Amazing Black and White Effect in Typography and Objects

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Years ago I made a logotype in which one letter was reversed. All letters were black but one, which was white on a black little square. I couldn’t get the balance right at first and it took me a while to realize what it was: because of an optical effect it seemed the white letter was bigger than the rest.

I should have known to begin with, because in my “color-bible" - The Art of Color by Johannes Itten - there is a chapter about the effects of color being juxtaposed. On black and white, Itten says, "White areas on black appear larger and black areas on white appear smaller".

As you can see in the example the effect is most clear when the T's are next to each other.

Frequency illusion

If you haven’t heard of the frequency illusion, also called the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, you surely will have experienced it: You want to buy a blue car and all of a sudden you see lots of blue cars. You’re pregnant, and it looks as every woman in your neighborhood decided at the same time to get pregnant as well.

The frequency illusion happened to me when I was working on my logo. It seemed that many things were subject to an optical illusion. The nicest example was research by British psychologists.

The weight of a billiard ball

The psychologists had painted billiard balls of the same weight in 8 different colors. From dark to light: black, red, blue, gray, green, lilac, turquoise, white.

The test-persons compared 2 balls with each other. When they just watched them, they rated the dark balls to be the most heavy. When they picked up the balls, they regarded the lighter balls the heaviest, provided they kept seeing them. If they did not see the balls when they were picked up, they estimated all of equal weight.

Dark objects appear heavier than identical objects of a lighter color. Unless you pick them up, then light-colored objects appear heavier than dark ones.

Useful for web-design?

Is this of any importance to you when designing your web pages? Probably not. But in case the subject of your website or article is weight it can be useful to know.

Yet, I thought it was a fun fact. What do you think?

Related

My other articles on color:

https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/hmommers/blog/color-is-personal-the-symbolic-meaning-of-color

https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/hmommers/blog/is-color-contrast-important



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Recent Comments

40

Interesting!
I read where it's easier to read dark text on light background, ie, black on white, than it was the reverse, white text on black. The reason was physiological as you strain your eyes as the pupils try to balance the bright white text on a black background.

I found that using a light gray color, rather than bright white, works better on a black background. Less eye strain.

That's always the best, Rudy, to see how it works for you! On paper I read best when the paper is off-white and the text is black. On a screen it differs, sometimes I prefer black on white and sometimes the other way around. :)

Yes, text print is different in subtle ways while online. It can be a challenge to find the right mix when deciding on the use if a dark background.

Really fascinating post Hannie. Thank you for sharing

Thanks, Simone!

I'm always trying to balance color and value in my landscape paintings.Color contrast is very important. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
Dan

Great, Dan. Did you study the color theory of Itten as well? I thought it was really helpful. :)

No I have not. I have heard of Itten. I'll check it out...

The best source is "The Art of Color" but I don't think it's available anymore. Maybe in the library. But a second best is "The Elements of Color". :)

Thank you for a very informative post.
Happy New Year.

Thanks, Thokozile, and all the best to you too!

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