Understand Your Color

Any design on a web application involves the effective input of color scheme in order to impress web surfers, instill a certain image or identity associated with the kind of web site it represents, and add impact to the web pages. However, very few possess the talent and skill of developing a harmonious color scheme. There are even very talented Web programmers who can develop just about any kind of application, but, for the life of them could not understand anything about color schemes.

If you ever wondered where designers get the almost-mystical ability to declare if a color is or is not "working" or effective, then this article is for you. It may also help other web surfers, web design enthusiasts, novice and even professional web designers who are interested in elevating their understanding of color schemes and color selection for Website design.

Actually, not all people, especially painters who work with colors have the uncanny knack or natural ability with understanding color harmony. You can also acquire this skill from a basic understanding of color theory.

We challenge you to think like a painter that use a subtractive color method. This method is in stark contrast with the light additive method in your beloved computer. This means that, as more of each color is added, you get closer to white light. By telling you to think like a painter, think about colors as combinations of red, yellow, and blue, and realize that, as you add colors, you get closer to black.

A simple color wheel is the most critical tool you can use in order to mix colors and eventually gain a painter's way of thinking regarding to color and color combinations. You also have to know the principles in understanding the three main sets of color schemes from the color wheel. These three main sets are analogous, complimentary, and monochromatic.

Analogous - adjacent to each other on the color wheel. If you pick any range of colors between two points of either triangle on our color wheel (ie yellow to red, orange to violet, red to blue, etc), you will have an analogous color scheme.

Complementary - consist of colors located opposite each other on the color wheel, such as green and red, yellow and violet, or orange and blue. But don't ever commit the error of placing complementary colors on top of one another. Some colors are also not directly analogous but are not complementary either. Watch out for colors like cyan and red.

Monochromatic ? is when you create an imaging using only tints and shades of one color.

Many variations of these three color schemes has been coordinated since. But these three are the foundation principles. Basically, in order to understand color and come up with nice color combinations for Web design and application, just keep your eyes open and befriend the color wheel!

Lala C. Ballatan is a 26 year-old Communication Arts graduate, with a major in Journalism. Right after graduating last 1999, she worked for one year as a clerk then became a Research, Publication and Documentation Program Director at a non-government organization, which focuses on the rights, interests and welfare of workers for about four years.

Book reading has always been her greatest passion -- mysteries, horrors, psycho-thrillers, historical documentaries and classics. She got hooked into it way back when she was but a shy kid.

Her writing prowess began as early as she was 10 years old in girlish diaries. With writing, she felt freedom ? to express her viewpoints and assert it, to bring out all concerns -- imagined and observed, to bear witness.

For comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.ucreative.com

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


How to Use Sliced Graphics to Layout Your Web Site

The problem with designing your site as a graphic, is... Read More

Color Psychology in Marketing

On the internet we don't deal with face to face... Read More

KIS - Keep It Simple

There are many ways to add fancy bells and whistles... Read More

Your Website Hurts My Eyes: 7 Reasons to Tone Down Your Advertising

So you're on the computer, as usual. Your eyes are... Read More

Through The Looking Glass

My mother used to take me along when she visited... Read More

Is Your Site Too Slow? Why Image Optimization Is Critical

Graphics are fun, but if you put in too many... Read More

Build It And Build It Cheap!

There are several very good reasons why you should consider... Read More

20 Tips to Creating a Profitable Website

As an online Entrepreneur you require a successful website.One that... Read More

Revising Your Site - What Happened To My Search Engine Placement?

As of September, Smartads went through what so many have... Read More

Service Professions: Does Your Website Follow These 5 Simple Rules For Getting More Clients?

There are literally thousands of different options, styles and formats... Read More

How To Create A Stunning Drop Capital Effect On Your Web Pages

Drop Capitals are frequently used in many newspapers, books and... Read More

Orient Your First-time Web Site Visitor

Imagine spinning someone around so profoundly and for so long... Read More

Get FASTER Download Times By Making BIGGER Web Pages!

As a webmaster you already know how important it is... Read More

Design vs Content: Who is KING?

Well it is not Elvis, that's for sure.I am a... Read More

The Right Trigger Words

CNN.com's designers have gone out of their way to make... Read More

To Hire or Not to Hire a Website Designer

In the early years of the internet the actual design... Read More

The Top Ten Checklist For Low Web Site Sales

You have good traffic, but low client sign ups and... Read More

Website Design: Redecorate Your Web Site To Increase Sales

Getting traffic to your website is not the only factor... Read More

Selling Multiple Products? Avoid These Top Blunders

When your web site sells more than a dozen items,... Read More

How To Choose A Website Designer

Now that you have decided that it is time to... Read More

Quality Website Design At An Affordable Price

I always have people asking me if I know of... Read More

Simple Steps To Proper Web Design

Over the course of the last decade, the Internet has... Read More

Get Rid of Your Frames

A few years ago a lot of websites utilized frame... Read More

Why Web Pages Appear in the Wrong Location after Uploading to my Website?

If your are a new web designer, you may face... Read More

Tips for a Successful Website for Any Organization, NGO or GO

Most NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) don't understand these important aspects of... Read More

Why Not To Use Web Design Templates For Your Website

In today's age of fast food and high-speed Internet, a... Read More

How to Choose a Website Design Company

The internet is full of web design companies pleading for... Read More

Power of Squeeze Pages for Realtors

Squeeze pages are a very hot topic in the internet... Read More

Website Redesign for Existing Websites

Does your website need a re-design? Here are some questions... Read More

Choosing A Web Designer : A Plan to Guide You Through The Minefield

Choosing a web designer can seem like a daunting task.... Read More

Web Copy - What You Should Know First

Just what is web copy? Some people think that web... Read More

When You Create A Web Site, Dont Make A Splash!

Don't make a splash!Are you thinking about using a splash... Read More

Using CCS to Eliminate Tables

CSS or Cascading Style Sheets has opened up tremendous possibilities... Read More