Wayne TullyVisual appeal
September 14th 2006 12:30
Color and typeface matter
Colors
Most Web-based blogging systems provide writers with design templates created by professional designers who understand the importance of color. Tools like Blogger and Typepad also allow users to modify these settings, and this is where many well meaning amateurs drop the ball. Color combinations should be complimentary not contradictory. What does this mean?
Take a look at top-tier blogs and you'll see that muted colors are almost always used as borders, panels or accents. And, these colors are either of similar shading, or would be found opposite of each other on an artist's color wheel. For example, varying shades of pastel blue or gray work well. And contrasting hues in the same color famiy are usually appealing. Also, plenty of white space is left around posting and photo areas, and often is the color used for the page background. This creates a visually neutral look that draws the reader's eyes to what is most importnat - your post!
Fonts
Images
Pictures and image art are a great addition to almost any blog. But, remember that simple is always better. Limit your image uploads to photos or image files that are well composed with rich, complimentary colors. Personally, I am drawn to abstract images that cause the viewer to think about the relationship between what they're seeing and what they're reading.
Remember, moderation in all things. Too much of anything is, well, too much. Take a few minutes and go over your blog with a critical eye. Do colors match/compliment? Or, do they clash or jolt the viewer's visual sensibility? Is your font choice one that visitors can easily read? And, have you made the best choices for photos and images? Doing such a review will be time well-spent, and your readers will thank you for it. Now, start writing!
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