One of the principles graphics expert Edward Tufte advocates is doing the least necessary to achieve a desired effect.
An obvious example is blinking text on a Web page. This effect was once popular to call a user's attention to an area of a page. Blinking text is annoying because even after the eye is drawn to that part of the screen, the effect continues annoyingly. It also interferes with any attempt to view other parts of the page. One alternative might be to color the background of that area in a semitransparent yellow (a highlighter effect). This follows the principle of using just enough of a difference to attract a person's attention.
I put an image of a note written by Abraham Lincoln on a Web site. I wanted to provide a "Next" link so people could view the second handwritten page. But I didn't want this link to interfere with someone's view of the image. Instead of using prominent bold text, in a fancy scrolling font, in a large point size, I made the text of the link a soft gray (went well with the black & white image). I chose a sans serif font (no fancy curly serifs on the letters). And used plain text, not bold (which would have risked competing for attention with the image).
You can view the page at http://www.avrashow.com/lincoln/gettysburg1.htm
Note: I believe this was written out by the President after the speech was given.