colourtextcontrast
pink face
compare grey squares
stripes 1
neon effects
contrasts 2
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Other Colour Contrasts

warm/cold, amount/size, biting

example 1a – ‘biting effect’

the colours don't match at all

example 1b – cold-warm contrast

the blue on the left looks more 'blueish' than the one on the right

example 2 – light-dark contrast

drag the tiny orange measure frame to compare the little white and black squares' dimensions

example 3a – the size/amount contrast

example 3b – many contrasts in one images

an example that combines contrasts of warm/cold colour / size / shape / texture

example 3c – many contrasts in one images

warm/cold, light/dark, shape, sizes, upside-down contrasts

effect

see explanations for some more ideas about rules of contrasts

explain:

(you find a lot of explanations at the perception pages before)

usually several contrasts and effects happen at the same time as you'll always have shapes and colours and background together

  • at the warm-cold contrast example where you have a blue on orange, the shade of blue you see in the middle because of all the orange around enhances the actual blue and makes it looking more intense
  • the dark/light contrast not only emphasizes on or the other shape but also influences the assumed size of it.
  • at the amount/size contrast the sudden appearance of a tiny different coloured area arouses the interest (=stimulates other retina cones) and makes one paying attention to it (I'm sure this is for safety reasons deriving from our history when we had to pay attention to wild animals or enemies appearing at the horizon or being still distanced in the desert)

advice

  • when you do a design bear in mind that with every added item (object, colour, size, texture, etc) the number of influences of eachother multiplies
  • so - after having a approximate concept, start with basics, simple arrangements, simple layout, few colours, no special effects.
  • dare to play with different colours, shapes, layouts - change only one thing at a time
  • always ask yourself will an addition or new idea enhance / support the overall concept?
  • be critical: do you only add things because you think they might be nice, or do they really improve the overall design on the whole?
  • don't cling a design because you've spent already so much time with it, dare to throw it away, it will never be wasted - the experiences you gained will let you do a better design in the future - and start all over again.
  • design is a neverending process with successful and important steps inbetween.
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