Web Design Readings and
Assignments
Dear B, D, and E classes,
Hopefully, I will be back by
the time you finish these next few assignments. We are using this web page
because of a problem getting you to the tutorial website.
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Lesson for Wednesday - Friday December 21 - 23, 2011 -
Please read the following
articles about using colors on websites and web pages. Then open your paper
again and write two or more paragraphs about which colors you would recommended
for building websites and why ?
Article #1
Color for E-Commerce
Regardless of how we define commerce, almost every web site is selling
something. It may be a one person accounting business, it may be a site that
sells only tanning products or a much larger department store. Even
educational sites could be considered commercial if they must generate
advertising income.
A successful “store” has a simple formula. Initially, it must be accessible
to everyone. It must be attractive and inviting. Once inside, the customer
must be able to move comfortably through the store and find what they need.
They must be able to examine the merchandise (or service) and get
information about it. Finally, they must be able to successfully complete a
purchase or procure a service.
For the first time in history, a flat surface electronically simulates a
physical "bricks and mortar" store. In spite of the limitations of this
digital medium of images and text, the same formulas for success apply — and
even more so.
Color must function successfully on several levels simultaneously. First, on
a technical level, the colors must be as accurate as the existing technology
will allow, while, at the same time, heeding the rules of optics. Second,
once a set of colors has caught and held the visitor's attention they must
succeed in conveying appropriate information. Third, colors must function
competently as the primary structural element in the store’s design — the
web page layout. In this capacity, color must create appropriate spatial and
navigational effects on the page and the site as a whole. Fourth, as the
primary aesthetic tool, colors must create a sense of visual harmony, thus
sustaining and enhancing the customers interest in the shopping experience.
1. Convert images to the correct file format.
This not only delivers the best colors and the best images possible but it
also lowers file sizes and shortens the download time.
2. Select the most appropriate colors by analyzing the store’s products or
services and the target market. It is essential that colors bear some
relationship — either symbolic or literal — to the product or service. Don’t
try to reinvent the color wheel by using unusual colors.
3. Use color to create the most functional user-interface design. For
example, use color to direct the eye to the most important areas on the
page. The web designer must identify what ideal and normal sequences might
entail: what the viewer should see first, where the eye should move next,
and how much time the viewer's attention should be held by each area. Keep
colors to minimum. "Signal detection" theory means that the brain is able to
understand and organize information when a minimum of colors and shapes
exists within the visual field. Too many colors and shapes make it
impossible to focus and find anything.
4. Use color harmony principles to create a pleasant visual experience. In
other words, all the colors of the web site— the navigation system, banners,
buttons, and text — as well as the images of the merchandise (if they
exist), must all work well together. Some common attribute must unify them.
In conclusion, consider this: Just as a store is constructed of solid
matter, color is the basic building material of two-dimensional images and
visual experiences. In the final analysis, color plays a pivotal role in the
customer’s critical decision — to buy or not buy.
Article #2
Why Color Matters
by Jill
Morton
Substantial research shows why color
matters and how color plays a pivotal role in all our visual experiences.
Color and Marketing
1. Research conducted by the secretariat
of the Seoul International Color Expo 2004 documented the following
relationships between color and marketing:
92.6 percent said that they put most importance on visual factors when
purchasing products. Only 5.6 percent said that the physical feel via the
sense of touch was most important. Hearing and smell each drew 0.9 percent.
When asked to approximate the importance of color when buying products, 84.7
percent of the total respondents think that color accounts for more than
half among the various factors important for choosing products.
2. Research reveals people make a subconscious judgment about a person,
environment, or product within 90 seconds of initial viewing and that
between 62% and 90% of that assessment is based on color alone.
Source: CCICOLOR - Institute for Color Research
3. Research by the Henley Centre suggests 73%
of purchasing decisions are now made in-store. Consequently, catching the
shopper's eye and conveying information effectively are critical to
successful sales.
Color and Brand Identity
1. Color increases brand recognition by up
to 80 percent
Source: University of Loyola, Maryland study
2. Case Study: Heinz
Consider the phenomenal success Heinz EZ Squirt Blastin' Green ketchup has
had in the marketplace. More than 10 million bottles were sold in the first
seven months following its introduction, with Heinz factories working 24
hours a day, seven days a week to keep up with demand. The result: $23
million in sales attributable to Heinz green ketchup [the highest sales
increase in the brand's history]. All because of a simple color change.
3. Case Study: Apple Computer
Apple brought color into a marketplace where color had not been seen before.
By introducing the colorful iMacs, Apple was the first to say, "It doesn't
have to be beige". The iMacs reinvigorated a brand that had suffered $1.8
billion of losses in two years. (And now we have the colorful iPods.)
Color Increases Memory
If a picture is worth a thousand words, a
picture with natural colors may be worth a million, memory-wise.
