The very information meant to inform us is actually making us stupid!

As we blogged about in our recent article, using colour helps you grab your readers attention, aids in communicating what you’re saying, and helps you make a real impression. But choosing colours and combinations requires careful consideration.

Here are some top tips: 

Use different shades of the same colour.

This gives your document a sense of togetherness. Combine dark shades, with medium and lighter shade of the same colour.

Look at the colour wheel 

Colours next to each other usually work well together, as do those which are on the opposite side of the wheel and are complimentary.

Don’t be afraid of white space

When used effectively, colour is great for drawing attention to a particular part of a page, but use too much and the effect is lost. Don't be afraid of white space - it helps to create a sense of spaciousness and clarity and will improve the impact of the colour you’ve used.

Consider Your Brand

All brands 'are' a particular colour, and it's important to be consistent across your documents. If you take a moment to think about some brands you're familiar with, you'll be able to identify what 'their' colour is... 

Xerox is red. Coca Cola is red. Sainsbury's is Orange. Shell is yellow. Asda is green...

If you're designing a brochure, for example, theme it around the predominant colour of your brand and then add some complimentary colours to give it some spice.

Think about readability

Don't put text on a background that is a very similar colour as it makes it difficult to read and strains the eye.

Remember colour psychology

Different colours psychologically mean different things, and this can very dramatically amongst different cultures. Consider the feelings colours generate - for example you can't fail to notice red and it has a high impact, whilst greens and blues create calm.

ColorQube 9200 series: next generation printing at affordable costsWith the Xerox ColorQube 9200 series, your business can stand out from the crowd.

The industry-leading multifunction device has a host of innovative and creative features designed to propel your print efficiency to the next level. It can be utilised by any office, regardless of size, and its advanced functionality quickly meets your needs and requirements, limiting downtime.

And because the device runs on Xerox's patented solid ink technology (take a look at the incredible benefits of solid ink technology), you get superior colour prints every day for a fraction of the cost of traditional toners.

Here are some of the innovative features available to owners of the ColorQube 9200 series:

• Flexible printing plans - pay less for your colour prints every single day
• Up to 85ppm colour print speeds on the ColorQube 9203
• Two-sided printing output as standard - save time and money
• Maximum capacity of 7300 sheets - spend less time refilling your printer and more time printing
• 20,000 page average monthly output doesn't let you down when you need it most
• Maximum duty lifecycle of up to 300,000 pages a month on the 9203 - enough to cope with the print demands of even the largest business
• Scan to network, email and searchable PDF as standard
• Free GreenPrint software helps reduce your carbon footprint and the everyday costs of your print needs
• 100-sheet duplex automatic document feeder

With these features, the ColorQube 9200 series is designed to grow as your business grows and continue supplying quality prints at a fraction of their historical cost. If you're thinking of upgrading your print functionality to cope with changing business needs, consider the benefits of the ColorQube series. For more information - and a free consultation - call First Choice Business Systems, specialists in Xerox printers - on 0800 072 3747 today.

Using professional, eye-catching graphics in your business helps you create the right impression, and thanks to the internet you can add that professional touch to your documents and publications without having to spend a fortune on an expensive graphics designer…

We’ve compiled a list of some great sites where you can grab free Vector graphics. Vectors are great too because you can enlarge and decrease the size without having to worry about any sort of pixilation.

If you find these resources useful please leave us a comment here on the blog. We'd love to find out what you do with your graphics!

Free Vector Download

Q Vectors

Vector Portal

Vector Art

Vector Stock

Vector Wallpapers

Vectorific

Free Vectors

Vecteezy

The End of Paper: EDM can significantly reduce your business costs and increase efficiencyIn the past we've written about the benefits of electronic document management - not only do you enjoy greater efficiency with a computer-based filing system but you also decrease the amount of space taken up in your office and reduce your carbon footprint as you use less paper.

In addition, however, you could cut costs and improve your revenue figures with a dedicated electronic document management system. In the current economic climate, cost cutting has risen on corporate agendas, and EDM offers a positive return on investment for companies looking to minimise outgoings and concurrently improve workplace efficiency.

EDM offers several key strategic financial benefits:

Data-based storage
With a data-based storage system you don't have to use up floorspace to store your files. More efficient use of your office can result in elevated levels of productivity, and in turn can increase revenue. In addition your staff will not have to spend significant periods of time searching for files; powerful search functionality allows them to call up client records in seconds.

Increase data security
With proven security features EDM can enhance levels of data safety and prevent losses being incurred through theft or loss. And with the government considering charging companies up to £500k for data breaches there's never been a more important time to think about your data.

No transactional costs
Recent research shows the costs of filing a paper document can reach as high as £15. This is a significant loss to each transaction; with EDM transactional costs are reduced to zero and data can be easily emailed and transferred instantly.

Reduced Invoice costs
Invoicing a customer can cost as much as £10, for a paper based system. With EDM the costs can be reduced to less than £3 with a simple and quick installation. Plus, with full transactional history available through a powerful front-end system, you can more easily track your sales figures allowing more accurate financial projections to be made.

Lower paper and recycling costs
With thousands of sheets less paper to buy, you'll be saving money constantly. And because you won't need an avenue to dispose of unwanted printed material, you can pump these resources into mission-critical business tasks, such as stock.

For more information on the benefits of EDM to your business, give First Choice Business Systems - specialists in Xerox printer products - a call on 0800 072 3747 for your free consultation