With the prevalence of color inkjet printers, increasing affordability of color laser printers, and the frequently heard advice about how color can add impact to a design, why would anyone want to design in black & white? Well, B&W is still less expensive and B&W photocopiers, faxes, and desktop lasers are still the norm. There are still plenty of projects that can use B&W (and shades of gray).

So then the question becomes, is there any difference in designing with B&W rather than color? While the principles of design remain the same, for some B&W is perceived as boring. Perhaps we've grown too accustomed to adding a splash of color to improve a so-so design. Adding color has become so easy that we rely on the attention-grabbing power of red, the calming effect of blue, or the mystery of purple to carry our designs. So, it's not that designing with black and white is so different, only that we need to reaquaint ourselves with the power and simplicity of black and white and shades of gray.

• The Gray Book - Designing in Black & White on Your Computer
• Black Symbolism
• White Symbolism
• Gray Symbolism
• Principles of Design