Blog Colors on Different Browsers and Monitors

colors

Blog Colors on Different Browsers and Monitors

by Guest Author roentarre

Because of the way computers work, looking at a webpage on one computer may give you an entirely different look on another computer. Beyond that, even if you’re on the same computer, if you switch browsers (from Internet Explorer to Netscape for example), you’re going to see the same page differently if you don’t use colors from the 216 web safe color palette that has been around since the very beginning of the Internet.

If you’re concerned about the color design and how it affects your blog (and you should be), you can stick to the 216 colors available that are guaranteed to look the same in different web browsers. As you might imagine, this can get a little boring. With so many wonderful colors and color combinations available, it would be a shame to limit yourself to only using 216 colors. (Although, there is something to be said about simplicity of color in certain designs. That will be for another post, though.)

Once you know the rules, it’s okay to selectively break them. If you know colors outside the 216 that are ‘browser safe’ are going to appear different in different browsers and different operating systems, as long as you check to see that the overall feel of the colors and design is the same across both platforms, not having them match exactly isn’t as much of a problem. Sometimes this can be hard to measure exactly, but if you can compare the two side by side on separate monitors, you can begin to see the differences.

Web Safe Color Tips

When looking at Web Safe colors in RGB format, the numbers will always be one of the following: 0, 51, 102, 153, 204, or 255

When looking at Web Safe colors in HTML Hex Code, the 216 safe colors will always contain the following: 00, 33, 66, 99, CC, or FF.

Knowing the above, you can make sure when you’re using Color Tools like (Color Schemer Online V2) that you’re only using web safe colors.
Visibone has a great Online 216 color palette tool that’s quite useful. The online color tool will let you see how two colors interact when placed next to each other.

Even if you limit yourself to the 216 web safe colors, there are still a lot of options available. Combining colors, as you know, can create radically different moods and feelings in your blog design. Experimenting with using just a web safe color palette and using multiple colors to create a mood can be a great way to find the perfect color design for your blog.

Modern computers can show literally millions of shades of colors. Sometimes, though, limiting yourself to only 216 colors can free up your imagination and allow you to come up with great color combinations that evoke certain feelings about your website. If you doubt what’s possible, try limiting yourself to the web safe color palette next time you redesign your blog. You might be surprised at what kind of design you can pull off, even with restrictions on colors.

This post is part 2 of a series. Please see:

Changing your blog? Start with colors

Related posts found in this blog:
Blog Design: Which colors do you use and why
Why having a well designed blog is important

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