Chapter 5. Color and Background Properties

Color forms the cornerstone of all design, creating the first impression that most people will have of your site. Using bright, vibrant. jewel-tone colors makes a radically different statement than earth tones would make. Even if you choose not to use any colors, creating your design in black and white makes a statement. Beyond their visual language, colors can also guide the viewer's eye around the page, helping you to highlight important areas while downplaying others.

In this chapter, you will learn the primary methods designers use to add and control color, including the foreground color used for text and background colors. Keep in mind, however, that there are several other CSS properties in which you can specify color (see the sidebar "Other Ways to Add Color"). But before you learn how to code your colors, let's quickly explore how you can choose them.