianna1 to your Favourites.
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