TRUE BLUE

Do you stick to corporate tried and true blue? Does green make you green? Does orange alarm you? Are you too yellow to use yellow? You may be unnecessarily limiting your color palette.

The trouble with the "safe" blue color scheme is that it's a common trap. Many companies rely on blue for their marketing materials which means there is a sea of blue brochures out there. One of the easiest ways to distinguish your business collateral is with an unusual color scheme. It doesn't even have to be fluorescent or metallic to stand out.

Never rule out a broad color category such as green. There are hundreds of variations within the color green, and you might be surprised to find at least one that you like. To the right are just a few examples.

Still true to your blue? Why not incorporate orange as an accent color? It's a natural complement and provides great contrast. The swatches on the lower right are just a few combinations to consider.

>Next article: Fonts 101