Tone and Color

The image shown is used part of the interior driver's side dash of an automotive passenger vehicle. An RPM Tachometer gauge is used to notify how fast the engine is spinning in revolutions per minute. The drive uses the information shown to know when to upshift or downshift to the next gear on the transmission shift selector.

Tone is dependent on context in relation to type design (font size). In this case in order for the driver to effectively view how fast the engine is spinning, a black background is needed to see the white number type and yellow increment dashes. Spatial layout is also needs to be taken into account. Tone is interacting with lines in order to show progression in scale. The proper tone is used to effectively see the increment of lines.

Color is used as a way to communicate to the user. In this case, red colored arrow is used to notify how fast the engine is spinning. As the engine rpm increases or decreases in speed, the arrow gradually goes up or down through each increasing or decreasing number.