July 2010

The color combinations you place on slides significantly affect their visual impact and appeal. Keep in mind the following characteristics: Reds, oranges, and yellows are referred to as warm colors. They tend to pop out and attract attention, especially red. Greens, blues, and purples are cool colors. These colors recede into the background and draw less attention (Figure 1).White and very light colors also catch the eye, whereas black and very dark colors generally are less noticeable.

Figure 1

Interestingly, the above effects are not absolutely fixed. They can flip, depending upon the quantity of one color present compared with another. For example, if you were to [...]