wia1elp_ch08

Color.

Color. Decisions about color depend to a large extent not only on the kind of equipment you are using—and, for printing, who’s paying for the color ink cartridges—but also on the purpose(s) of your document and its intended audience. As you design your documents, keep in mind that some colors can evoke powerful responses, so take care that the colors you use match the message you are sending. Here are some other tips about the effective use of color:

Use color to draw attention to elements you want to emphasize: headings, bullets, text boxes, or parts of charts or graphs.
Be consistent in your use of color; use the same color for all subheads, for example.
For most documents, keep the number of colors fairly small; too many colors can create a jumbled or confused look.
Avoid colors that clash or that are hard on the eyes.
Make sure all color visuals and text are legible in the format where they will be read. What appears readable on the screen—where colors can be sharper—may be less legible in a printed document.