Psychologists have documented that "living color" does more than appeal to
the senses. It also boosts memory for scenes in the natural world.
By hanging an extra "tag" of data on visual scenes, color helps us to
process and store images more efficiently than colorless (black and white)
scenes, and as a result to remember them better, too.
Source: The findings were reported in the May 2002 issue of the Journal of
Experimental Psychology: Learning,
Memory and Cognition, published by the American Psychological
Association (APA)
"The
Contributions of Color to Recognition Memory for Natural Scenes," Felix A.
Wichmann, Max-Planck Institut für Biologische Kybernetik and Oxford
University; Lindsay T. Sharpe, Universität Tübingen and University of
Newcastle; and Karl R. Gegenfurtner, Max-Plank Institut für Biologische
Kybernetik and Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen; Journal of Experimental
Psychology – Learning, Memory and Cognition, Vol 28. No.3., 5-May-2002
Color
Engages and Increases Participation
Ads in color are read up to 42% more often
than the same ads in black and white (as shown in study on phone directory
ads).
Source: White, Jan V., Color for Impact, Strathmoor Press, April, 1997
Color Informs
Color can improve readership by 40 percent 1,
learning from 55 to 78 percent2, and comprehension by 73 percent 3.
(1)"Business
Papers in Color. Just a Shade Better", Modern Office Technology, July 1989,
Vol. 34, No. 7, pp. 98-102
(2) Embry, David, "The Persuasive Properties of Color", Marketing
Communications, October 1984.
(3) Johnson, Virginia, "The Power of Color", Successful Meetings, June 1992,
Vol 41, No. 7, pp. 87, 90.
Color Attracts Attention
Frequently Cited "Facts"
Tests indicate that a black and white
image may sustain interest for less than two-thirds a second, whereas a
colored image may hold the attention for two seconds or more. (A product has
one-twentieth of a second to halt the customer's attention on a shelf or
display.)
People cannot process every object within view at one time. Therefore, color
can be used as a tool to emphasize or de-emphasize areas.
A Midwestern insurance company used color to highlight key information on
their invoices. As a result, they began receiving customer payments an
average of 14 days earlier.
Other Research
92% Believe color presents an image of
impressive quality
90% Feel color can assist in attracting new customers
90% Believe customers remember presentations and documents better when color
is used
83% Believe color makes them appear more successful
81% Think color gives them a competitive edge
76% Believe that the use of color makes their business appear larger to
clients
Source: Conducted by Xerox Corporation and International Communications
Research from February 19, 2003 to March 7, 2003, margin of error of +/-
3.1%.
Color and the Senses
General facts about sensory input and
human beings:
Although the olfactory sense was a human being’s most important source of
input in the pre-historic era, sight became our most important means of
survival. Furthermore, as hunters and gatherers in the early days of our
evolution, we experienced a variety of colors and forms in the landscape.
This has become part of our genetic code.
In our current state of evolution, vision is the primary source for all our
experiences. (Current marketing research has reported that approximately 80%
of what we assimilate through the senses, is visual.)
Our nervous system requires input and stimulation. (Consider the effects of
solitary confinement in jails.) With respect to visual input, we become
bored in the absence of a variety of colors and shapes. Consequently, color
addresses one of our basic neurological needs for stimulation.
Article #3
NOVEMBER 1ST, 2011
Selecting colors for websites
By Kirsti Scott
Selecting a palette that’s right for your website means
thinking about personal preferences, color harmony, color blindness,
cultural differences, color trends, and your particular situation. Here’s a
quick rundown and online resources to help you pick the right colors for
your web design project.
Personal preferences
A 2011
poll of color preferences according
to gender yields more information useful when designing your website. In the
first 1083 results of this ongoing survey, both men and women selected blue
and green as their favorite colors, but while purple was the third-most favorite
color among women, purple was the third-least favorite
color among men. Differences also come up depending on age, so the color
palette you choose for a site geared to children might be quite different
than one designed for older adults.
Color Harmony
Selecting a palette of colors that work together is part art
and part science. After you select a principal color for your site, you can
actually use color theory to select the color combinations that work
together, using analogous colors, complementary colors, or a color triad. More
about color harmony»
Color Deficit
Color blindness occurs when there is a problem with certain
nerve cells of the retina. In the most common type of color blindness, a
person has trouble telling the difference between red and green, but some
people have trouble seeing blue-yellow colors, and in the most severe form
of color blindness, a person cannot see any color. About 8% of Caucasian
men, 6% of Asian men, and 4% of men of African descent have some form of
color deficit (very few women do). But, as anyone ages, changes in our eyes
can cause blue colors to appear darker, making it difficult to distinguish
between red and purple or green and blue. To make sure your site is
user-friendly to everyone, don’t rely on color to convey information. Use
shape, size, labels, textures, and line shadings instead. More
about color blindness»
Cultural Differences
Certain colors have different meanings depending on the
culture you grew up in, and colors can send the wrong meaning if misused on
your website. For example, if you were creating a wedding site for U.S.
