http://www.sibagraphics.com/colour.php
As the author mentioned, many reactions to colour are instinctual, universal and cross cultural boundaries. There were some statistics, according to a 1997 survey by Cooper Marketing Group, Oak Park, IL, power is represented by the color scarlet red for 25% of respondents, black for 17% and bright violet blue for 13%. More than 55% of those surveyed chose one of these three colors out of 100 colors. Fragility was most represented by pale pink (27%), white (9%), and pale lavender (9%).
The author also pointed out that adding textures too can alter colours. For example, a roughly textured surface makes a colour seem darker, while a smooth surface lightens the same colour. Besides, different colors have different meanings, depending on culture or countries. The following are some examples:
Red
- European : Danger, love (hearts), excitement (for sale signs)
- China : Traditional bridal colour, good luck, celebration, happiness, joy, vitality, long life, summoning, the direction South. Chinese saying goes "when something is so red, it is purple" - red purple brings luck and fame.
Orange
- European : Autumn, creativity, harvest
- Netherlands : Favourite colour (House of Orange)
- Ireland : Protestants
- USA : Halloween, cheap goods
In my opinion, we should choose colors carefully in our web design, even the web is for international use. When we use colors in text, make sure the text are readable easily and pleasing to the eyes.
