NWE Help: Web: Authoring: Design: Contrast

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The key to contrast is to help make your document stand out. The worst thing you can do is make things that are similar. Williams writes, "If two items are not exactly the same, then make them different. Really different"(52). In other words, when you make design choices, choose things that will make your work distinctive -- if you choose to have a certain set of words look different, make it look really different. See our examples below:

Poor contrast	More contrast
The contrast here exists, but is poorly implemented. The name of the movie coming is slightly bigger, and in a serif font -- but in general it doesn't stand out that well.	This example is much better. Notice that the name of the theater and the size of the font is reduced. The color is also changed to better emphasize the black in the movie title. The font for the movie title is much more 'majestic' and is in boldface.

When you're working on your web site, remember to make things that are different appear very different.