This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Alex
Web design is quite a creative pursuit, particularly when it comes time to pick a colour palette. Playing around with colour is something that a lot of people enjoy, and developing a cohesive colour scheme goes a long way in conveying a sense of professionalism to potential clients.
However, deciding upon a scheme is not as simple as picking a few colours that you are fond of and hoping that the background matches the heading. In reality, it takes a lot of skill and knowledge to create beautiful, engaging web pages, which is why many businesses opt to use a web design company in Melbourne when it comes time to build or upgrade a site.
The science of colour
The science behind colour is actually quite complex, which makes sense given the level of influence it has over us. Colour has long been used as a tool by marketing professionals to convey certain emotions and sway the opinions of consumers one way or the other.
When describing colour, we typically use three different terms known as hue, value, and chroma. Hue is simply the name that we give a specific colour. Red for example, is a different hue to green. Value is used to describe the lightness or darkness, for example light blue or dark purple. Finally, chroma is a term used to describe the purity, or vividness of a colour. Saturation and brightness are often terms used interchangeably when describing chroma.
You’ve probably seen a colour wheel before and maybe even used one in a high school art class. The colour wheel is an easy way of organising hues in a harmonious, practical way. Colour wheels typically feature 12 colours, although this number can go up to as many as 96!
At its core, the colour wheel consists of the three primary colours — red, blue, and yellow. When these colours are mixed they produce what is known as secondary colours — green, orange, and purple. Finally, the combination of these six colours produces the tertiary colours — red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet, and red-violet.
These twelve colours can be further subdivided into what is known as ‘cool colours’ and ‘warm colours’. As the term suggests, cool colours are the shades of blue, green, and purple, while warm colours include any tint that is predominantly red, orange, or yellow.
Finally there are the colour schemes. These schemes provide designers and marketers with a practical means of conveying meaning and emotion. A complementary colour scheme is one that features colours from opposite sides of the colour wheel. A monochromatic colour scheme is one built from a single hue, featuring a variety of saturations of that colour. An analogous colour scheme uses colours that sit side by side. And a triadic colour scheme requires three colours that sit equally spaced around the colour wheel.
The last thing you need to know about colour? That it’s a little bit different depending on whether you are designing for print or screen. Web designers will use a colour system known as RGB while print designers work with the CMYK model.
Colour on Screen
Colour is a simple way that web designers can convey meaning without using words. The fact that colours are able to convey meaning can be put down to a combination of psychology and conditioning. One of the reasons that red, for example, is commonly associated with warmth is the fact that fire is red.
It is the role of a web designer to understand these connotations between colour, mood, and meaning, and make smart decisions that convey their client’s business.
Colour is also important from an accessibility perspective. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines dictates that “colours must have sufficient contrast between text colour and its background…this includes text on images, icons, and buttons”. This section of the Guidelines are specifically designed to assist those with low contrast sensitivity and individuals who suffer from colour blindness.
There are many tools available on the web which can assist web developers select appropriate colours that will ensure content is accessible to all.
Web developers also have to keep in mind the fact that their chosen colour palette will form a significant part of their client’s branding. As such, the client should ensure they are an active part of any discussions surrounding potential colour schemes.
Colour your site with a Web Design Professional
Given the significant impact that colour can have on the mood and preferences of potential customers, it pays to invest in the services of a professional web design company in Melbourne when it comes time to build or update your website.
By employing a professional, you can be sure that your website palette reflects your brand, products, and services, conveying a sense of cohesion and professionalism.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Alex
Alex | Sciencx (2021-05-31T12:49:26+00:00) Top Tips for Using Colour in Web Design. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2021/05/31/top-tips-for-using-colour-in-web-design/
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