Htmlcook - http://www.htmlcook.com HTMLCOOK - March 2001 News Update

Recommended Site
http://www.searchenginecheck.com
This is a great site which allows you to check whether your site can be found on search engines! I've found it really useful and have been printing out the results so that I can compare them.

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If you'd like to recommend a site - it can even be your own - then please email us. mogga@mogga.com If you'd like to write an article for either the site or this newsletter then please contact us as above.
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Guest Article: Use of Colors on a Web

Site Roses are red violets are blue but what the hex color should a web site be? Purple with red trim? Blue text with an animated background, or perhaps even charcoal black with a classy snow -white background… Choosing color schemes for a web site is often difficult and possibly even harder than picking an actual physical layout or design for the page. The "art" of color scheming involves an artistic panache, definition, purpose, motivation, and of course a thematic development.
Many color layouts should be taken into consideration before choosing a final design. It is important to ask two questions: Will I like it? And will my customer or viewer be pleased? Take a look at other sites around the net and form an opinion of what is "good" and what is "bad". Try many possible layouts, use tables, try multiple scheme types. If nothing seems to be working or a change is in order, surf the web. There are well over a million great sites out there. Try out some of the designs you find.
Decide which sites don’t work and ovoid such designs. Finally, make an original color extrapolation from what you’ve learned, disliked, and awed over. Take into consideration theme. A site designed for a high school football team is not going to have "pansy pink" with a purple lace outline topped off with white text. A webmaster should always pick a color scheme that emphasizes the web site’s subject and content. Example: White is excellent for weddings and team colors are great for sports sites. Further notes and suggestions: A never fail design is white text with black letters. This is very direct, easy to read, and the scheme has professional written all over it. My personal opinion is that all sites should start out as black and white. Then colors should be added on accordingly. Trim lines, hard rules, and pictures… will become the life of the page (not colors, per say).

HINTS:
1. Use Colors that are complete opposites (black and white).
2. Or, use colors that change slightly and appeal when placed in proximity.
3. Look to form a thematic correlation between subject and color scheme.

Don’t overweigh or overemphasize colors. Visitors come for information or a product, not to be blinded by an over robust design.

A truly, well laid out page should make a reader impressed without even taking note of the color. Make sure colors emphasize the web page instead of detracting. Let us take a quick review of the use of colors in web pages. Choosing the right colors for your site will take an artistic ability, practice, patience, and purpose. Your web site needs to display a purpose or motive, as well as subject correlation. A sports site needs "bright" colors and a wedding site needs "light" colors. Search the web for designs you approve/disapprove of and then design a layout for your own site. Make sure not only to consider your own opinions, but to also consider your reader’s opinion. Finally, and possibly most important, use black text on a white background for the most appealing, professional appearance.

A. Jensen, of www.trinkydink.com

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