Since Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, we thought an analysis of the popular and traditional holiday color would be appropriate. Then you use this red color theory – and our special holiday offer – for professional color printing and the perfect Valentine’s Day gift!
The Passion and Versatility of Red
We all know that the color red can invoke powerful emotions in viewers, ranging from passion to high alert. And it’s all natural. According to a recent article in The New York Times, red is actually the primary color for strong signals in nature. It can mean a fruitful bounty (like a ripe apple or red meat), it can warn of poison (the symbol on a Black Widow), or it can signal sturdy genes in a potential mate (flush body parts in primates). And it tends to standout against the greens and browns coloring the natural backdrops.
In our modern world, red means stop, the bright color of blood can be both alarming and signal strength, and red lips are often seen as seductive.
“Not only is red the color of the blood that flushes the face and swells the pelvis and that one swears one would spill to save the beloved’s prized hide. It is also a fine metaphoric mate for the complexity and contrariness of love. In red we see shades of life, death, fury, shame, courage, anguish, pride and the occasional overuse of exfoliants designed to combat signs of aging.” excerpt from “How Do We See Red? Count the Ways” in The New York Times
Red Demands Attention
Whether it’s signaling love and passion or a bold warning, red snags our attention. Smart advertisers use this knowledge to incorporate red in their logos, ad campaigns and professional color printing to grab audiences’ attention. Our human eyes are trained to search out and pay attention to red, a throw back to finding a bounty to keep us alive.
Another reason it’s great for brand marketing: the power of red crosses languages and cultures, too. Dr. Nicholas Humphrey, a philosopher at the London School of Economics and the author of Seeing Red: A Study in Consciousness, notes that red is often the first color word that people learn when picking up a new language and the first color that children learn and can name. In some cultures, it’s actually the only color in the vocabulary, not counting black and white.
When thinking about cross cultural branding, the Olympic rings are a superb example. Red is a primary color in the Olympic rings logo and is THE most utilized color in country flags around the world. Of 196 world flags, TIME reports that over 14% include red, more than any other color. And that percentage would go up if you included various shades of red.
Dr. Humphrey really sums it all up best by stating, “If you want to make a point, you make it in red.”
Sweet Savings on Professional Color Printing
So how do you incorporate this vibrant color into your home? Bringing red into your bedroom is an obvious choice, with paint color, custom wallpaper, bold artwork and other decor. Red’s versatility also lends to different styles and tastes. Few other colors could be contemporary, rustic, traditional or glamorous. For example, a Dibond print with shades of red, like a sunset, would be stunning on a wall in a modern home. While hand-stretched prints on canvas can be traditional when focusing on your family or a classical art print.
And right now is the perfect time to see red with ArtisanHD’s Valentine’s Day promotion! You can save 25% on ANY professional color printing order through February 20, just use code VDAY17 at checkout!
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