Before&After Design Tip: Use Color to Mark an Active Hyperlink
A little pop of color can increase clicks on a hyperlink.
Here’s a quick design tip on using color in web design from issue 42 of Before&After Magazine.
A colorful object in a field of black and white is an easy way to signify an active link.

It’s great for portfolio-style sites and especially suitable when the images are from an era of black-and-white photography.
CreativePro members can download original content from Before&After Magazine, a beloved resource that taught a generation of newly minted digital designers how to design and communicate effectively with the written word. See our archive here.
© John McWade/Before&After Magazine, courtesy of Gaye Anne McWade.
This article was last modified on January 3, 2026
This article was first published on January 31, 2025
Commenting is easier and faster when you're logged in!
Recommended for you
Before&After: Make a Theme to Tie Your Design Together
A butterfly graphic creates a focal point, color, and continuity and turns a gra...
Before&After Design Tip: Modular Pages Go Together Fast
A modular design system can help you retain your sanity in the face of last-minu...
Before&After: How to Cool a Hot Photo
How do we cool this photo? The answer is found on the color wheel.
