Color Harmony: Color harmony is extremely important when selecting colors. Try to limit your LibGuides to four or five colors (at the most), plus black and white. Too many colors create discord and will distract the user.
Figure & Ground: Every visual presentation involves figure-ground relationships. The relationship between a subject (or figure) and its surrounding field (ground) will evidence a level of contrast; the more an object contrasts with its surrounding field, the more visible it becomes.
However, some combinations are difficult to read due to the low level of contrast between figure and ground:
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And some color combinations can cause illusions when positioned together:
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Black text on a white background is ideal, but for some with visual disabilities, white text on a black background works best. Bold--not bright--colors on a white background are also effective, visually pleasing, and can decrease eye strain.
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Follow the guidelines below to make your LibGuide easy to read and understand.
Web Reading Habits
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