GRAPHIC DESIGNERS FROM OUR DESIGN COMMUNITY
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This
method is so simple, and so effective, that I don't
know
why it isn't plastered all over the web ... but it isn't,
it's
still a "secret".
I
use Adobe PhotoShop, but the technique will work with
any
graphics creation or editing program with an eyedropper
tool and
the ability to open an image file.
1. Find any image -- anywhere, I use the web frequently
-- in
which you find the colors visually appealing. Don't
worry about
copyright because you will not be copying any part of
the image.
It doesn't matter why you find the colors appealing,
just that
you do. To determine whether it is the colors or some
other
aspect of the image that you find attractive, squint
your eyes
until the image blurs. If the colors alone are still
appealing,
use that image.
2. Save the image, then open it in your image editing
application. I'll call this your "source"
image. Open a new
document in the same work area. This is your "palette"
image.
3. From the source image, determine the color that covers
the
most area. Use the eyedropper tool to sample that
color. In your
palette image, use the paint bucket (or fill) tool to
set this
as the background color.
4. Pick another color, with the eyedropper tool, from
the source
image. Notice the proportion that the color has
to the overall
image. In your palette image, use the rectangular selection
(or
draw rectangle) tool to create an area that has roughly
the same
proportion to the whole palette image and the source
color has
to the source image. Again, use the paint bucket (or
fill) tool
to set the new rectangle to the new color.
5. Continue transferring colors, in the same approximate
proportions, until you have four or five palette image
colors in
addition to the background.
6.
If your imaging application is able, convert the
image to
"web safe" colors, and save your new color
palette.
7. Write down the hex codes (the '#' followed by
six letters or
numbers) for your colors.
8. Determine the relative proportion each Web page element
has
to the overall page, and assign the corresponding
palette image
colors to them.
Of
course, you'll have to tweak your colors a little bit
until
you get the look you want, but this "secret"
method can save you
hours of trial and error.
About
the author:
Mike Morgan is the owner of Bison Creek Desktop Publishing,
(http://www.zianet.com/bisoncreek)
offering a variety of
low-cost and "you'll-owe-me-one" service to
those long on vision
but short on funds. Need an outlet for your e-book?
A cover
designed? A review or testimonial? Sales copy?
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