Imagetalk

The Meaning of Color (Part 1)

admin — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:08:41 +0000

Color in design is very subjective. What evokes one reaction in one person may evoke a very different reaction in somone else. Sometimes this is due to personal preference, and other times due to cultural background. Color theory is a science in itself. Studying how colors affect different people, either individually or as a group, is something some people build their careers on. And there’s a lot to it. Something as simple as changing the exact hue or saturation of a color can evoke a completely different feeling. Cultural differences mean that something that’s happy and uplifting in one country can be depressing in another.

This is the first in a three-part series on color theory. Here we’ll discuss the meanings behind the different color families, and give some examples of how these colors are used (with a bit of analysis for each). In Part 2 we’ll talk about how hue, chroma, value, saturation, tones, tints and shades affect the way we perceive colors. And inPart 3 we’ll discuss how to create effective color palettes for your own designs.

Warm Colors

Warm colors include red, orange, and yellow, and variations of those three colors. These are the colors of fire, of fall leaves, and of sunsets and sunrises, and are generally energizing, passionate, and positive.

Red and yellow are both primary colors, with orange falling in the middle, which means warm colors are all truly warm and aren’t created by combining a warm color with a cool color. Use warm colors in your designs to reflect passion, happiness, enthusiasm, and energy.

RED (PRIMARY COLOR)

Red is a very hot color. It’s associated with fire, violence, and warfare. It’s also associated with love and passion. In history, it’s been associated with both the Devil and Cupid. Red can actually have a physical effect on people, raising blood pressure and respiration rates. It’s been shown to enhance human metabolism, too.

Red can be associated with anger, but is also associated with importance (think of the red carpet at awards shows and celebrity events). Red also indicates danger (the reason stop lights and signs are red, and that most warning labels are red).

Outside the western world, red has different associations. For example, in China, red is the color of prosperity and happiness. It can also be used to attract good luck. In other eastern cultures, red is worn by brides on their wedding days. In South Africa, however, red is the color of mourning. Red is also associated with communism. Red has become the color associated with AIDS awareness in Africa due to the popularity of the [RED] campaign.

In design, red can be a powerful accent color. It can have an overwhelming effect if it’s used too much in designs, especially in its purest form. It’s a great color to use when power or passion want to be portrayed in the design. Red can be very versatile, though, with brighter versions being more energetic and darker shades being more powerful and elegant.

ORANGE (SECONDARY COLOR)

Orange is a very vibrant and energetic color. In its muted forms, it can be associated with the earth and with autumn. Because of its association with the changing seasons, orange can represent change and movement in general.

Because orange is associated with the fruit of the same name, it can be associated with health and vitality. In designs, orange commands attention without being as overpowering as red. It’s often considered more friendly and inviting, and less in-your-face.

YELLOW (PRIMARY COLOR)

Yellow is often considered the brightest and most energizing of the warm colors. It’s associated with happiness and sunshine. Yellow can also be associated with deceit and cowardice, though (calling someone yellow is calling them a coward).

Yellow is also associated with hope, as can be seen in some countries when yellow ribbons are displayed by families who have loved ones at war. Yellow is also associated with danger, though not as strongly as red.

In some countries, yellow has very different connotations. In Egypt, for example, yellow is for mourning. In Japan, it represents courage, and in India it’s a color for merchants.

In your designs, bright yellow can lend a sense of happiness and cheerfulness. Softer yellows are commonly used as a gender-neutral color for babies (rather than blue or pink) and young children. Light yellows also give a more calm feeling of happiness than bright yellows. Dark yellows and gold-hued yellows can sometimes look antique and be used in designs where a sense of permanence is desired.

Cool Colors

Cool colors include green, blue, and purple, are often more subdued than warm colors. They are the colors of night, of water, of nature, and are usually calming, relaxing, and somewhat reserved.

Blue is the only primary color within the cool spectrum, which means the other colors are created by combining blue with a warm color (yellow for green and red for purple). Greens take on some of the attributes of yellow, and purple takes on some of the attributes of red. Use cool colors in your designs to give a sense of calm or professionalism.

GREEN (SECONDARY COLOR)

Green is a very down-to-earth color. It can represent new beginnings and growth. It also signifies renewal and abundance. Alternatively, green can also represent envy or jealousy, and a lack of experience.

Green has many of the same calming attributes that blue has, but it also incorporates some of the energy of yellow. In design, green can have a balancing and harmonizing effect, and is very stable. It’s appropriate for designs related to wealth, stability, renewal, and nature. Brighter greens are more energizing and vibrant, while olive greens are more representative of the natural world. Dark greens are the most stable and representative of affluence.

BLUE (PRIMARY COLOR)

Blue is often associated with sadness in the English language. Blue is also used extensively to represent calmness and responsibility. Light blues can be refreshing and friendly. Dark blues are more strong and reliable. Blue is also associated with peace, and has spiritual and religious connotations in many cultures and traditions (for example, the Virgin Mary is generally depicted wearing blue robes).

