The Role of Colour Contrast in Signage

For your signage to really ‘pop’, you need to understand colour contrasting. Humans are intensely visual creatures, being gifted with eyesight that detects colours. Working that fact into your signage adds the phycological and emotive dimension.

Tapping into colour contrast in signage is l like having a superpower in the marketplace. Remember that your signage includes your logo and CTA (Call to Action). Industry experts are up with the latest fads and colour preferences that will influence people.

Colour Contrast in Outdoor Signage

There is a reason that the general road signs we see on our highways and byways are white on a green or blue or brown background. Besides the fact that the white is painted with glow-in-the-dark properties that make it stand out at night, white is easy to read in all weather conditions provided it’s on a contrasting background.

Imagine white lettering on a cream background. You’ve got the idea.

There is no guesswork involved. Colour contrast in signage is an exact science. The following are a few of the top visibility contrasts for outdoor signage:

1. Black on a yellow background
2. Black on a white background
3. Yellow on a black background
4. White on a blue background
5. Green on a white background
6. Blue on a yellow background
7. White on a green background
8. White on a brown background
9. Brown on a yellow background
10. Brown on a white background
11. Yellow on a brown background
12. Red on a white background
13. Yellow on a red background
14. Red on a yellow background
15. White on a red background

While that may bode well for road signs, information signs, and high-risk warnings, we need a more subtle approach for our company logos and shop signs. But that’s a wonderful subject for another time.

Until then, pay attention to the signs around you. Learn to recognize colour contrasts and which appeal to you and which don’t. Just know this, color contrast in signage counts.

However appealing our message or warning or invitation via signage may be, we could lose them over a simple matter of colour contrast.