Graphic Design 101: Good VS. Bad Color Contrast

Contrast in terms of colors used in a piece of design work is extremely important and sometimes woefully underrated and ignored. The right level of contrast in colors used can deeply effect the quality of the design in terms of legibility, comprehension, and overall visual appeal.

Bad Contrast: Colors That Are Too Intense

If the colors used in a design are too harsh and too bright, they have poor contrast primarily because the level of intensity and brightness the colors have compete with one another and make for a harsh, unpleasant image.

Bad Contrast: Colors That Are Too Similar

If the colors in a design are too similar, it can be difficult for viewers to understand the design and what it is trying to communicate, especially if they are potentially colorblind or have low-vision that can make it difficult to differentiate colors.

Good Contrast: Colors That Aren't Too Harsh And Can Be Easily Differentiated From One Another

Colors that have good contrast between one another can make designs more pleasing to the eye and easier to take in and comprehend as a whole. This is primarily because they are easy to read regardless of the nature of the viewer's eyesight.