The meaning of blue is widely affected depending on the exact shade and hue. In design, the exact shade of blue you select will have a huge impact on how your designs are perceived. Light blues are often relaxed and calming. Bright blues can be energizing and refreshing. Dark blues are excellent for corporate sites or designs where strength and reliability are important.

PURPLE (SECONDARY COLOR)

Purple was long associated with royalty. It’s a combination of red and blue, and takes on some attributes of both. It’s associated with creativity and imagination, too.

In Thailand, purple is the color of mourning for widows. Dark purples are traditionally associated with wealth and royalty, while lighter purples (like lavendar) are considered more romantic.

In design, dark purples can give a sense wealth and luxury. Light purples are softer and are associated with spring and romance.

Neutrals

Neutral colors often serve as the backdrop in design. They’re commonly combined with brighter accent colors. But they can also be used on their own in designs, and can create very sophisticated layouts. The meanings and impressions of neutral colors are much more affected by the colors that surround them than are warm and cool colors.

BLACK

Black is the strongest of the neutral colors. On the positive side, it’s commonly associated with power, elegance, and formality. On the negative side, it can be associated with evil, death, and mystery. Black is the traditional color of mourning in many Western countries. It’s also associated with rebellion in some cultures, and is associated with Halloween and the occult.

Black is commonly used in edgier designs, as well as in very elegant designs. It can be either conservative or modern, traditional or unconventional, depending on the colors it’s combined with. In design, black is commonly used for typography and other functional parts, because of it’s neutrality. Black can make it easier to convey a sense of sophistication and mystery in a design.

WHITE

White is at the opposite end of the spectrum from black, but like black, it can work well with just about any other color. White is often associated with purity, cleanliness, and virtue. In the West, white is commonly worn by brides on their wedding day. It’s also associated with the health care industry, especially with doctors, nurses and dentists. White is associated with goodness, and angels are often depicted in white.

In design, white is generally considered a neutral backdrop that lets other colors in a design have a larger voice. It can help to convey cleanliness and simplicity, though, and is popular in minimalist designs. White in designs can also portray either winter or summer, depending on the other design motifs and colors that surround it.

GRAY

Gray is a neutral color, generally considered on the cool end of the color spectrum. It can sometimes be considered moody or depressing. Light grays can be used in place of white in some designs, and dark grays can be used in place of black.

Gray is generally conservative and formal, but can also be modern. It is sometimes considered a color of mourning. It’s commonly used in corporate designs, where formality and professionalism are key. It can be a very sophisticated color. Pure grays are shades of black, though other grays may have blue or brown hues mixed in. In design, gray backgrounds are very common, as is gray typography.

BROWN

Brown is associated with the earth, wood, and stone. It’s a completely natural color and a warm neutral. Brown can be associated with dependability and reliability, with steadfastness, and with earthiness. It can also be considered dull.

In design, brown is commonly used as a background color. It’s also seen in wood textures and sometimes in stone textures. It helps bring a feeling of warmth and wholesomeness to designs. It’s sometimes used in its darkest forms as a replacement for black, either in backgrounds or typography.

BEIGE AND TAN

Beige is somewhat unique in the color spectrum, as it can take on cool or warm tones depending on the colors surrounding it. It has the warmth of brown and the coolness of white, and, like brown, is sometimes seen as dull. It’s a conservative color in most instances, and is usually reserved for backgrounds. It can also symbolize piety.

Beige in design is generally used in backgrounds, and is commonly seen in backgrounds with a paper texture. It will take on the characteristics of colors around it, meaning it has little effect in itself on the final impression a design gives when used with other colors.

CREAM AND IVORY

Ivory and cream are sophisticated colors, with some of the warmth of brown and a lot of the coolness of white. They’re generally quiet, and can often evoke a sense of history. Ivory is a calm color, with some of the pureness associated with white, though it’s a bit warmer.

In design, ivory can lend a sense of elegance and calm to a site. When combined with earthy colors like peach or brown, it can take on an earthy quality. It can also be used to lighten darker colors, without the stark contrast of using white.

In Brief…

While the information contained here might seem just a bit overwhelming, color theory is as much about the feeling a particular shade evokes than anything else. But here’s a quick reference guide for the common meanings of the colors discussed above:

Red: Passion, Love, Anger
Orange: Energy, Happiness, Vitality
Yellow: Happiness, Hope, Deceit
Green: New Beginnings, Abundance, Nature
Blue: Calm, Responsible, Sadness
Purple: Creativity, Royalty, Wealth
Black: Mystery, Elegance, Evil
Gray: Moody, Conservative, Formality
White: Purity, Cleanliness, Virtue
Brown: Nature, Wholesomeness, Dependability
Tan or Beige: Conservative, Piety, Dull
Cream or Ivory: Calm, Elegant, Purity

Further Resources

Color Meanings
A very thorough guide from About.com on color meanings.
Color Wheel Pro: Color Meaning
Another excellent guide to color meanings.
Color
Wikipedia’s entry on color.

