Confused about color?

     The color wheel is one of many helpful tools when trying to decide on what colors to use in a design. The theory of color and the color wheel are used in all areas of design including web design, graphic design and interior design. This explains (in a nutshell) the three common ways to use the color wheel.

Analogous

Analogous refers to the colors that sit next to each other on the color wheel. Usually in three’s, these combinations and their uses in various hues and saturation’s can create a wonderful color scheme. Some examples of this would be “blue-green + blue + blue-violet” , “red + red-orange + orange” or “green + yellow-green + yellow”.

Complimentary

Even though they are called “Complimentary” colors when referring to color theory and the color wheel, these are actually contrasting colors. These are the colors exactly opposite of one another on the color wheel. If done correctly and with caution, these colors work together in designs to create an eye catching combination. The most common use of complimentary colors is red and green, seen mostly during the Christmas season. Sport teams seem to use complimentary colors often as well. The Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears both use blue and orange as their team colors and the Minnesota Vikings use purple and gold, just to name a few.

Color Triads

Color Triads are captured using a triangle on the color wheel. The three points of the triangle make the Color Triads. These schemes make a statement and are the most vivid of the three uses of the color wheel. The most common is the primary colors, red, blue and yellow.

When all else fails…go brown!

Brown is back! I used to associate brown with the 1970’s because it was paired with saturated shades of golds and oranges and usually in large, funky patterns. Not anymore!  The new uses of brown in conjunction with pastels make lovely designs that don’t hurt your eyes. Even though brown isn’t on the color wheel, light shades of every color paired with brown are fabulous.  Pink, a hue of red, and brown or pale green and brown are a couple examples of the current trendy pairs that work together in harmony to make a great pallet for designing.

Are you wondering how a lot of websites, FCLogos included, get their brand, image or logo to appear in the address bar, tabs, favorites and RSS feeds?

It’s simple…and this is how…

This is what is called a favicon or “favorite icon”. They are easy to create and in most cases FREE to make with many different generators available online . Do a Google search for “favicon generator” or go to http://www.favicon.cc (the one FCLogos used) to find a generator you will be comfortable using.

Take a file (or make one) of your logo or image consistent with your blog or web site’s “look”. Reduce it’s file size within the parameters of the favicon generator requirements. Most of them have specific sizes and file types that they require, typically .jpeg, .png, or .gif and 16×16 – 36×36 pixels, with actual file sizes varying depending on the favicon generator you choose.  If you aren’t able to size it perfectly at the very least, make it square. Name it “favicon”.

Download the file into the generator. Most favicon generators give you the ability to tweak it until your satisfied. Don’t be alarmed at how bad it looks in the modification process. Your image WILL look horrible large and on screen but once reduced to the actual size they usually turn out great. If it doesn’t…try a different image or approach. FCLogos tried our cat logo but it didn’t translate well that small. If your logo is busy or has a long name…do what we did….”FC”….Still consistent with our “look” and you know it’s FatCatLogos when you see it.

Once your done making it purrrfect…generate it (button provided), download it and save it to a file on your computer. The file will be called “favicon.ico”. Once you have this…drop it directly into your root folder and your done.  

If you don’t see it when you pull up your website in Internet Explorer, don’t be alarmed. For some unknown reason it takes IE a while to display your new icon. Check it in Firefox and it will be there.

Enjoy your new toy!