Using Using COLOR COLOR Bristol Community College Bristol Community College Business Creativity Sources: Non Designers Design Book
Jan 18, 2016
Using Using COLORCOLOR
Bristol Community CollegeBristol Community CollegeBusiness Creativity
Sources: Non Designers Design Book
Using Using COLORCOLOR
Why Use COLOR? To enhance To emphasize To embolden To set the emotion of your publication
and because COLOR SELLS!
Using Using COLORCOLOR
Appropriate Uses of COLOR To add selective emphasis
• Red in a spreadsheet indicates negative numbers To organize
• Gradients lead the eye through content• Shades indicate sidebars or related info
To add impact• Spot color or pie charts and other graphics
Using Using COLORCOLOR
More Appropriate Uses To separate content
• Different color magazine covers may note different volumes
• Varied colors on different sections in a newspaper or magazine
To create emotion• Bright colors suggest optimism• Dark colors suggest wealth & conservatism• “Back to Nature” colors suggest holidays or
seasonal themes
Using Using COLORCOLOR
Inappropriate Uses Color is wasted…
• when used to color a word or phrase in a body of the document
• when used as a backdrop for ordinary fonts
Thin lines, vertical rules, & small graphics are not good uses for color
Using Using COLORCOLOR
COLOR Considerations Color on the computer is not the same as
when it’s printed Paper affects finished color Color works best when concentrated in only a
few areas Color can provide selective emphasis Color organizes elements Color is expensive
Using Using COLORCOLOR
It’s Okay to Use COLOR… as a reverse in headings on logos with business charts and graphics as tints behind graphics to bring them alive to separate elements on a page as a colored background
• -- but not at the expense of contrast
Using Using COLORCOLOR
Don’t Use COLOR… out of habit to brighten things up scattered across the page as a substitute for size behind small type for lots of text (It’s hard to read) to print black and white photos
Using Using COLORCOLOR
Be Careful Using COLOR Don’t print colored text over a background of a
gradient version of the same color• Text readability requires contrast
Don’t print an entire document in an unusual color• You lose the value of color for emphasis
Color can also be the medium• Printing on colored paper changes the contrast and
any color in the document
Using Using COLORCOLOR
Types of COLOR Process Color
• A mix of four colors to create the effect of full color• Cyan• Magenta• Yellow• Black [Key]
Spot Color• One or more additional inks
Duotone• a secondary color over black ink
Using Using COLORCOLOR
Process COLOR
Effective, but expensive
Using Using COLORCOLOR
What is SPOT COLOR? With spot color, you start with a black and
white document and, using standard copying techniques, select words or graphics to appear in a second color such as red, blue, brown or green. • Sometimes , it's also referred to as “highlight" color
or "accent" color • Spot color gives you the chance to add a highly
professional image with little added expense
Using Using COLORCOLOR
Add Impact with SPOT COLOR Spot color creates a highly professional image
with little added expense• Example: Simple color key lines at the top or bottom
of the page are an elegant design touch
Using Using COLORCOLOR
How SPOT COLOR Adds Impact Superior to bolding, italicizing and underlining
in black & white Used properly, spot color can help visually
organize your layout by linking information and letting your reader focus on the critically important details.
Why? Instant eye-attraction of spot color draws attention to titles and vital
information such as key dates or points of action
Using Using COLORCOLOR
COLOR Communicates Certain colors have certain connotations in
publications:• RED - warning or revenue losses• BLUE - calming and recessive• GREEN - can bolster capital projections.• YELLOW - usually does not reproduce well and will
get lost…• but yellow on a black background is
psychologically the most penetrating color combination to human perception
Using Using COLORCOLOR
Tips for Using COLOR Usually, large solid areas of color & gradients
don't reproduce well • Use the second color sparingly
Too much of the color dilutes its effectiveness; it should help organize information by
attracting attention to areas such as subtitles, summary statements, or sidebar pull quotes
Using Using COLORCOLOR
How To Create Spot ColorUsing Digital Publishing Techniques
Create an original in whatever program you ordinarily use, such as InDesign
Utilizing the text tool, highlight the text you want to stand out, and select a spot color. If selecting a graphic, use the arrow or graphic selection tool to highlight and select color
Using Using COLORCOLOR
How To Create Spot ColorUsing Traditional Copying Techniques
Spot color copies are created using black and white original masters
• You must create one master for each color For instance, if you want your document to be
black and red, make one original with the information you'd like to have in black, and another with what you'd like to be red
Using Using COLORCOLOR
How To Create Spot ColorUsing Separation
Most leading page layout programs can separate and print out these color
masters automatically• You can also create the masters manually by
printing out two copies of a document in black and white, and then whiting-out or removing all of the elements from the page except those which will appear in that color
Using Using COLORCOLOR
The Bottom Line
Plan carefully to use colors effectively
Be sure to get the colors you want• Use Pantone or other color scales
Color is expensive
Using Using COLORCOLOR
Resources
Visit their sites for features & demos:• www.adobe.com• www.quarkxpress.com
Try these sites for training & techniques:• www.desktoppub.about.com• www.creativepro.com