The Whole Series

Source: Smashing Magazine

Six Ways To Save on Printing Costs

admin — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:07:16 +0000

Cutting costs is always a good idea, especially if it doesn’t take a lot of effort. The printing environment in your office is a good place to start. Here are a few tips to reduce the cost of toner, paper and energy.

Strategize before printing – before hitting the print button, decide if you really need a hard copy. It might be more efficient to share the document electronically rather than on paper.
Duplex printing – use less paper by printing on both sides of the paper. Duplex printing can save you up to 50% of your paper costs.
Print black and white – if you review the content of a document, you may not need to see it in color. Print in black and white whenever possible, since it is less expensive than color ink or toner.
Change default settings – set the printer’s default setting to draft or economy to save toner or ink. You can change it when you need a “good” copy. Since most printed files are discarded within a few hours of use, this should save a lot.
Print only text – when you need to print from a webpage, only select the text you need. Highlight the specific information you want to print with your mouse and then select Print from your browser. Check “selection only” and you will eliminate ads, images and other items you don’t need.
Upgrade your existing Printers/Copiers – with energy efficient copiers that allow you be green and have better quality prints, at a lower cost.

A little thinking and a few setting changes can reduce the amount of ink, toner, and paper you use. That is money saved that you can put to other uses to grow your business.

Source: Toshiba Blog

Let us increase your teaching time and streamline the assessment process in your classroom, school or district.

admin — Mon, 13 May 2013 21:32:51 +0000

What would you do with the extra time saved from planning and conducting student assessments? You will be surprised at how much time our testing and grading solution can save administering classroom-based, school-wide or district-wide assessment programs.

With Lexmark’s Testing and Grading education solution, you can print test materials on demand, eliminating the need for costly pre-printed bubble sheets. The solution seamlessly pre-slugs student information by pulling data from your student information system (SIS).

Once students have taken tests, scan the completed tests to automatically score them and see results in minutes. A variety of automated reports can be generated on demand that allow you to analyze student performance and provide insight. In addition, the solution can easily connect to various electronic grade books and assessment management systems.

Let us increase your teaching time and streamline the assessment process in your classroom, school or district.

Click here to contact us via the web or be sure to call 1-800-870-0225 for additional information.

Source:Lexmark Blog

What strategies for records management has your law firm found beneficial?

admin — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:28:21 +0000

By Linda Muller, Director, Records and Information Management

There has been tremendous growth within the Records Management industry in recent years, as organizations are forced to retain large volumes of data to meet business objectives as well as regulatory and legal requirements. Research and Markets estimates that nearly half of Global 2000 companies currently have enterprise-wide records management solutions in place. And according to 2012 research from IBISWorld, over the next five years to 2017, the Records Management industry is expected to continue to experience steady growth.

Law firms are no exception to this trend. Documents are a core asset of every law firm, and ensuring that firms have sound strategies and policies in place for the storage, retrieval and retention of records is vital to success. Law firms also have a fiduciary responsibility to their clients to maintain, preserve, and protect client records using best records management practices.

It’s a best practices approach that we have found to be a true win-win.

What strategies for records management has your law firm found beneficial? Share them with us by leaving a comment below.

Click here to contact us via the web or be sure to call 1-800-870-0225 for additional document management information.

Source:Ricoh Legal Blog

What can Color do for you?

admin — Thu, 09 May 2013 17:05:02 +0000

Regardless that the “digital” world is upon us, including marketing through social networks, e-newsletters and website building for optimal use, color is being printed, distributed, managed & utilized in the everyday office and organizations in every sector.

Color Increases:
• Visibility
• Increased Retention
• Enhances Reader Impact
• Collaterals Easier to Read
• Grabs Attention Faster Than Black/White
• Color Sells!

Color prints are very important, particularly in commonly used marketing materials such as the brochures, flyers, and posters. With the advanced technologies used today, most companies are able to use full color flyers for their advertising needs. Compared with single or even two-color advertising, companies find that full color printing is a powerful tool to attract potential clients. Add to that creative graphic design and compelling content, and companies are provided with a stellar advertising product. People are simply better at remembering advertisements that catch their interests. This is achieved not only using creativity and color, but also in printing quality. Full color printing is very important for achieving a highly effective and productive output when your copies or color flyers are distributed. Even brochures and posters will maximize their efficacy when designed with full color prints.

According to current studies, people have a greater tendency to remember words, text, graphics, and images that are printed in full color. In addition to that, most people subconsciously judge people, environment, and matters according to color. This is why some people who produce reports, presentations, and samples often use highlights or colored text and images in order to catch the attention of their audience and make a mark on their memory. The same applies with color flyers and brochures used for business marketing and advertising. Almost 50% of company forms and documents are multi-colored. Examples for these are color postcards, custom envelopes, color business cards, graphic design projects, door hangers, custom magnets, and headers.

Increase your office efficiency and reduce print costs. Request a FREE Print Audit or be sure to call
1-800-870-0225 for additional office equipment information.

Fill out my online form.

Source: EZineArticles