The Sessions Color Calculator is an interactive color
wheel that helps designers select HTML, RGB, or CMYK
colors and identifies color harmonies and schemes. Our
Color Wheel works faster than any other color wheel
or html color chart.
Designers may save HTML safe color values, CMYK color
schemes, or RGB colors to an integrated clipboard and
email the colors to colleagues or clients. You can also
rotate shapes on the color wheel to identify harmonious
color schemes, adjust the saturation and lightness of
colors, or select a color plan to use for a corporate
identity or design project.
Colors may be selected and applied to both print and
Web design – the Sessions color wheel color calculator
saves hours of work. A color scheme can be further refined
by choosing different designs or patterns with different
complexity levels.
For a thorough examination of Color, its systems, interactions
and how to advantageously use this knowledge in art
and design, please see Color Theory. |
You know what you want to say, and you know exactly
how you want to lay it out. Great, you’re about
half way home. Copy and layout are the first part of
presenting your information, but maybe not the most
important part. Before your audience begins to read
and react to your information they see it in color.
Color creates audience responses by stimulating emotions
and communicating on levels other than reason and intellect.
It can excite, impress, entertain and persuade, but
color can also create instant negative associations.
It’s a good idea to be aware of how the majority
of people respond to color and use this information
in your choice of colors. Use the guidelines in the
chart below to help you choose the colors that are most
appropriate for the message you want to get across.
Color Chart (suggested meanings)
The chart below represents several meaning for color.
Each color may represent another emotion to you. Use
your best judgment when dealing with color and make
sure to get feedback on the colors you use.
Red |
Aggressive, strong & heavy |
|
Blue |
Comfort, loyalty & security |
|
Yellow |
Caution, Spring & brightness |
|
Green |
Money, health, food & nature |
|
Brown |
Nature, aged, & eccentric |
|
Orange |
Warmth, excitement, & energy |
|
Pink |
Soft, healthy, childlike & feminine |
|
Purple |
Royalty, sophistication & religion |
|
Black |
Dramatic, classy & serious |
|
Gray |
Business, cold & distinctive |
|
White |
Clean, pure & simple |
|
When choosing colors for your design, remember a few
rules for mixing colors. The human eye cannot focus
on red and blue at the same time. Trying to read red
type on a blue background or vice versa causes extreme
eye fatigue. Your audience will not be receptive to
your message if it hurts them to read it. Never, ever
use blue type on a red background and even worse, is
red type on a blue background.
Most colors go well together with members of the same
"family". Warm colors of type, such as red,
brown, orange and yellow look better together in combination
warm colored backgrounds; cool colored type like blue,
green, gray and white with cool colored backgrounds.
Using color families generally makes for a more appealing
presentation, especially for large amounts of information.
Contrast is fun and can be used effectively to accent
information and draw attention to items. In general,
keep the contrast low. Too much contrast makes your
work difficult to digest. For type, keep the contrast
reasonable no matter what colors you’re working
with. If your background has a value of, say 20%, and
the type has a value of 80%, it presents a subtle look
that's easy on the eyes and is graphically appealing.
Avoid the extremes.
Courtesy of Chris Jackson |