The benefits colour printing can have on children

OKI have recently offered some insight into the importance of colour printing in education.

There has always been a large focus on the importance of using colours to help the mood of children, particularly in a classroom setting. Despite the ever increasing role digital plays in a pupil’s learning, there is still a reliance on print in the form of text books, wall displays, newsletters to parents and even safety notices.

And even with the touchscreen seeking to replace paper, there is still a call for print to engage children in class through providing eye-catching displays, almost always in colour. It’s through the use of colours in displays and text used in classrooms and corridors which could even have an impact on the mood of a pupil.

OKI looked at the correlation between colour schemes and pupils’ moods in a recent article online. With this in mind, we have prepared a short rundown of the impact some colours can have.

They looked at ‘warm colours’ and their bearing on class behaviour. Colours such as reds, oranges and yellows were described as soothing and could give an impression of creativity. “The right shade is essential, as they can be a little stressful if they are too garish and bright. These can be ideal for more informal messages – and particularly ones for children. Red is an exciting colour that can suggest determination and boldness. It can also be used for warnings, to suggest danger – or things to avoid doing,” wrote OKI.

Brightness of colours was also analysed and red in particular with brighter reds said to indicate energy and eagerness. This could then be used for posters which are most commonly seen at break times.

Yellow is often considered the most energising colour in the spectrum, as people associate it with the sun – and therefore warmth and happiness.

If you are looking for a more relaxing colour (or ‘cooler’ colour), then blues and greens are recommended but should be perhaps saved for formal communications, such as a newsletter to parents.

For neutrality, the most common colours to use are of whites, greys and blacks, but you can also find the same effect when you add subtle tints and shades of other colours.

Keep your school’s ink cartridge supply well stocked with our great value and high quality recycled ink cartridges.