More About Colors

Btemplates has a big collection of blog templates that make it easy to find color scheme examples. Monochromatic schemes consist of a base color with a couple of tints and shades. A good example is a template called Cosmetic Girl that has desaturated pink as its main color.

The template called Pepper has mainly an achromatic scheme with minimal touches of color. Achromatic schemes have various shades of grays. Pure achromatic blogs are difficult to find, usually some color appears in the form of links and small logos.

Analogic colors are next to each other in the color wheel. The template name Ink Stain nicely combines blue, purple and pink.

Complementary colors are in opposite sides of the color wheel. An example of a complementary template is the one called Sosuechtig Orange, that uses orange and cyan. The template called Tired Girl is a good example for desaturated complementary colors using dull shades of red and green.

Split complementary color schemes use one color and the two next colors of its complement. An example for this scheme is Blogy Ondas that uses saturated blue with yellowish green tint and shade orange. To create a harmonious design two of the colors are used with tints and shades.

Color Scheme

I went back to my previous classic template hoping to have a better chance of changing the colors. My objective for the blog is a fun, personal, and vibrant look. I decided to use a split complementary color scheme. Since I couldn’t change the header color I decided to base my triad around green lime. To keep it harmonious I used some tints of greens and shades of purple. I used a fully saturated orange to give the post titles emphasis. I used tints and shades of the colors in the sidebar to dull it and keep it as secondary information. Even though green is a cool color, the lime green value with the addition of the orange and purple makes the blog have a warm scheme. I was unable to change the color background, so I kept the page header white which really makes the blog name stand out.

So Many Templates

It is incredible how many blog templates are available to download for free on the internet. Some people are creating amazing artwork to help bloggers. My thanks to all of them.

I wanted a blog template that would best represent the blog content and myself. The one I chose is called Paper Wall, but it looks more like an artist’s studio floor. For some years, I have been taking painting and drawing classes. The template reminds me of the messiness of the paint, the vivacity of colors, and the texture of papers. All of this makes me feel joyful and alive. This template can easily resemble my ideal art studio. The color of the header beautifully stands out in the background. The sidebar column with the clip boards gives the template a work-in-process feeling. The post date is displayed with pieces of paper and thumb tacks, giving the blog an informal look. These touches give the blog a feeling of personal notes witch really defines the content.

However, there are somethings that I wasn’t happy about and I couldn’t fix. When uploading the template, I realized that I couldn’t make changes through the dashboard layout menu. The font and color menus were not working. Even though I don’t have any knowledge of HMTL coding, I manipulated it somehow to make the blog title fit. The page elements menu was not responding either. I couldn’t move the blog post elements, so I decided to keep the default format rather than moving the “posted by” line to the bottom. The search box also looks unfinished and I don’t know how to dress it up. I would welcome any thoughts or suggestions.

Template Thoughts

I’m a novice at blogging. I used to hear that “it’s so easy to create a blog”. But, after watching Carolyn's videos and trying to customize my blog, I realize it can be quite challenging. It is easy to create a simple blog, but difficult to create an engaging and appealing blog. I chose the TicTac template for my blog. The lime color header with diffused overlapping squares give the page a vibrant and dynamic look. The template follows the 2/3 ratio with a right column layout. As a left-to-right reader, I felt the layout is comprehensible and well organized. The sidebar column is in the right column, closer to the cursors facilitating movement. I changed some of the colors and fonts. I chose orange for post titles to emphasize posts and direct viewers to them. I also increased the page header font to make it stand out. I chose green for sidebar titles to maintain unity and to keep the gadgets de-emphasized.

In Plain English

Do you have a question about new technology, computer software, saving money, or choosing a light bulb? Chances are that you can find an explanation at Commoncraft.com. They specialize in crafting educational videos that help to explain many complex topics “in plain english”. In three-minutes videos, you would get a simple lesson in a fun and easy going style.

Need an explanation? Go to Commoncraft

Why I'm here

I’m Paloma Lucas, a graphic designer in process. I’m in my second year at Foothill College. For the past year, I have explored several programs of the Adobe Creative Suite, created digital art, traveled throughout the history of graphic design, discovered the thrill of photography, and sharpened my drawing skills. This quarter I’m going to dive into web design, splash ink in printmaking, and build my foundations in 2D design. I want to have a well rounded graphic design perspective that will help me later in my chosen path.

Graphic design is all about visual communication and presentation using typography, visual arts and page layout techniques. The internet has added complexity to the process of creating effective visual communication. End user interactivity adds a new consideration to the design process. I want to learn more about how to create a web sites that enhance the interactive experience of a web visitor by the way they look and feel. This will help me have a deeper understanding of design principles and techniques.