Is the web safe color palette
dead?
Web Safe vs. Pantone
In the early days of the internet, around
1995, monitors were only capable of displaying a maximum of 256
colors, due to limitations on video card memory. Of the 256 colors
possible, only 216 colors would display solid, without dithering,
on either Macintosh or Windows computer monitors, which typically
were capable of 8-bit color. The two images below show what dithering
looks like.
Pantone 297C
Dithered |
Pantone 297C
Non Dithered Image |
|
|
In order to make sure that all colors reproduced
properly, without dithering, a web safe palette was developed
by Netscape, to allow colors to reproduce accurately using both
Macintosh and Windows palettes. This was the original 'web
safe color palette.'
Fast forward to 2006. Most computers sold
contain video cards with at least 32-bit color, and are capable
of displaying 16.7 million colors. Yet, most designers are still
using only web safe colors. There is an alternative. Using the
Pantone colorist, you have access
to over 1,000 solid Pantone colors. This software is a plug in,
which works with most web design software Once installed, you
can use your color chooser to easily incorporate any Pantone solid
colors on your website. Color up!
Screenshot of me selecting
Pantone 297C.
