CSS and color

Do I need to stick to 216 Cross Platform Colors?

[annej]

I've been sticking to the 216 Cross Platform Colors that I have saved on my computer. I'm finding them quite limiting now that I have the freedom of using color in so many ways with CSS. What are my options? Are there longer 'safe lists' for color?

[choster]

You might be interested in this thread: [webmasterworld.com...] .

It would be interesting to have a survey of color depth among users to go along with the screen resolution survey at [webmasterworld.com...] . On the only site where we track display information, we are seeing about 73% running at true color (16.7 million, 24-bit or 32-bit), about 26% at high color (64K, 16-bit), and the remainder unknown or VGA (256, 8-bit). That site is geared towards students at a particular university, which I would consider a technology-forward audience.

[pageoneresults]

8 bit and AOL 8 bit still represent about 8-9% of the general surfing population. The AOL 8 bit is the image compression standard that AOL uses.

I like to work with the 216 color palette. It allows me to use the shorthand for paired color values which keeps my css to a minimum. There are times though when certain colors cannot be achieved using the web safe colors, I then use whatever is required.

The areas I would be concerned with are large areas of color. If you can find a web safe color that is close to what you need, then by all means go ahead and use it. At least that way you know your AOL users won't get a background color that looks distorted.

I also like to work with the web safe color palette because I've memorized most of the standards that I typically use; blacks, grays, reds, greens and blues.

The main problem with color on the web is the users monitor settings. Even if you used web safe colors, there is no guarantee that is what everyone will see. Brightness, contrast, room lighting, etc. will all effect the color the user sees.

[DrDoc]

It allows me to use the shorthand for paired color values

Well, you can do that anyway ;)

color: #28e; /* #2288ee */

The main problem with color on the web is the users monitor settings. Even if you used web safe colors, there is no guarantee that is what everyone will see.

See, there's someone who knows the real problem. And that's actually the only thing you have to worry about - contrast.

Make sure there is enough contrast between the colors. Avoid mixing colors close in hue and brightness.

What about color blind people?

[annej]

users monitor settings

That's exactly what had me discouraged with the 216 Cross Platform Colors. What seems muted enough on my computer comes out way to bright on my son's. I was hoping that by using some colors that are lighter pastels than any shown on the 216 color chart I could at least make sure the page would never look too garish.