Sight isn’t just a signal passed along the optic nerve. Considering that our senses evolved to help us be the best hunters, hiders, mate-finders and child-rearers possible, it’s no surprise! By the time pictures of our surroundings reach our consciousness, our brain has already given them a good sorting.

You might be surprised at how much more effective visual presentations can be when we take this history into account. Researchers have found that colors from a natural palette, such as earth tones, are more accepted by the brain, which means a lighter background gives greater readability. Make your presentation background color a soft beige instead of a glaring white.

Be sure to use the power of threes — rely on two complementary colors for the body of your information — but then throw in one contrasting color choice for material you really want to stand out. There’s a principle called “The Isolation Effect” which says viewers recognize and remember a word or image much more accurately when it contrasts with its surroundings.