Using Color
6
Printing Reference
6-3
Using color in presentations
When used consistently, color in your presentations will help your audience
remember key points. For example, graphics that represent your product
should always appear in the same color. If you represent data graphically, be
sure to put the most important data in red or the brightest, warmest color in
your selected palette. Put the data you do not want to emphasize in
cool colors.
Color design guidelines:
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Keep it simple; use up to seven colors maximum.
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Use color to indicate related elements.
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Use complementary colors for basic color schemes; use split
complements for more subtle effects.
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Avoid blue/red and yellow/purple combinations.
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Use full-strength warm colors sparingly for emphasis.
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Use a cool, dark background color that won’t compete with the
foreground. Use foreground colors that stand out clearly against
the background. Research shows that blue is the most preferred
background color, followed by black, gray, brown, red, green,
and purple.
Text and font guidelines:
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For readability, use dark text on a lighter background, or light text
on a darker background. For example, white or yellow text with a
deep blue background.
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Make text bold for emphasis.
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Text sizes on overhead transparencies or slides:
Use a 40-point or larger font for titles.
Use 24- to 36-point fonts for body text.
Use 5 to 7 lines of text maximum per slide or overhead.
