Browser Safe Web Colour Palettes
These browser safe palettes are a thing of the past when it comes to designing most websites today. Very few people are using monitors that only display 256 colours now days. Most websites have to adhere to strict brand identity guidelines, which means that the chances of finding a colour that matches your brand identity perfectly from the 216 colour palette is almost in possible.

Although there are still issues with colour matching across platforms, there are ways to get around this. To ensure the closest colour match I simply add the hex colour to the code as a back up and then also tile a 1 pixel gif of the desired colour. This is the way in which I manage to colour match to your brand on both mac and pc platforms.

There are however certain projects that may require the strict use of the 216 web colours, so for those who need them feel free to download Lynda Weinman's colour palettes below.

Hue Web Safe Colour Palette	Value Web Safe Colour Palette

Colours are full of meaning and symbolism. Here are some simplified meanings behind the basic colour range.


Passion, romance, fire, violence, aggression. Power, energy, warmth, passions, love, aggression, danger Red means stop or signals warning or forbidden actions in many cultures. Red, for instance, is a very stimulating color and has been shown to produce increased heart and respiratory rates. Thus, red works as an excellent attention grabber and accent but could easily overstimulate when used as a background color. Red changes meaning in the presence of other colors. With green, it becomes a symbol of Christmas. When combined with white, it means joy in many Eastern cultures.


Brightness, illumination, illness, cowardice. yellow also demands attention, but since it is highly reflective, it creates eye fatigue and aggravation. Optimism, hope, philosophy, dishonesty, cowardice (a coward can be described as "yellow"), betrayal. Yellow is a sacred color to Hindus.

Energy, balance, warmth. Orange is a combination of red and yellow, so it takes on many of the characteristics of both colors. It is vibrant and warm, like the autumn leaves. Orange has the physical force of red, but it is less intense, less passionate.


Nature, fertility, growth, envy. In North American cultures, green means go, is associated with environmental awareness, and is often linked to fiscal matters. Nature, healthy, good luck, jealousy ("green with envy"), renewal. Doesn't do well in a global market. There are problems associated with green packaging in China and France. Green has been successful in attracting investors in the Middle East.

Loyalty, security, conservatism, tranquility, coldness, sadness. Trust, conservative, security, technology, cleanliness, order the color blue has a relaxing effect on the nervous system, and some studies have shown that it increases productivity when used as a background color. However, don't use blue in your color scheme if your product is food-related, as blue is a natural appetite suppressant. Used in the U.S. by many banks to symbolize trust. The color of tranquility and peace, blue tends to be the most preferred color universally.

Creativity, mystery, royalty, mysticism, rarity. Spirituality, mystery, royalty, transformation, cruelty, arrogance Purple is associated with death in some cultures. Purple appears very rarely in nature. This hue has an aura of mystery and intrigue.

Neutral, Intellect, futurism, modesty, sadness, decay. Gray is the easiest color for the eye to see.

Power, sophistication, contemporary style, death, morbidity, evil. Power, sexuality, sophistication, death, mystery, fear, unhappiness, elegance. Signifies death and mourning in many Western cultures. In packaging, conveys elegance, wealth, and sophistication.

Purity, innocence, cleanliness, truth, peace, coldness, sterility. Purity, cleanliness, precision, innocence, sterility, death White is also the color of death in Chinese culture. Signifies marriage in most westernised cultures, but death in India and other Eastern cultures.