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Color Code
Beware the Color-Code Trap
08/04/2011
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- Beware the color-code trap. Just because you can display 16.8 million colors on your screen doesn't mean you should.
About the Author
Nancy Bartels is Control's managing editor. You can her at nbartels@putman.net or check out her Google+ profile.
- Use colors sparingly and consistently. Develop a color palette and use it across the board.
- Use bright colors only to call attention to abnormal situations.
- Use alarm colors, such as yellow and red, solely to depict alarm conditions
- Use gray scale. It is less distracting and easier on the eyes.
- Never use color by itself as the sole differentiator of an important process condition. Instead use the color along with a descriptor. (See Figure)
Pictures and Words
Figure - Relative brightness plus a WORD is the best presentation. Things brighter than the background are on; things darker than the background are off.
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