Every visual composition involves a foreground-background relationship. The relationship between the ...

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Every visual composition involves a foreground-background relationship. The relationship between the foreground, or subject, and the area that surrounds it is extraordinarily important. Contrast, one of the four big principles of design, dictates whether the foreground/background relationship is working well or failing. If there is enough contrast between the color of typography and the background it is placed upon, we can read it. If they are too similar in shade or hue, reading can be difficult. Too much contrast, ie: complementary colors, can also create issues. For example, red type on a green background tends to vibrate, making the text difficult to read.