<!--Most Web developers understand the ins and outs of the Web-safe color palette and the hexadecimal system, while the science of color and the reasoning behind effective color schemes remain elusive.-->

If you've ever struggled to develop an effective color scheme for a Web site or wondered why banks, corporations, and financial institutions always bathe their sites in blue, you're not alone. Most Web developers understand the ins and outs of the Web-safe color palette and the hexadecimal system, while the science of color and the reasoning behind effective color schemes remain elusive.

For centuries, the nature of color itself was a veritable mystery. Socrates, for instance, postulated that fire originating from the eye combined with an object's intrinsic whiteness to produce color. Later, Isaac Newton explored the true relationship between color and light, and further scientific research, continuing well into the 20th century, has led to a precise understanding of light waves and color perception.

Today, the studies of both color harmony and the evocative properties of color yield information that influences the work of fine artists, designers, and advertising executives. This guide to color theory sheds light on some of the more enigmatic aspects of the effective use of color on the Web, and it illustrates techniques that you can use to reveal color harmonies and harness the power of color symbols on your own sites.

Carrie Gatlin is a freelance Web developer and writer in San Francisco.