Hello World! Welcome Friends! Humanity has used signs for a long time, probably even before more complex written language developed. They look and function in pretty much the same ways regardless of culture, language and alphabet, with the same sorts of layouts; this is because they have to perform the same function whether they’re a hand-drawn lemonade stand notice or a “Stop!” sign from Smartsign.com.
One of the major components of any sign is its colors. A split-second glance at a red sign tells you there’s potential danger there, so this makes you pay more attention and ready yourself to be careful before you even know what you should be cautious about.
The primary uses of safety signs
Safety signs have a few uses, but some are more vital and immediate than others:
- to highlight potential hazards and health and safety issues, as well as to give directions and information;
- to remind employees and visitors to put on personal protective equipment and to give other instructions;
- to give the locations of emergency equipment, and
- to explain which actions are compulsory and which are dangerous and prohibited.
The color of a sign is decided by its main purpose. Red, as is well-known, means danger and yellow means more caution is needed.
Colors and their meaning
Red means danger and tells people to stop or minimize dangerous behavior. Stop signs, signs for emergency cut-off switches and warning signs are good examples. Usually, red signs are round, with red borders and black-on-white words and images. A danger sign should be at least 35% red.
Yellow is for important information that people need to know before proceeding; wet floor signs are good examples. Yellow stands out against most backgrounds and draws the eye to it to read the necessary information. Yellow signs are most often triangular, with little white, and black images or wording. These signs need to be at least 50% yellow.
Blue doesn’t warn of any danger, it gives instructions and information, like parking instructions. It’s authoritative, so people will take notice of this color; the sign should be at least 50% blue to be effective, and the wording can be black or white.
Green points out important features and offers directions to exits and first aid equipment. It’s less immediate and obvious than red or yellow, but people still know to look for green signs when they need information. Green signs usually bear white wording and images and they’re most often rectangular.
Our reactions to colors
All colors have a different psychological and cognitive impact on us. Red provokes the strongest reaction of all, which is why it’s used in danger and stop signs.
Blue also has a powerful effect, but it’s that of an authority. It’s the color of wisdom and intelligence, as well as useful information. People respect blue and will do as it “says”.
As yellow is the brightest of colors – the first one that people see and also the last they see if they’re losing their sight – it’s used in road signs and on hazard warnings as it’s nigh-on impossible to miss.
Green is used for exit signs and first aid signs because it represents freedom, kindness and help. People will tend to run towards exits and first aid stations in an incident, whereas red or yellow will send them running in the opposite direction.
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Toodles,
Great read! Thanks! This is very interesting!