Color Code

Nancy Bartels is Control's managing editor. You can her at [email protected] or check out her Google+ profile.Beware the color-code trap. Just because you can display 16.8 million colors on your screen doesn't mean you should.

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)