audiences, you might use a lot of white, which in western cultures is used
for brides, angels, peace, etc. In some eastern cultures, white is the color
of mourning and funerals, whereas red is the color for good luck and
celebration, and is worn by brides. More
about color in different cultures»
Color trends
Colors go in and out of style over time, including colors
used in website design. Often these color trends come from the fashion and
decorating worlds, and a great way to see what the future color trends will
be is to check out the seasonal Pantone fashion color reports. These reports
show the colors that textile designers will be using in their upcoming
collections and incorporating them in your web design can put you ahead of
the pack. Remember that in fashion, one week you’re in and the next you’re
out, so design so it’s easy to update colors when the next season’s looks
hit the runway. Pantone
spring 2012 color forecast»
You
Of course, all these rules are trumped by the specific needs
of your website. If your products are ecologically friendly, you might want
to use a lot of green on your site. Selling coffee? Then brown might make
sense. Trying to attract a Fortune 100 audience might call for a lot of
blue. Testing different colors, asking your customers, and refining your
color palette is the only way to know what colors work best for you.
Article #4
Choosing the Appropriate Colors for Your Website
by Joanne Glasspoole
When you begin the design of your Web site, one of the first things you need to
do is decide on a color scheme. Although choosing colors seems like a relatively
easy proposition, it's not easy at all. In fact, it's hard.
One of the pluses we have as Web designers is that millions of colors are at our
disposal. Unlike the print world, we do not have to pay for each color we use.
If we want to use a specific hue of yellow, for example, all we need to know is
the hexadecimal code for that particular color.
One of the pitfalls of having millions of colors to pick from is that some
people go crazy and use every color imaginable on their Web site. This is a big
no-no. Not only does it look unprofessional to use 20 different colors on your
home page, but depending on the colors you choose, your page may not be
readable.
It is extremely important to pick hues that complement each other. You will want
to use a background color that contrasts well with the color of your text.
People are used to reading black text on a white background. I keep this fact in
mind when I design my clients' Web sites. Although I have never stuck with the
black and white color scheme, I try to use a dark font on a light background. It
makes for easier reading and a more pleasant experience for my visitors.
Color affects our emotions. For example, the color red makes us hungry. If
you're on a diet, it wouldn't be a good idea to set your table with a red
tablecloth!
Colors like blue and green are cool. Have you noticed in the summertime how
sitting in a blue room automatically makes you feel refreshed?
Yellow is a wonderful brightener. It is cheerful and warm -- like the sun.
When using colors on your Web site, you need to consider the mood you want to
create and the audience you are designing for.
If you are designing a Web site for children, red is an excellent color choice,
because it attracts the eye and stimulates our metabolism. Red is cheerful and
exuberant.
Blue is an excellent choice for a business site because it exudes
professionalism, wealth and power.
If you are designing a Web site for a nature group, greens and browns are
natural choices because they are colors that are commonly found in the outdoors.
Another important consideration when choosing color schemes is cultural
differences. For example, black is the color most commonly associated with
mourning in the United States, but in Japan, white symbolizes sorrow. In
Malaysia, green is associated with disease, and red symbolizes anger in
Indonesia. As you can see by just these three examples, color is interpreted
quite differently depending on the country. You must be careful if you don't
want to insult your visitors.
Choosing an appropriate color scheme for your Web site is extremely important.
Your color scheme must be carefully considered because the wrong choices could
adversely affect your visitor's experience at your Web site. You only have one
chance to make a good impression. Don't blow it!
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Lesson for Tuesday December 20th, 2011 -
Read the following articles on these additional
colors. Then open the paper you already started.
In
your paper,
answer these questions for each color. What new information did you learn
about this color ? How could I use this color in a website?
Purple
The Meanings of
Purple
Purple’s rarity in
nature and the
expense of creating
the color and has
given purple a
supernatural aura
for centuries.
Purple is also the
most powerful
wavelength of the
rainbow – and it’s a
color with a
powerful history
that has evolved
over time. In fact,
the origins of the
symbolism of purple
are more significant
and interesting than
those of any other
color.
If we go back to our
pre-historic
existence, our
ancestors probably
never saw a purple
fruit, flower, bird,
fish - or any living
thing - because
purple is very rare
in nature. This is
hard to imagine in
today’s connected
world.
As civilizations
developed, so did
clothing and colored
dyes. The earliest
purple dyes date
back to about 1900
B.C. It took some
12,000 shellfish to
extract 1.5 grams of
the pure dye -
barely enough for
dying a single
garment the size of
the Roman toga. It’s
no wonder then, that
this color was used
primarily for
garments of the
emperors or
privileged
individuals.
