Comments on: Colour Theory in the Digital World

By: shastry chamarthi

shastry chamarthi — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:39:40 +0000

Yes I feel the same and suggesting the others the same NOT TO USE white on black. I’m successful in changing the clients mind so far.

Good research. I appreciate. Keep working on color as it helps the learners (like me).

By: Joanne Finch

Joanne Finch — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 07:56:08 +0000

I would really be interested in some up-to-date research for screen legibility. I too can only find research that is way out of date. I also agree that black can be too harsh on white or very pale backgrounds, I tend to use dark grey.

By: Kris Meister

Kris Meister — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 00:54:18 +0000

I agree very much about using a dark grey instead of black for html text on white. I however always contributed it to, though perhaps incorrectly, the fact that Windows does a bad job of anti-aliasing fonts. I’ve often noticed that in Safari fonts are rendered much better.

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 11:28:51 +0000

I would def be interested in a user-tested article on color theory, but I also really enjoyed your first-in-a-series article on Wireframing With InDesign and Illustrator… so I don’t know which to push for first? (But personally, being a visual designer, and being quite familiar with Illustrator and InDesign, I have a fairly clear idea where the wireframes articles are going — and the whole user tested color theory experiment is much more of a mystery to me. So I guess that answers my question!)

Would be very interested on results for text on solid color BG vs. subtle color gradient or subtle (screened back) abstract photos. (I’m not talking anything like MySpace… something subtle)

Would also be interested in testing on readability and task-focus with surrounding distraction? (ie additional columns of info or design elements)

I realize neither is optimal, but sometimes, you just need (ie insert temperamental client, or maybe temperamental designer’s desire here) to do it… and I’d be interested to know how detrimental either really is?

By: Todd Zaki Warfel

Todd Zaki Warfel — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 17:12:24 +0000

Thanks for the comments on the blockquote contrast. It’s the default setting for this template. So, I’ve changed it to (hopefully) a more legible colour scheme.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 16:15:16 +0000

I can tell you this; the light gray that you use on this site for quotes is impossible to read on my HP laptop and is barely noticeable on my MB Pro.

By: stephen

stephen — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 09:40:49 +0000

On my ibook display the text in your blockquote is quite hard to read, a little too light.

By: Todd Zaki Warfel

Todd Zaki Warfel — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 23:36:21 +0000

Great list of questions, Mike. I’d like to collect a number of additional questions here to cover in a series I’ll write on colour theory for the digital world circa 2007.

By: Mike Schindler

Mike Schindler — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 23:30:20 +0000

I would also enjoy anything you could share about your color research. My company struggles with it at times. While I think that color can be used to make the information the “star” of a design, too much of it or incorrect use can easily detract from it.

So questions I would be interested in:

1) How do you decide which UI elements can/should fall outside the boundaries of the corporate brand pallette?

2) When is it a good idea to engage in user preference testing (for color specifically) and how do you ensure that the consensus on “preference” doesn’t adversely affect usability?

By: remy

remy — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 20:34:02 +0000

I, for one, would be really interested actually !