* Customizing Form Colors
You can completely customize the look of your forms simply by using STYLE tags.
Each of the following examples will enable you to customize your forms in specific colors. You can change the colors by changing the hexadecimal color codes.
<FORM METHOD=post ACTION="/cgi-bin/example.cgi">
<TEXTAREA wrap="virtual" name="comments" rows=6
cols=20 STYLE="scrollbar-face-color: #317B9C;
scrollbar-track-color: #87B4C9;
scrollbar-arrow-color: #54A1C4;
scrollbar-3dlight-color: #B8D7E6;
scrollbar-shadow-color: #1E6180;
scrollbar-highlight-color: #7CBCDA;
scrollbar-darkshadow-color: #1E6180">This example
displays the scrollbars in an alternative color. You can
change these colors to whatever you'd like simply by
changing the hexadecimal color codes.
</TEXTAREA>
<INPUT type="Submit" VALUE="Submit"
STYLE="color:#FFFFFF; background: #317B9C;
font-weight: bold">
<INPUT type="Reset" VALUE="Reset"
STYLE="color:#FFFFFF; background: #317B9C;
font-weight: bold">
</FORM>
The following example displays a form with colored scrollbars and text. The text is displayed in a specific font and the face of the button displays an image background.
This example will require you to include an image. Simply create a small patterned 2x2 .gif image and upload it to your server. You will need to replace the (yourimage.gif) text within the "Submit" and "Reset" background values to the URL of your image.
<FORM METHOD=post ACTION="/cgi-bin/example.cgi">
<TEXTAREA wrap="virtual" name="comments" rows=6
cols=20 STYLE="scrollbar-face-color: #317B9C;
scrollbar-track-color: #87B4C9;
scrollbar-arrow-color: #54A1C4;
scrollbar-3dlight-color: #B8D7E6;
scrollbar-shadow-color: #1E6180;
scrollbar-highlight-color: #7CBCDA;
scrollbar-darkshadow-color: #1E6180">This example
displays the scrollbars in an alternative color. The text
is displayed in a specific font and the face of the button
displays an image background.
</TEXTAREA>
<INPUT type="Submit" VALUE="Submit"
STYLE="color: #FFFFFF;
background: url(yourimage.gif);
font-family: Verdana, Helvetica;
font-weight: bold">
<INPUT type="Reset" VALUE="Reset"
STYLE="color: #FFFFFF;
background: url(yourimage.gif);
font-family: Verdana, Helvetica;
font-weight: bold">
</FORM>
The following example displays a form with a colored background, scrollbars and text. The text is displayed in a specific font and the face of the button displays an image background. You will need to replace the (yourimage.gif) text within the "Submit" and "Reset" background values to the URL of your image.
<FORM METHOD=post ACTION="/cgi-bin/example.cgi">
<TEXTAREA wrap="virtual" name="comments" rows=6
cols=20 STYLE="background:#EAE8E8;
scrollbar-face-color: #317B9C;
scrollbar-track-color: #87B4C9;
scrollbar-arrow-color: #54A1C4;
scrollbar-3dlight-color: #B8D7E6;
scrollbar-shadow-color: #1E6180;
scrollbar-highlight-color: #7CBCDA;
scrollbar-darkshadow-color: #1E6180">This example
displays a form with a colored background, scrollbars and
text. The text is displayed in a specific font and the face
of the button displays an image background.
</TEXTAREA>
<INPUT type="Submit" VALUE="Submit"
STYLE="color: #FFFFFF;
background: url(yourimage.gif);
font-family: Verdana, Helvetica;
font-weight: bold">
<INPUT type="Reset" VALUE="Reset"
STYLE="color: #FFFFFF;
background: url(yourimage.gif);
font-family: Verdana, Helvetica;
font-weight: bold">
</FORM>
Keep in mind, if you change the colors of your scrollbars and buttons, make sure your selected colors match your website's color scheme. In addition, always make sure your text is clearly visible through your background colors.
Forms provide you with an excellent alternative to snail mail. Your visitor's information can be instantly processed right over the Internet. This information might include taking orders, collecting customer information, or even allowing your visitors to provide you with feedback. The possibilities are endless.
About The Author
Shelley Lowery is the author of the highly acclaimed ebook series, Web Design Mastery -- an in-depth guide to professional web design that is rapidly becoming known as the "Bible" for professional web design. http://www.webdesignmastery.com