Over the course of
history, purple
pigments and dyes
became less costly
and complex, but one
thing has remained
the same: Purple
symbolizes nobility
and luxury to most
people in the world.
Today, science has
revealed much more
about purple than
our ancestors ever
realized: Purple is
the most powerful
visible wavelength
of electromagnetic
energy. It’s just a
few steps away from
x-rays and gamma
rays. (See the chart
here.)
Perhaps this
explains why purple
is associated with
supernatural energy
and the cosmos than
with the physical
world as we know it.
Taking all aspects
of purple’s past and
present into
consideration,
purple symbolizes
magic, mystery,
spirituality, the
sub-conscious,
creativity, dignity,
royalty – and it
evokes all of these
meanings more so
than any other
color.
Variations of purple
convey different
meanings: Light
purples are
light-hearted,
floral, and
romantic. The dark
shades are more
intellectual and
dignified.
The negative
meanings of purple
are decadence,
conceit, and
pomposity. Purple is
also a color of
mourning.
One of the most
significant aspects
of purple’s
symbolism is the
generational divide.
There’s a huge
difference of
opinions about
purple. It all
depends on age.
Most young people
view purple as a
happy color. No
baggage. Older
adults view the
color through a
broader perspective.
Furthermore, purple
takes on new
meanings in many
cultures.
Global Meanings of
Purple
Purple's global
similarities are
significant:
Purple tends to be a
color that people
either love or hate.
Among Mediterranean
people, purple was
reserved for
emperors and popes.
The Japanese
christened it
“Imperial Purple”
Purple is the color
of mourning or death
in many cultures
(U.K., Italy,
Thailand, Brazil)
Purple is not a
common flag color.
Only two flags
contain purple.
Unique
Meanings of Purple
in Different
Cultures
The “Purple Heart”
is the American
award for bravery.
Purple is a symbolic
color for the gay
community in many
Western cultures.
Purple is the color
of popular
children's
television
characters –
"Barney" and "Tinky
Winky" (the purple
Teletubby from the
BBC).
In
Italy most
performing artists
would not go on
stage if they have
to wear anything
purple.
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Orange
The Meanings of
Orange
Orange is vibrant.
It’s hot, healthy,
fruity and engaging
– but it can be
abrasive and crass.
It’s a polarizing
color. People either
love it or detest
it.
Orange
is the only color of
the spectrum whose
name was taken from
an object, the
popular fruit - the
orange. In nature
it’s the color of
vivid sunsets, fire,
vegetables, flowers,
fish, and many
citrus fruits. In
our contemporary
world, orange is the
color of marmalade,
Halloween, traffic
cones, life rafts,
cheetos, and
Halloween.
Orange symbolizes
energy, vitality,
cheer, excitement,
adventure, warmth,
and good health.
However, pure orange
can be brass;
however, it may
suggest a lack of
serious intellectual
values and bad
taste.
Orange is currently
a trendy, hip color.
It was a “groovy
color” back in the
70s and then it
faded away. In 1991,
an article in Forbes
magazine about how
orange affects
consumer choices
concluded that
orange meant cheap.
(Note: “Cheap” in
this case meant a
good buy for the
money.)
It’s worth noting
that there are many
shades of orange –
and different
meanings. Some may
be more appealing to
those who find
orange difficult:
terracotta or
cayenne – a dark
orange, persimmon -
a red-orange,
pumpkin - a pure
orange, mango - a
yellow orange,
salmon - a pink
orange, melon - a
light orange,.
Darker oranges offer
a sense of comfort;
some are spicy, some
are earthy. Lighter
oranges are soothing
and healthy.
Global Meanings of
Orange
Orange's global
similarities are
significant:
Orange evokes the
taste of healthy
fruits, bursting
with juice.
Orange is associated
with vitamin C and
good health.
Orange is symbolic
of autumn.
Children all over
the world are drawn
to orange.
Orange is the color
of life rafts,
hazard cones, and
high visibility
police vests.
Unique
Meanings of Orange
in Different
Cultures
Orange is both the
name and emblematic
color of the royal
family.
Orange is the color
of prison uniforms
in the U.S.
Orange (saffron) is
a sacred and
auspicious color in
Hinduism.
The middle traffic
light is orange in
France.
In the U.K., orange
stands for the
Northern Irish
Protestants and has
very strong
religious and
political
significance.
Designing with
Orange
Orange is an
excellent example of
this design rule:
There are no bad
colors; only bad
color combinations.
The complementary
color scheme –
orange and blue – is
dynamic.
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Pink
Think Pink
Pink is a
combination of
the color red
and white, a hue
that can be
described as a
tint. It can
range from berry
(blue-based)
pinks to salmon
(orange-based)
pinks. Its
symbolism is
complex and its
popularity is
subject to so
many influences.
We can begin an
analysis of pink
by looking at
natural and
contemporary
souces of this
delicate color.
