Leigh Barbour - Southern Romance

They were
lost
and then
they were
found...

Designing your own website - Part 2

Using color on your website

Bright colors vs. softer colors
I've heard lots of people say they like bright colors on their website, but remember bright colors distract the reader.

And, what you want them to focus on? WHAT YOU'VE WRITTEN and not a color or a graphic (usually unless it's your book cover).

Example: Which one is easier on your eyes?
Title
This is what you really want people to read.

Title
This is what you really want people to read.

Maximize color contrast
If you're going to use a background color, don't forget to make the type a color that is in deep contrast to the background color.

Example
I am writing this to show you how difficult some websites are to read.

And, what is typically forgotten is the link color. Make sure your links are visible also.
Can you see the link text in this box? If you can, click on it. Can you still see it?
I am writing this to show you how difficult some websites are to read.

Color palettes
So, you're probably wondering how you know what colors look good together. Check this website out, it helps you discover how different colors will look together: Colorlab. (Use the color wheel at the upper left. It's fun.)

This isn't trivial work. Large corporations pay professionals to come up with color schemes: Click here to see the color palette from one of the corporate websites.

Use color to "create a feeling"
Use your unique colors throughout your website so that people, when they click to a new page, are always aware they are still on your unique site.

Good examples: Alessia Brio | Ann Cory
These are two really good examples. Look at how they used color to set a wonderful theme yet the colors aren't distracting.

Thanks for reading thus far. Read the first article in the series: Fonts