11 Amazing Facts About Color

 

Color is the foundation of how we think, react to different situations, as in happiness and everything else in between. It has a way of getting our attention and/or it can bring about irritation to our minds. 

Color is a very powerful tool for communication. When color is used, whether it is a product, a logo, a photograph, or anything you can think of, it can bring a lot of attention, either in a positive or a negative way.

The following are 11 amazing facts about color:

• Red

The color red can really boost up a person’s heart rate. In addition, the positive association with red is excitement, love, and energy. Negative association with red: violence, fire, anger, and danger. 

Red is often used in restaurants and food marketing. It has been shown to increase appetite and often causes many individuals to indulge more with their food. Whenever you go into a store such as Target, there is sometimes a Clearance section--this creates a sense of urgency and rush, which can cause impulse shopping--results in acting quickly and to buy right now.

When to use red: 

Red can be used as an accent color for the purpose of grabbing attention to something, to build up excitement.

Red is great for: food, fashion, sports, healthcare, emergency services, marketing, and advertising.

Red is not ideal for: luxury goods, content that is related to nature, professional websites and services.

• Green

Green brings about harmony and balance. Green is associated with wealth, money, nature, good luck, and the environment.

When to use green:

Green is the simplest color on the eyes for processing. If you are looking for a relaxing and calming environment, green is the perfect color.

Green is great for: environment, sustainability, and science.

Green is not ideal for: luxury goods, tech, adolescent girls-related content.

• Yellow

We all know that yellow is the brightest color on the color spectrum. This color is associated with cheerfulness, optimism, youth, and grabbing attention. In contrast, the negative associations include deceit and being very cheap.

When to use yellow:

Use bright yellow (at a minimum) to bring energy to people and to bring about happiness. If you want to create a happier and a more serene appearance, then it is best to use softer, lighter yellows.

Yellow is great for: grabbing attention for call to action buttons and texts.

Yellow is not ideal for: too much yellow can be pain to your eyes and also, it can appear to be very spammy--a definite no-no!

• Blue

Blue is often used in the logo of large corporations and businesses (think Chase). It is also associated with quantity, calmness, loyalty, strength, trust, and security. Bright blues can also bring a sense of refreshment. In addition, it is a non-invasive color and a safe choice.

When to use blue:

Blue is often the go-to color for large corporations and businesses due to its non-invasiveness and associated with dependability.

Blue is great for: healthcare, government, legal, utilities, and high-tech.

Blue is not ideal for: utilizing too much blue can make your design feel very cold, unwelcoming, and unconcerned. In addition, it may cause in a loss of appetite--be cautious when using it for food-related content.

• Purple

Purple is a calm color often used in beauty product packaging and associated with royalty. This color is often used for the purpose of communicating prosperity, wisdom, power, sophistication, and wealth.

When to use purple:

It is best to use dark purple for luxury and wealth and light purple to represent romance and the spring season.

Purple is great for: beauty products (anti-aging), spirituality, yoga, healing, and astrology.

Purple is not ideal for: since purple is very calming and soothing, it is not ideal for drawing attention; also, darker and deeper purples can make your designs feel very distant.

• Brown

Brown is known to be a warm and a nature color associated with the earth, friendship, and stability.

When to use brown:

Brown can be used in design for the appetite stimulation of food and beverage (chocolate and coffee anyone?)

Brown is great for: real estate, finance, veterinary services; makes a great background color.

Brown is not ideal for: getting attention; not ideal for call to action items.

• Black

Most people think of the color black as being sophisticated, elegance, powerful. It is also associated with evil, mysterious, and death.

When to use black:

Depending on its usage, black can be either elegant and classic, or modern and chic.

Black is great for: luxury goods, fashion, cosmetics and marketing.

Black is not ideal for:  the usage of too much black can be overwhelming; in other words, it can bring the evil feeling and make people feeling very afraid.

• Gray

This color has its association with professionalism, sophistication, and a strong character.

When to use gray:

Gray is great for: professional websites, luxury goods, or just creating a sense of balance and calmness.

Gray is not ideal for: certain gray shades can feel very boring and detached; it is not ideal for drawing people’s attention.

• Pink

Pink is only a lighter tint of red, it has its own particular associations: it symbolizes sophistication, romance, and love.

When to use pink:

Pink is great for: feminine products and/or designs that are targeting women and young girls.

Pink is not ideal for: bright pinks can be way too bright. In addition, light pinks can feel too “sweet” and “girly.”

• Orange

Orange can be used for drawing attention to call to action, such as subscribe and sign up), clearance, sales--in other words, ensure that people are taking notice.

Orange is great for: e-commerce, entertainment, automobile, childcare, and technology.

Orange is not ideal for: overusing the orange color; it can be very overpowering.

• White

Of course, we all know that white is associated with purity, cleanliness, virtue, and safety. It also have associations with healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, and dentists.

When to use white:

White is a very idealistic color for healthcare industry websites.

White is great for: high-tech and science designs; also when combined with gold, black, silver and gray, it can be a great chemistry for luxury goods.

White is not ideal for: since white depends on the other colors in the design scheme, it can be used for any kind of design.