Some Writers Face New Challenges on the Web

The Internet combines text, graphics and design in ways not possible or accessible to so many before. Now writers of all genres can create moods and imagery to support or integrate into their texts. I have learnt through the trAce webboard discussions that many writers are using collaborative measures to address any lacking technical or design skills. But some of us also want to dive in and have a go at creating a web or hypertext project ourselves. This freedom is an exciting aspect of web.writing. However, as someone who spends a lot of time looking at and experimenting with design I feel that many writers would be greatly encouraged in their web efforts if they knew a few simple things about colour and design.

Contrary to opinion, design is not pure inspiration. It is developed through interest, observation, practice and continual re-working. Exactly the same as writing itself!! Here are a few simple hints:

Choose all the colours for your web project before you start. I know this sounds very text booky and boring but it actually cuts down on the decision making and frustration when you are putting each page of the project together.

Before I begin I create a new picture in a paint program (such as Paint Shop Pro, Adobe Photoshop or Fireworks) with a white background. I then draw lots of squares and fill them with web safe colours until I get a collection that looks good. I then use this picture as a 'colour toolkit' to choose colours (with the eyedropper) for any graphic I create.

A simple formula to use:
Choose a deep dark colour, a light bright colour and up to several mid tone shades of colour. Remember that your text is a colour too. Sometimes a couple of shades of the one colour combine well with a deep dark and a light bright colour.

Have a good look at any web site you particularly like and try using the same colours in your web project. Of course, proportions of colour also make or break good design too - but that's another story!

To help you along I've included several 'colour sets' for you to use or experiment with.