Your
Choice of Web Site Color
01-26-2000 by Scott Pamatat of DesignMore.com
Many web designers overlook the importance of color when
designing a web site. Color should be one of your first concerns
when it comes time to start your web site design. If you don't
pay close attention to the colors you chose, your site you
will end up either plain and boring or so chaotic it's hard
to look at. The color you use should only be chosen after
careful consideration.
Unfortunately web browsers can only see 256 colors. Even
that number is hindered because all browsers don't share the
same 256-color pallet. Currently web browsers only share 216
common colors. When designing key elements in your web site
you should stay within the 216-color pallet.
If you go outside the 216 color pallet you start to use colors
that do not exist within that browser. The browser has to
mix the colors that do not exist. In order for the browser
to display the color, it needs to take tiny dots from the
colors native to that browser to come up with an approximate
color. This is known as dithering. Some displays will distort
the tiny dots to the point where the image is so speckled
that it does not appear to be a solid color. This makes text
very hard to read if it is placed over the dithered color.
You should always use a browser safe color when using solid
color as a design element. Some of the browser safe colors
should be used with caution though.
Most of the eye operations are muscular and just like all
other muscles it tires out. I will illustrate with an example.
(This is a test I learned about 7 years ago and is very effective
to get the point across). This is a simple test that should
take only 45 seconds. If you do this short test, you will
be better able to understand what I'm about to say. Go to
this page and then come back. http://www.designmore.com/ctesta.htm
What did you see when you looked at the white box? Did you
see a bluish green color? (If not go back and do the test
over). No this is not a trick or hallucination. There is a
simple explanation. Without getting too technical, I'll tell
you what just happened.
In the back of your eye there is a thin layer of tissue that
contains millions of tiny light-sensing nerve cells called
rods and cones. Cones respond to specific wavelengths of light.
Your eye is filled with color decoding cones. When you looked
at the red box the cones that detect the red wavelength become
tired and fatigued. When this happens the opposite cones in
your eye start to kick in. Hence the bluish green color you
saw. Now that you know there is a scientific reason behind
eye fatigue you should apply it to your web site.
I'm sure you have you noticed that caution signs are usually
yellow. Pure yellow strains your eye more than any other color
because of that, it is the first color your eye will fix on.
Using these colors (I still advise you to use it sparingly)
for banners and advertisements will receive more attention
from the viewer's eye. Once the visitor comes to your site
there is really no reason you should irritate the visitor
with bright colors. You have done a good job if they are viewing
your site.
You should use yellow and red colors sparingly in your web
site itself. Only use them in areas where you want the visitor
to focus on. Do not make large parts of your web site with
bright color. It might get your visitors attention but they
will either consciously or subconsciously notice their eyes
getting fatigued. This will make them not want to look at
your web site for long periods of time. There are enough reasons
why a visitor would leave your web site. You don't need to
add to that list by using irritating color.
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Scott Pamatat runs DesignMore
which specializes in user-centric web site design. FREE NEWSLETTER
- Today's click happy web surfers will not wait for your web
page or any other companies page to load big graphics or complex
displays. They will simply click somewhere else, click on
this link http://www.designmore.com
to make them stay.
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