I don’t remember what I put in my profile.  My spaghetti brain doesn’t work that way.  I keep some key bits of information and then the address to where the rest is located.  I guess that means I work on the pointer basis. 

Anyway, in one of my lives I am a freelance web designer.  BY that I mean I have my own web design company, but I work as a contractor for others instead of as an employee of others.  This helps to balance out my job with the non-profit of doom that can’t make a decision to save their lives.

For a long time, I have been referencing a color chart pulled together by Visibone.  Visibone Color Chart

While is it beautiful on my screen, I had found that sometimes the colors weren’t accurate from one computer to another.  The other problem was that I had to keep it up in a window for reference while I made changes to the CSS for whatever project I had on tap for the day.

A few days ago, I noticed that Visibone had this particular chart available for purchase.  Laminated and 8.5×11, this tool would allow me to consult the chart without having a separate browser window.  It would also allow me to reference the colors when I was (God forbid) without a connection.  What I didn’t expect was that it would accurately show why the colors weren’t constant from computer to computer.  I have my monitor adjusted to suit my own personal requirements per my eye sight.  The colors in the above graphic depict the colors through the lense of my monitor.  The colors on the laminated card are somewhat different. 

On the reverse of the card is a listing of the most compatible fonts for web use.  As well as examples of each of them at several font sizes.  It lists which are compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux systems.  I find this to be a great resource (especially when I have a customer that doesn’t understand why Papyrus looks great on her end, but when she looks at her site on the library computer, it is in Verdana.

I heartily recommend this chart, especially at only $10.00.  It was here within two days (which shocked the heck out of me.)  Bob Stein (owner of Visibone) also has other charts and books that hold the types of reference material that I only hold a thread on in my head.  I need the rest of that space for D&D stats and objects from the Book of Vile Darkness.