Creating posters to present scientific data

Colour concept

Selecting the three colours

The prologue already addressed colours and what we associate with them, as well as the advantages of using complementary colours

It is a good idea to choose two colours or, better still, one colour in full tone and pastels as the basic colours and their complementary colour to highlight selected content.

Example: blue, light blue and orange-yellow as a contrast
For comparison, here are two versions of a diagram side by side.
Compare the impact both versions make with the figures and on the finished sample poster.

Reducing down to a few colours puts the focus on the content. The markings set in orange stand out nicely in particular. At the same time, all the contents can be easily understood and grasped.

Side note: Design
Using a full tone colour across a wide area poses a certain risk. The colour shines and so polarises compared to a poster with a white or pastel background. You may want and like this or you can avoid it. This depends on your personal preference and how much you want the poster to stand out. The effect can be softened by using colour gradients.

Side note: The vampire on your poster

Look at the figure on the left.
Found the vampire?

The diagrammatic set of teeth with drops of blood is the vampire in this figure. It stands out because the shape and the red colour are very different from the rest of the figure. It “sucks” your attention, if you will, although it is relatively small.

So an area in a bright colour that does not fit into the colour concept can attract more attention than the attention necessary and wanted in order to grasp the content. A “splash of colour” can throw off the harmony of the entire poster. For example, a very colourful logo on a poster in more muted colours. This is called the vampire effect. The actual content “pales” next to the bright or even prominent element.

Tips:
  • Use transparent logos when they are available.
  • Where possible, design the figures in the colour scheme of your poster.
  • Above all, highlight only what needs to be highlighted.


Information Message
No comment has been posted yet.