You are here:About>Computing & Technology>Desktop Publishing
About.comDesktop Publishing
Not every white is snow white
Not every white is snow white. Try ivory, cream, antique white, and palest beige.
Newsletters & RSSEmail to a friendSubmit to Digg
Using Color in Design and Publishing

Color Symbolism and UseThe Meaning of ColorColor Palettes

Working with Color

Color Basics & TheoryProcess ColorSpot Color

Favorite and Least Favorite Colors

Favorite Colors Men LikeFavorite Colors Women LikeCrayola Colors

White

From Jacci Howard Bear,
Your Guide to Desktop Publishing.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
Ultimate Light: White is purity, cleanliness, and innocence. Like black, white goes well with almost any color.
Nature of White: To the human eye, white is a brilliant color that can cause headaches for some. Too much bright white can be blinding.
Culture of White: In most Western countries white is the color for brides. In the East, it's the color for mourning and funerals. White is often associated with hospitals, especially doctors, nurses, and dentists. Some cultures viewed white as the color of royalty or of dieties. Angels are typically depicted as wearing white. In early Westerns the good guy wore white while the bad guy wore black.
Using White: In most cases white is seen as a neutral background color and other colors, even when used in smaller proportion, are the colors that convey the most meaning in a design. Use white to signify cleanliness or purity or softness. Some neutral beige, ivory, and creams carry the same attributes as white but are more subdued, less brilliant than plain white. Use lots of white for a summery look. Use small amounts of white to soften a wintery palette or suggest snow.
Using White with Other Colors: Used with light or pastel tones, white is soft and Spring-like and helps to make the pastel palette more lively. White can make dark or light reds, blues, and greens look brighter, more prominent. Red, white, and blue makes a patriotic palette.
White Color Palettes: These color palettes feature black and white with other colors.
Using the Color White in Other Design Fields:
Language of White: The use of white in familiar phrases can help a designer see how their color of choice might be perceived by others, both the positive and negative aspects.

Good white

  • White as the driven snow - pure, clean, innocent
  • White elephant - rare, valuable but perhaps unwanted
  • White knight - someone who comes to another person's rescue, someone perceived as being good, noble
  • White list - list of good or acceptable items
  • White sale - sale of sheets, towels, other linens
  • Pearly white - teeth, especially very white teeth
Bad white
  • Whitewash - cover up, conceal
  • Whiteout - zero visibility
  • White flag - surrender
  • White lightning - moonshine, illegal whiskey
  • White elephant - rare, valuable but perhaps unwanted
  • White knuckle - something that is fast, exciting, or frightening

White Words: These words are synonymous with white or represent various shades of the color white.

Snow, pearl, antique white, ivory, chalk, milk white, lily, smoke, seashell, old lace, cream, linen, ghost white, beige, cornsilk, alabaster, paper, whitewash.

What's Your Favorite Color?


Red | Green | Gold | Turquoise | Blue | Purple | Pink | Black | Orange | Yellow
View Results for Your Favorite Color Poll
Las Vegas on a Budget

Find a BargainHotel DealsCheap EatsFree AttractionsEntertainment for Less

 All Topics | Email Article | | |
Advertising Info | News & Events | Work at About | SiteMap | Reprints | HelpOur Story | Be a Guide
User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy©2008 About, Inc., A part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.