Color Schemes: Use the Right Color for the Right Site...
A Little Color Goes a Long Way...
Creating an effective Website entails more than just pictures, cool animation, and big, bold text. The color of your site can convey a feeling that you want your members to experience. For instance, blues can be calming, while reds can communicate vibrancy and energy.
To help make this color-selection process a little easier for you, ForMinistry offers more than 30 color schemes ranging from calm reds to deep purples. They're easy to use, so you can try out several to find out which "feel" fits your church best.
For steps on how to change your site's colors, check out "Changing colors and images" on ForMinistry's Quickhelp site.
For articles on general Website design, check out these ForMinistry.com:
More Information on Color Schemes
The following resources may help you achieve the feel you want to convey on your site. They may help you see new color combinations that you hadn't considered before. ColorSchemer.com provides a great example of a Web-based color scheme (right).
Here are a few more references for color scheme basics:
- http://www.returnofdesign.com/colors/ - Different color combinations and Web-based color schemes.
- http://members.cox.net/mrsparker2/vocab.htm - Basic words and concepts of color theory and applications.
- http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-theory-basics.html - Color theory basics, understanding of color balances, contrast, opposites, etc.
- http://www.webreference.com/authoring/graphics/color/nondesigners/chap2/1/ - Some basics on color theory and how the color wheel works.
Check out these color-scheme generators:
- http://www.colorschemer.com/schemes/
- http://infohound.net/colour/
- http://www.townhub.com/wedding/color_chart.asp
- http://wellstyled.com/tools/colorscheme2/index-en.html
Closing Remarks
Above all, just remember that the point is to let the best parts of your ministry shine. Don't let the color become the main focus of your site; background images, animation, and patterns can often take away from your main message. The color and design of your Website to should support and enhance your message--not detract from it.
Until next time...
Henry Kay, web_builder host
Contact me at support@forministry.com
