http://www.two4u.com/color/medium.html
http://logoneeds.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=fillbanners&action=print&thread=1592
In the United States, red tends to be used to represent emotion, particularly of a romantic nature. Red is also associated with certain holidays--not only Valentine's Day but also Christmas, especially when coupled with green or white. Commercially, red is also associated with particular brands, as in the case of Campbell's (R) red-and-white soup cans.
In other countries, and cultures, red is often put to other sorts of uses. It is particularly associated with royalty in Britain and the Commonwealth countries, though in other, especially European, contexts, red has long represented political radicalism. In Japan, scarlet ink has traditionally been used to write "Dear John" letters; however, black and white together have connotations of sensuality.
As far as issues particular to web design, scarlet text is not especially legible against a black or dark background.
In mainstream, contemporary American society, red tends to evoke love, passion, danger or urgency (as in traffic signals and signs), and sometimes patriotism. It can also represent blood in a literal or figurative sense.
Though some of these responses overlap with those of other cultures, the meaning of red differs in some ways. For instance, in Iran and South Africa, red can represent good fortune; and, in Mexico, it is sometimes thought to have protective qualities./p>
The juxtaposition of colors, however, can have a significant impact on their meaning. Red and white together can evoke Christianity or Catholicism in some places, such as Mexico. In South Africa, white must follow red to clarify that the latter signifies good as opposed to ill.
The first site linked below uses scarlet to draw attention to the bullets marking chapter links a little ways down the page. The other two sites listed below incorporate scarlet heavily into the background, borders, and font color.
Endorell-Taelos. "Loreithian Chronicles." DeviantArt. 2012. Web. 25 June 2012. http://loreithianchronicles.deviantart.com/
"Home--The Queen and Commonwealth." The Official Website of the British Monarchy. Web. 25 June 2012. http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchAndCommonwealth/Overview.aspx
"Summertime Designs." 2009. Web. 26 June 2012. http://summertimedesigns.blogspot.com/2009/01/color-choice-contest.html
Koenen, Mark. "Colors!" Mark Koenen's Medium Color Database. 1995. Web. 25 June 2012. http://czresearch.com/colorb.html
Morton, J. L. "Color and Trademarks: Who Owns Hues?" Color Matters. 2011. Web. 25 June 2012. http://www.colormatters.com/color-and-marketing/color-and-trademarks
Morton, J. L. "Global Color: Clues and Taboos." Color Voodoo. 2011. Web. 25 June 2012. http://www.colorvoodoo.com/cvoodoo2_globalcolor.html
"Symbolism: Colors." Mike's Anime Open. 7 September 2001. Web. 25 June 2012. http://www.three-musketeers.net/mike/colors.html
Yost, Maura "Chip." "WebRef Update: Feature Article: Communicate with Color." WebReference. 10 May 2000. Web. 25 June 2012. http://www.webreference.com/new/color2.html
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