First,
regardless of
your skin color,
some part of
your body is
pink. So are
sunsets,
watermelons and
Pepto Bismal.
Depending on
your age and
culture, you may
remember pink
Cadillacs, pink
flamingos (once
considered in
bad taste in
American culture
but now
retro-chic),
Pink Floyd, the
Pink Panther,
and the pink
triangles of the
Third Reich
(which were used
to identify male
homosexuals).
In
almost every
culture, one
stereotype
emerges: pink is
associated with
girls, blue with
boys.
Unfortunately,
there is no
consensus of
opinion on its
origin.
According to
Jean Heifetz,
for centuries,
all European
children were
dressed in blue
because the
color was
associated with
the Virgin Mary.
The use of pink
and blue emerged
at the turn of
the century, the
rule being pink
for boys, blue
for girls. Since
pink was a
stronger color
it was best
suited for boys;
blue was more
delicate and
dainty and best
for girls. And
in 1921, the
Women's
Institute for
Domestic Science
in Pennsylvania
endorsed pink
for boys, blue
for girls. (When
Blue Meant
Yellow.
pp. 20 -21)
One could argue
that
contemporary
color symbolism
confirms these
associations.
Blue is
considered a
calm, passive
color, hence
feminine. Red
(pink derived
from red) is
considered
active hence
masculine.
On the other
hand, the idea
of associating
blue with male
babies may stem
back to ancient
times when
having a boy was
good luck. Blue,
the color of the
sky where gods
and fates lived,
held powers to
ward off evil,
so baby boys
where dressed in
blue. In Greece
a blue eye is
still thought to
have powers to
ward off evil.
The idea of pink
for girls might
come from the
European legend
that baby girls
were born inside
delicate pink
roses.
Another theory
states that the
sexual origins
can be found in
ancient China.
At a time when
certain dyes
were quite rare,
pink dye was
readily
available and
therefore
inexpensive.
Since blues were
rare and
expensive, it
was therefore
considered to be
more worthwhile
to dress your
son in blue,
because when he
married the
family would
receive a dowry.
The origin of
the English term
"pink" is as
valuable as any
discourse on
symbolism. Here
are some
interesting
analyses:
In English, the
word "pink"
could be derived
from the Dutch
flower pinken
dating back to
1681. The
flower's name
could have
originally been
"pink eye" or
"small eye."
Another
possibility is
the verb "to
pink" - to prick
or cut around
the edges, as
with pinking
shears. The
jagged petals of
the flower
looked as though
they had been
cut, thus
explaining why
it became known
as the "pink."
(Jean Heifetz,
When Blue Meant
Yellow, p
110)
Finally,
going back to
the ancient
Egypt, the
flamingo was the
hieroglyph for
the color red.
In colloquial
language, to be
"tickled pink"
describes a
state of joy, a
"pink slip" is a
notice that
you've been
fired from your
job, to be "in
the pink"
suggest good
fortune and
health, and a "pinko"
is a person who
is extremely
liberal, a
socialist or a
communist.
Visitors to
Color Matters
provide some
interesting
information
about pink:
"Amongst the
Owambo people
(of Namibia),
traditional
wealth for the
women has come
in the form of a
particular pink
snail shell
which is found
in the extreme
north and up
into Angola.
These snail
shells are
collected then
cut into
circular pieces,
rubbed until
they are all
perfectly round
and the same
size and then
beaded together.
The richer the
woman, the more
strands of snail
shell necklaces
she has. They
are very
precious. These
days the shops
sell plastic
versions, of
course! What I
have also seen
in recent times
is Owambo women
in dresses which
they say are
traditional
dresses, which
have quite a bit
of pink in
them."
"With parakeets
the male's nose
is blue and the
female's is
pink."
"In Belgium they
dress boys in
pink and girls
in blue. "
In conclusion,
consider the
following:
Although
sunburned skin
and watermelons
are pink's
natural
associations,
the color is
loaded with
historical
meaning,
knee-jerk
reflexes and
cliches. In some
cases, it is
quite
appropriate; in
others, perhaps
the only cliche
worth using is
one, which is
ripe for a vivid
transformation.
More about pink:
Can pink jail
cells calm angry
prisoners?
-------------------------------
Are
Black & White Colors?
Is Black a Color?
Is White a Color?
The answer to the
question - "Are
black and white
colors?"
-
is one of the
most debated issues
about color. Ask a
scientist and you'll
get a reply based on
physics: “Black is
not a color, white
is a color.” Ask an
artist or a child
with crayons and
you'll get another:
“Black is a color,
white is not a
color.” (Maybe!)
There
are four sections on
this page that
present the best
answers.
Introduction: How
Colors Exist
# 1 -
The First Answer:
Color Theory #1 -
Color as Light
Black is not a
color. White is a
color.
