6
99
The ability to print in color can greatly increase the effectiveness of your
message, whether you are printing a presentation or a newsletter, or proof-
ing an ad concept that will later be printed on press. Some potential benefits
of using color include:
•
Conveying information rapidly by using color cues
•
Making use of the emotive aspects of different colors
•
Increasing impact and message retention
Color can also be a source of distraction and discord if it is used poorly. This
section outlines some tips and concepts that will prove useful as you ap-
proach designing color materials.
6.3.1
A few rules of thumb
Try some of the following strategies for creating successful color materials:
•
Rather than applying colors indiscriminately, use color to aid comprehen-
sion. In presentations, graphs, and charts, use color to highlight patterns
and emphasize differences.
•
In general, fewer colors work better than many colors.
•
Use red as an accent color. Red is particularly effective when used in oth-
erwise monochromatic materials.
•
Consider the tastes of your target audience when choosing colors.
•
Keep a file of printed color pieces that appeal to you or strike you as ef-
fective. Refer to it for ideas when designing your own documents.
6.3.2
Color wheel
A color wheel is a helpful tool for understanding the interrelation of colors.
The colors on one side of the color wheel, from magenta to yellow, appear to
most people to be warm colors, while those on the other side, from green to
blue, appear to be cool. The distance between two colors on the color wheel
can help predict how they will appear when seen side by side. Colors oppo-
site one another on the wheel are called complements, and create a striking
contrast side by side. This can be the basis for a bold graphical design, but it
is an effect you should use with discretion since it can be visually fatiguing.
Other bold combinations to consider are split complements (a color and the
two colors adjacent to its complement) and triads (three colors evenly spaced
on the color wheel). Colors adjacent to one another on the color wheel result
in subtle harmonies.
6.3
Using color effectively
Summary of Contents for DocuColor DocuColor 4
Page 1: ...Xerox DocuColor 4 User Guide Version 701P31411 September 1999 THE DOCUMENT COMPANY XEROX...
Page 32: ...xxx...
Page 88: ...2 56...
Page 96: ...3 64...
Page 100: ...4 68...
Page 162: ...7 130...
Page 163: ...Positioning Originals 8 1 About originals 8 2 Positioning Originals...
Page 172: ...8 140...
Page 208: ...176 A...
Page 215: ...i...