The Who, What, Where and When of Color In Your Documents


This article will help you to assess and maximise the impact your use of color in your documents and presentations will have on the readers. First of all you need to identify the following;

  • who your readers are
  • what your purpose is
  • when to use color
  • where to use color

Who and What?

Determine who your target readers are and what the specific purpose of the document is. Is it an internal product for your employees or is it for the eyes of potential or existing customers.

What is the purpose? Is it to advise, explain, sell, market etc. How many documents are involved? Is it just documents or are multimedia presentations needed. What results are you expecting? All these parameters need to be covered.

Are your target audiences conservative or more open to vibrant colors in documents and presentations. Some cultures associate serious business messages with black and white. Just give your specific situation some thought.

When and Where?

If you are sending a marketing proposal document to a client you will be looking to impress your existing or potential. But beware, the use of bright, fluorescent colors might not go down too well with a firm of accountants or lawyers but may well be appreciated by a music/video company.

If it is an internal document, do you need to use color at all? Consider the cost implication of doing this - Ink cartridge and laser toner usage etc. Unless the purpose of the document is, for example, to explain some major change in company structure, then I suggest you keep to black and white or minimise the color involved.

A situation where you may consider color for internal purposes would be for the production of safety messages. These need to stand out and be noticed.

Finally remember:

  • Don't use too many colors or too much colored text. You may lose the impact and readability of the work.

  • White text on a black background is harder to reader than black on white.

  • Similarly, avoid placing too many color pictures, images or icons on a page.

  • Use a color photograph in preference to an illustration or drawing..for selling in particular.

  • Used correctly, color can break up the monotony of black-and-white text reading.

  • Whatever color theme you have, stick to it throughout the document or presentation.

  • Graphs and charts in particular will capture more attention if in color.

  • For the graphs etc, don't forget to explain what the colors mean though!

  • And don't forget to put captions under pictures. Apparently people read these more than the copy!

  • Don't use too many different font types. One type for 'headers' and one for the body text should be sufficient.

  • Carry out a readers test on various samples before settling on your final selection.

  • Ask several people for their opinion on the samples. Ask them about the readability and the impact factors.

This article may be reproduced in its entirety provided the resource paragraph below is included and all urls kept active.

(c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at this www.ink-cartridge-store.com">discount ink cartridge & laser toner store, providing discounted brand name compatible ink cartridge and laser toner supplies. Sign up for the feed on our web site or the printer-inkjet-laser-cartridges.blogspot.com">blog showcasing the products.


MORE RESOURCES:

Medusa Mining Limited: Investor Presentation
MarketWatch (press release)
... Sep 06, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Medusa Mining Limited (THE:CA:MLL) (ASX: MML)(AIM: MML) - Please find attached a PowerPoint Presentation which ...

and more »


American Equity Announces Revised Presentation Time for Keefe, Bruyette ...
MarketWatch (press release)
Investors may access a web cast of this presentation on American Equity's Website, www.american-equity.com. Certain statements made during this presentation ...
Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. to Present at the Keefe, Bruyette & Woods ...MarketWatch (press release)
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. to Speak at the Keefe Bruyette & Woods Insurance ...PR Newswire (press release)
ProAssurance to Present at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Insurance ConferenceInsurance News Net (press release)
Insurance News Net (press release)
all 84 news articles »


Connected World at IBC2010 - presentation line-up announced
Al-Bawaba
The final line-up of presentations within the Connected World at IBC2010 has been announced today. The schedule features a series of Business Briefings, ...

and more »


IPFW Distinguished Lecturer presentation looks at 'fuss' over evolution
News Sentinel
during a presentation Wednesday at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. The event is free and open to the public. Scott is executive director of ...

and more »


Telegraph.co.uk

iPod Touch accounts for 38 percent of iPhone-compatible devices
VentureBeat
... sales through July and August from the 120 million figure from Apple CEO Steve Jobs' seemingly annual presentation of new Apple gear on Wednesday. ...
Apple event: A litany of fail?Los Angeles Times (blog)
What to expect from Apple's iOS updatesNetworkWorld.com
Are Apple iPad, iPod Touch More Ready for Enterprise?eWeek

all 232 news articles »


Amazing Guild Wars 2 demo presentation!
VGChartz
There is some presentation to begin with in the first video, background info on the story and gameplay mainly, character creation starts at 5:15 in the ...



College Golf: NSU, PC teams host back-to-back meets
American Chronicle
06--The Northern State and Presentation College golf teams will swing into action today and Tuesday. Presentation College will host a meet today at 1 pm at ...

and more »


Gaming Union

Bungie delivers a presentation of “Halo: Reach” at PAX 2010
TopNews United States
At PAX 2010 in Seattle, the Bungie team delivered a presentation of the forthcoming Xbox title “Halo: Reach,” scheduled to launch on September 14. ...
PAX 2010 Preview: Halo: ReachVGChartz

all 60 news articles »


Daily Mail

Kourtney Kardashian's Sin City Swimsuit Presentation
The Gossip Girls (blog)
Making her way to Sin City, Kourtney Kardashian was spotted out at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday (September 4). ...
Kourtney Kardashian's Sin City Swimsuit PresentationOne News Page

all 182 news articles »


Youth Invited to Audition for Recovery Acres Society's Presentation of Moscow ...
Marketwire (press release)
REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN--(Marketwire - Sept. 6, 2010) - This Friday, Recovery Acres (Calgary) Society and Moscow Ballet will host open auditions for Swan Lake ...

and more »

Google News

Eitforum.com ©