# 2 -
The Second Answer:
Color Theory #2 -
Color as Pigment or
Molecular Coloring
Agents
Black is a color.
White is not a color
# 3 -
The Third and Most
Complete Answer:
Vision and
Reflection
Comments from color
pros:
More about black &
white
Introduction
How Colors Exist
A
basic
understanding of
how colors are
created is the
first step in
providing
correct answers.
Here are two
examples:
The
color of a tangible
object is the result
of pigments or
molecular coloring
agents. For example,
the color of a red
apple (in the
illustration at the
left) is the result
of molecular
coloring agents on
the surface of the
apple. Also, a
painting of a red
apple is the result
of red pigments used
to create the image.
The
colors of objects
viewed on a
television set or on
a computer monitor
are the result of
colored light (in
the illustration at
the right). If
you're not familiar
with how colors are
created by light,
look at your monitor
or television screen
close up. Put your
eye right up against
the screen. A small
magnifying glass
might help. This is
what you will see:
A
simplified way to
explain it is that
the color of a red
apple on a computer
or television is
created by photons
of red light that
are transmitted
within the
electronic system.
Primary Colors
It's
also important to
understand the
concept of "primary"
colors. The
fundamental rule is
that there are three
colors that cannot
be made by mixing
other colors
together. These
three, red, blue,
and yellow, are
known as the primary
colors.
Now that we've
described two
different categories
of colors (pigment
and light-generated)
and have a
definition of
primary colors, the
answer to whether
black and white are
colors can be
answered.
Color Theory 1 -
Color as Light
(Additive Color
Theory)
Red, Green, and Blue
(The primary colors
of light)
The
question:
Are black and white
colors when
generated as light?
Black and white
cats generated
on a television.
These colors are
created by
light.
The
answers:
1. Black is the
absence of color
(and is therefore
not a color)
Explanation:
When there is no
light, everything is
black. Test this out
by going into a
photographic dark
room. There are no
photons of light. In
other words, there
are no photons of
colors.
2.
White is the
blending of all
colors and is a
color.
Explanation:
Light appears
colorless or white.
Sunlight is white
light that is
composed of all the
colors of the
spectrum. A rainbow
is proof. You can't
see the colors of
sunlight except when
atmospheric
conditions bend the
light rays and
create a rainbow.
You can also use a
prism to demonstrate
this.
Fact:
The sum of all the
colors of light add
up to white. This is
additive color
theory.
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Lesson for Monday December 19th, 2011 -
We are going to learn more about color. Many people do not understand the
importance of what a specific color means, and its uses in building websites. We’ll
be reading basic information about color that I reprinted below from a
website called www.colormatters.com
.
Start a paper, using MS Word, about COLOR ON THE INTERNET with a
paragraph describing your favorite color
and why it is your favorite. Then read the following articles about the colors
red, yellow, blue, and green.
In
your paper,
answer these questions for each color. What new information did you learn
about this color ? How could I use this color in a website?
Save this work because we will be
adding more paragraphs to this paper
in the next few days.
Welcome to Color Matters
Color plays a vitally important role in
the world in which we live. Color can sway thinking, change actions, and
cause reactions. It can irritate or soothe your eyes, raise your blood
pressure or suppress your appetite. When used in the right ways, color can
even save on energy consumption.
As a powerful form of communication, color is irreplaceable. Red means
"stop" and green means "go." Traffic lights send this universal message.
Likewise, the colors used for a product, web site, business card, or logo
cause powerful reactions.
Color Matters!
--------------------------------------------------------------
Red
The Meanings of Red
Red is the color of extremes. It’s the color of passionate love, seduction,
violence, danger, anger, and adventure. Our prehistoric ancestors saw red as
the color of fire and blood – energy and primal life forces – and most of
red’s symbolism today arises from its powerful associations in the past.
Red is also a magical and religious color. It symbolized super-human heroism
to the Greeks and is the color of the Christian crucifixion. Red was almost
as rare and as expensive as purple in ancient days – a fact that may explain
its magic and power. Paradoxically, today’s intense red dyes come from
crushed insects (the lac beetle and the cochineal).
Global Meanings of Red
Red’s global similarities are significant:
Red is one of the top two favorite colors of all people.
Red is the most popular color used on flags in the world. Approximately 77%
of all flags include red.
Red is the international color for stop.
Red districts sell sex and pornography in every European culture.
The history of languages reveals that red is the first color after black and
white. (All languages have words for black and white. If a third hue exists,
it is red.)
Unique Meanings of Red in Different Cultures
Red is the color of good luck in Asia and is the most popular color in
China.
Most Japanese children draw the sun as a big red circle.
In East Asian stock markets, red is used to denote a rise in stock prices.
(Note: In North American stock markets, red is used to denote a drop in
stock prices.)
Red is an auspicious color for marriage. Brides in India and Nepal wear red
saris; in Japan, a red kimono symbolizes happiness and good luck.
