Whether you need a sign for your business or a yard sign for a garage sale, it’s important to be educated on colors that work best so you get the most effective results from your sign. After deciding on a design and message for your sign, use our tips below to get the most out of your sign:
1. Contrast is key.
Colors that are next to each other on the wheel will make poor color combinations on your sign since their contrast is similar in both hue and value. For example, pastels (baby blue, yellow, pink, light green) will not contrast well against white backgrounds and will make your sign hard to read. Alternating colors, such as blue and yellow, produce the best combinations since they have good contrast in both hue and value. As a general rule, light text colors should be used on dark backgrounds while dark text colors should be used on light backgrounds.
2. Consider where your sign will be displayed.
Will your sign be displayed against a background? If so, then you need to consider the background color that will be interacting with your sign. The idea behind any sign is to attract eyes, so make sure your sign will jump out from where it is mounted. For example, if your sign will be displayed against brick, don’t have your sign have the same or similar color as the brick. Make it pop with a contrasting color that will be easy to see.
3. Consider the time of the year and the environment.
If your sign is going to be outdoors, you should take the season into account when choosing colors. For example, you would want to avoid white signs in winter. Instead, using a bright-colored printed background will help your sign pop against snow. Along the same lines, green backgrounds can get lost in more lush seasons so keep that in mind.
4. Keep these great color combinations in mind:
- BLACK on YELLOW
- BLACK on WHITE
- YELLOW on BLACK
- WHITE on BLUE
- GREEN on WHITE
- BLUE on YELLOW
- WHITE on GREEN
- WHITE on BROWN
- BROWN on YELLOW
- BROWN on WHITE
- YELLOW on BROWN
- RED on WHITE
- YELLOW on RED
- RED on YELLOW
- WHITE on RED
When you’re ready to create a sign to promote your business or next event, it’s wise to have the design and colors carefully thought out. Using these tips, you can be sure that your message will be clear and your sign will attract attention!
