The interface is what the viewer (client) sees and interacts with in the browser window. Ideally, the interface provides an organized, legible, and intuitive experience finding a balance between content and design.
XHTML creates this interface and, since we've covered the basics of creating XHTML documents, it’s time to take a look at some basics of interface design.
| Warm and Cool: |
Basic color theory states:
“Cool colors recede (pull) and warm colors advance (push)”
Cool colors:
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Warm colors:
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This is significant as elements that the web page designer wishes to stand out are usually a warm color, for example…
Consider the following:
Which block stands out more?
and
Which word stands out more?
| Look! | Look! |
Consider the following:
| Which combination of background and text color is easier to read? | Which combination of background and text color is easier to read? |
It should be obvious how warm background colors can push forward and overpower the text while a cool background color will recede and stay behind the text.
| Contrast: |
The contrast between text and background also plays a significant role in legibility. Integrating contrast with warm and cool creates all kinds of combinations - both good and bad.
| Which combination of background and text color is easier to read? | Which combination of background and text color is easier to read? | |
| Which combination of background and text color is easier to read? | Which combination of background and text color is easier to read? | |
| Which combination of background and text color is easier to read? | Which combination of background and text color is easier to read? |
Note that while some of these have warm text on cool backgrounds, the contrast between light and dark also greatly affects the legibility of the text.
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