Tools

Colour scheme helper

20 June 2009

One of my favourite helper applications, Color Scheme Designer, has been upgraded to Version 3. I use it when designing web sites and just can't settle on a colour scheme.

It has a brand new interface with loads of new features. My favourite new features are:

• the Scheme Info page which shows all the HEX values next to thumbnails of each colour so it's so easy for me to choose what I want to use,
• the pop-up examples of typical web page layouts using the generated scheme, and
• the vision simulator which allows you to simulate common colour vision deficiencies so I can ensure that I've got high enough contrast between elements of the design.

Each scheme generates a permanent URL so you can refer to it later or pass on to friends. Very neat. But if you're still using Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 you'll need to revert to Version 2, which is still great.

Get more from Google than search results

14 June 2009

You already have Google as your home page, perhaps Google Maps in your favourites and Google Earth on your desktop. You probably installed the Google Toolbar without realising it, and if you're not using Blogger it's likely you have heard of it. Well there's still more you can gain from Google.

Try Google Pack. It's still in 'beta', which means it's available for you to try, but there might be minor problems.

Google Pack is:

• Software specifically selected by Google
• Always free - no trial versions or spyware
• Ready to use in just a few clicks

Choose only the software you want ...

The applications included in the 'pack' are already available on the Internet elsewhere, it's just that they are neatly packaged into a single file for download from Google. It also means the applications are trusted, as Google is trusted.

Visit More Google Products for other neat applications by Google.