How to Change Page Colour on Google Docs

Many users struggle with eye strain when staring at a bright screen for extended periods. If you've ever felt like your documents deserve a bit more personality, you’re not alone. Changing the page colour can not only give your Google Docs a fresh look but can also make it more readable or fit your aesthetic preferences. Understanding how to change page colour on Google Docs is surprisingly simple. This article will guide you through the process in detail, proving that customization can fit seamlessly into your workflow.

You’ll Learn

• Why changing page colour can benefit you
• Step-by-step guide on changing page colour on Google Docs
• Best practices for choosing the right page colour
• Tools and extensions to enhance your Google Docs experience
• FAQs on page colour changing

Why Change Page Colour?

Before diving into the how to change page colour on Google Docs instructions, let's explore why you might want to take this step. Customizing the background can alleviate eye fatigue, particularly for users who spend hours editing documents. Different colours can invoke various psychological effects, improve readability, or help color-blind individuals better distinguish text. Branding is another consideration, as matching the document's colour scheme to your organizational colours can enhance professionalism.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Change Page Colour on Google Docs

Accessing Page Settings

1. Open Your Document: Start by opening the Google Docs document you want to customize.

2. File Menu: Click on the 'File' option in the top-left corner of your screen.

3. Page Setup: From the dropdown menu, select 'Page setup' to open the configuration window.

Altering Page Colour

4. Page Colour Option: In the Page Setup window, you’ll see an option for 'Page colour'.

5. Colour Palette: Click on the small box next to 'Page colour' to open a colour palette.

6. Select Colour: Browse the available colours and click on your preferred choice. Custom colours can be created if needed, allowing for precise branding or personal preference.

Finalizing Changes

7. OK or Set as Default: Click ‘OK’ to apply the colour change. If you want this colour as your default for future documents, select ‘Set as default’.

Refresh View

8. Review Your Document: Your page will now reflect the selected colour. Take a moment to review the document to ensure the text remains legible and that the colour choice enhances, rather than detracts from, the document's readability.

Best Practices for Choosing Page Colours

Selecting the right page colour involves more than personal preference. Here are key considerations:

• Readability: Opt for colours that contrast well with text. Light text on dark backgrounds or dark text on light backgrounds is recommended.

• Psychological Impact: Different colours can evoke specific emotions. For example, blue is calming, while red is attention-grabbing.

• Colour Blindness: Avoid using green and red together as individuals with colour blindness may struggle to differentiate between them.

• Professional Context: Keep in mind the tone of your document. Bright colours may be inappropriate for formal business documents.

Enhancing Google Docs with Tools and Extensions

Beyond knowing how to change page colour on Google Docs, tools and extensions offer additional customization and usability features.

Stylish

• Customize Google Appearance: The Stylish extension offers broader customization, allowing you to alter not just Docs, but other Google interfaces too.

Dark Mode

• Reduce Eye Strain: Use Google's built-in Dark Mode or extensions such as Dark Reader to swap a blinding white screen for soothing shades of grey or black.

Readability Plugins

• Enhance Clarity: Plugins designed to boost readability can help tailor your document both visually and functionally.

FAQs

Can I set different colours for different pages?
As of now, Google Docs does not support varying page colours within a single document. Each document can have only one page colour applied throughout.

Are there limitations in colours on Google Docs?
Google Docs offers a wide range of preset colours and even allows for hex code entries for custom colors, which provides ample flexibility for most users.

How will changing page colour affect printing?
While digital documents will display the changes in page colour, it's important to note this setting does not carry over to printed documents. They print on standard white paper unless you choose otherwise in your print settings.

Summary in Brief

• Changing page colour can enhance both aesthetics and readability.
• Access 'Page setup' via 'File' in Google Docs and choose your desired page colour.
• Consider readability, psychological impact, and professional context when choosing colours.
• Use extensions like Stylish for broader customization if needed.
• Maintain awareness that printed documents will not reflect digital page colours.

In conclusion, understanding how to change page colour on Google Docs unlocks potential for personal and professional document personalization. This simple feature can mitigate eye strain and boost visual appeal, making your Google Docs experience that much more tailored to your needs. Whether you're creating a presentation for work or crafting an essay for school, page colour is a tool worth utilizing.