Designing with Red
All reds are not created equal. Aside from
light and dark shades of red, there are two kinds of red:
Yellow-based reds are “tomato” reds. Blue-based reds are “berry reds.” Some
say that males are more attracted to the tomato reds: females to the berry
reds.
Context is everything when using red. For example, when red is place on a
black background, it glows with an otherworldly fire; on a white background,
red appears somewhat duller; in contrast with orange, red appears lifeless.
Notice that the red square appears larger on black.
Regardless of how it is used in a design, a little bit of red goes a long
way.
How Red Affects Vision
Red captures attention. It is one of the most visible colors, second only to
yellow - which explains why it is used on fire engines and stop signs to
trigger alertness.
Red focuses behind the retina which forces the lens grows more convex to
pull it forward. Therefore, we perceive that red areas are moving forward.
This may explain why red captures attention.
Note: Eight percent of the male population has a red-green color vision
deficiency and cannot see red at all
Myths about Red
“They” claim that red raises your blood
pressure and quickens your heartbeat. Yes, red is a strong color but its
immediate effects are only temporary and do not apply to everyone.
Tidbits - Points to Ponder
In Russia, the word for "red" means
beautiful.
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Yellow
The Meanings of Yellow
Yellow is the most luminous of all the colors of the spectrum. It’s the
color that captures our attention more than any other color.
In the natural world, yellow is the color of sunflowers and daffodils, egg
yolks and lemons, canaries and bees. In our contemporary human-made world,
yellow is the color of Sponge Bob, the Tour de France winner’s jersey, happy
faces, post its, and signs that alert us to danger or caution.
It’s the color of happiness, and optimism, of enlightenment and creativity,
sunshine and spring.
Lurking in the background is the dark side of yellow: cowardice, betrayal,
egoism, and madness. Furthermore, yellow is the color of caution and
physical illness (jaundice, malaria, and pestilence). Perhaps it’s no
coincidence that the sources of yellow pigments are toxic metals - cadmium,
lead, and chrome - and urine.
Global Meanings of Yellow
Yellow's global
similarities are significant:
In almost every culture yellow represents sunshine, happiness, and
warmth.
Yellow is the color most often associated with the deity in many religions
(Hinduism and Ancient Egypt)
Yellow is the color of traffic lights and signs indicating caution all over
the world.
Unique Meanings of Yellow in Different Cultures
In Japan, yellow often represents courage.
In China, adult movies are referred to as yellow movies.
In Russia, a colloquial expression for an insane asylum used to be "yellow
house."
Bright “marigold” yellow may be associated with death in some areas of
Mexico.
Those condemned to die during the Inquisition wore yellow as a sign of
treason.
A yellow patch was used to label Jews in the Middle Ages. European Jews were
forced to wear yellow or yellow “Stars of David” during the Nazi era of
prosecution.
Designing with Yellow
Although there are strong mustard yellows and deep yellow ochres, there
are no dark yellows.
Yellow is the only color that reacts badly to black: Add a little black and
it becomes a sickly yellow-green.
How Yellow Affects Vision
Yellow is the most visible color of the spectrum.
The human eye processes yellow first. This explains why it is used for
cautionary signs and emergency rescue vehicles.
Peripheral vision is 2.5 times higher for yellow than for red.
Yellow has a high light reflectance value and therefore it acts as a
secondary light source. Excessive use of bright yellow (such as on interior
walls) can irritate the eyes.
Myths About the Effects of Yellow
It is not true that babies
cry more in yellow rooms, or that yellow causes diarrhea, or that husbands
and wives fight more in yellow kitchens.
Tidbits - Points to Ponder
U.S. law prohibits coloring
margarine to look like butter.
-------------------------------------------
Blue
The Meanings of Blue
Blue is the favorite color of all people. It’s nature’s color
for water and sky, but is rarely found in fruits and vegetables. Today, blue
is embraced as the color of heaven and authority, denim jeans and corporate
logos. It is cold, wet, and slow as compared to red’s warmth, fire, and
intensity.
Blue has more complex and contradictory meanings than any
other color. These can be easily explained by pinpointing by the specific
shade of blue.
Dark blue: trust, dignity, intelligence, authority
Bright blue: cleanliness, strength, dependability, coolness
(The origin of these meanings arise from the qualities of the ocean and
inland waters, most of which are more tangible.)
Light (sky) blue: peace, serenity, ethereal, spiritual,
infinity
(The origin of these meanings is the intangible aspects of the sky.)
Most blues convey a sense of trust,
loyalty, cleanliness, and understanding. On the other hand, blue evolved as
symbol of depression in American culture. “Singing the blues” and feeling
blue” are good examples of the complexity ofcolor
symbolism and
how it has been evolved in different cultures.
