How to Use Neon in Your Web Design

neon

Neon is a bold and eye-catching color, perfect for enlivening designs. It can also be used to draw attention to specific elements, such as a call to action button or a brand name. A recent lean towards maximalist design and a 1980s revival has brought neon back into the spotlight.

It is one of the six gases (along with argon, krypton, xenon and helium) that make up the noble gas group (group 18 on the periodic table). Noble gases have filled outer electron shells, so they are inert and unwilling to react with other elements or compounds.

The chemists William Ramsay and Morris Travers discovered neon in 1898, according to Chemicool. They were able to isolate the element by studying liquefied air. It is the fourth most common element in the universe, but forms only 0.0018% of Earth’s atmosphere. Neon gets its name from the Greek word neos, meaning new.

In nature, neon occurs in very low concentrations (18 parts per million) in the Earth’s atmosphere. It is produced commercially through fractional distillation of liquid air. It is also an essential component of strobe lights.

The bright and vivid hues of neon are best paired with dark backgrounds. They tend to disappear against white backgrounds, making them less effective. Neon colors should also be avoided with text, as they will often challenge readability. Try using it as a highlight or accent instead, or with bold display typefaces.