Global Meanings of Blue
Blue's global similarities are significant:
Blue is the #1 favorite color of all people.
53% of the flags in the world contain blue.
Blue is the most commonly used color in corporate identity.
A dark blue suit is professional business attire.
Blue jeans are worn all over the world.
Aristocracy is blue-blooded in all European languages.
Unique Meanings of Blue in Different Cultures
Greeks believe that blue wards off "the evil eye.
The English “to feel blue” has no equivalent in other
languages while in German “blau sein” (literally: to be blue) means to be
drunk or in Russian “голубой” (literally: light blue) means to be
homosexual.
Dark blue is the color of mourning in Korea.
The god Krishna has blue skin.
Shades of blue are described as shallow or deep instead of
light or dark in China.
Blue is for a baby girl; pink for a baby boy in Belgium.
“Prince Charming” is called “The Blue Prince” in Italy and
Spain.
Designing with Blue
Blue ranks so high as a favorite color that you can’t go
wrong if you use blue. However, blue can be over-used and may wind up a
design cliché if used alone. Combining blue with another color creates a
more creative effect.
Blue is the only color which maintains its own character in
all its tones... it will always stay blue;” Raoul Dufy, French Fauvist
Painter, 1877-1953
How Blue Affects Vision
Blue is sharply refracted by the eyes. This causes the lens
to flatten and to push the blue image back. We perceive that blue areas are
receding and smaller.
The same refraction causes visual fog if used excessively in
interior spaces.
Myths about the Effects of Blue on the Body
Unfortunately,
there are many “pseudo studies” that suggest that blue rooms can calm or
depress people. Under closer scrutiny none of these have stood up. However,
there’s lots of money to be made telling people otherwise.
Some Truths about the Effects of Blue
Blue has very few connections to taste
or smell. Therefore it may act as an appetite suppressant. (Find out more
about how blue affects appetite at Color
& Appetite Matters)
-------------------------------------------
Green
The Meanings of Green
The Green Man and Vegetation
Green is no longer just a color. It's now the symbol of ecology and a verb.
Since the beginning of time, green has signified growth, rebirth, and
fertility. In pagan times, there was the "Green Man" - a symbol of
fertility. In Muslim countries, it is a holy color and in Ireland, a lucky
color. It was the color of the heavens in the Ming Dynasty.
Today's greens can be found in a wide range of objects: pea soup, delicate
celadon glazes, sleazy shag carpet, sickly bathroom walls, emeralds, wasabi,
and sage. The English language reflects some strange attributes: Would you
rather be green with envy, green behind the ears, or green around the gills?
(Idiomatic American English for extremely envious, immature or nauseated.)
Global Meanings of Green
-
Green is universally associated with nature.
-
Green symbolizes ecology and the environment.
-
Traffic lights are green all over the world.
Unique Meanings of Green in Different Cultures
-
In China, Green may symbolize infidelity. A green hat symbolizes that
a man's wife is cheating on him.
-
In Israel, green may symbolize bad news.
-
In Japan, the words for blue and green ("ao") are the same.
-
In Spain, racy jokes are "green."
Luck or Bad Luck?
-
Green is a lucky culture in most Western cultures. A green
shamrock symbolizes this.
-
You won't find many green cars at racetracks because they are
considered unlucky.
-
Circus and traveling showmen in Australia may consider green to be
bad luck.
-
An old English rhyme about wedding colors: "Married in green,
Ashamed to be seen."
Designing with Green
There are more shades of green than that
of any other color. Greens range from yellow-greens, such as lime and
avocado greens, to those with a blue tinge (such as emerald). Aqua or
turquoise are colors that are typically half green and half blue.
How Green Affects Vision
Color Blindness
Approximately 5% - 8% of men and 0.5% of women of
the world are born colorblind. People who are protans (red weak) and deutans
(green weak) comprise 99% of this group.
Some European countries have outlined certain traffic light colors so that
it is clear which is green and which is red, by the color that has a
rectangle around it. Some states in the U.S. have placed diagonal lines
through green traffic lights as an aid for the colorblind.
Signage: Green vs. Red Exit
Signs
Green exit signs have an important advantage when there is smoke in the
air (in other words, when a fire is burning). With red exit signs, it
looks like a fire - firemen have actually rushed into burning buildings
and tried to put out the signs! With a green sign, people know it isn't
the fire itself but the way to safety.
Not only should Exit signs be Green to correspond to the established
International Standard for Safety Signs since the early 70's but they should
also have the International Standard Graphical symbol for exit as given in
ISO 6309 and ISO/DIS 3864 Part 1 and Part 2. It is time to consider that all
exit signs should be the same throughout the world. Time to wake up USA and
join the International Community. (www.means-of-escape.com)
Myths about the Effects of Green on the Body
-
When one sleeps on a pea-green pillow, it prevents baldness.
-
Green is the best color for pregnant women.
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