Website Colors

crazylegsmurphy · Nov 21, 2009

EDIT: When voting above, keep in mind that you're voting for the contrast of the text on the background only, not the Fedora lounge as a website. People have the tendency to overlook what is being asked because they view it as something negative towards what they like. I am NOT commenting on the Fedora Lounge as a website, only the colors being used and whether they have too much contrast to be comfortable on the eyes for extended periods of time.

Thanks

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Hey All,

Ok, I KNOW this is going to cause some people to snap at me, but I have wanted to say this for a long time.

I love the Fedora Lounge, but I can't spend anymore than 5 minutes here at a time due to the colors chosen for the forum. The contrast of yellow/white text on a black background simply makes reading this forum for long periods of time a complete eye strain.

Now, before you dismiss me as not having a clue, please keep in mind I have a Bachelor of Design degree, and have been doing graphic/web design for over 10 years.

I don't mean to cause trouble, but I really think that the colors of this forum should be reconsidered. There are other color schemes that would convey the "classic" and "classy" look, but would be a little easier on the eyes.

I hope you consider what I have suggested here. I doubt that I am the only one who feels this way, but perhaps others might simply not have thought to say anything, or felt stupid for wanting to.

Thanks for listening,

Jeff

Mike in Seattle · Nov 22, 2009

Do a search. It's been covered in several other posts. The colors aren't going to change and they're currently far easier on the eyes than any other color combination.

dakotanorth · Nov 22, 2009

Colors

Actually I am not sure if I agree with the original opinion, but I do agree with the science behind it. Highly contrasting colors tend to cause eye strain. That's one of the reason typing paper is better when it's "off-white" or even pale gray, rather than bright white. Desks and cubicle surfaces are better if they are NOT bright white as well.

Personally I would be curious to see this website done in a dark gray rather than black.

crazylegsmurphy · Nov 22, 2009

Mike in Seattle said:
Do a search. It's been covered in several other posts. The colors aren't going to change and they're currently far easier on the eyes than any other color combination.

Well this simply isn't a true statement. There are many color combinations that are easier on the eyes and would look just as nice, if not nicer.

If there have been several other posts, then it makes me wonder why this hasn't been looked at more carefully.

To give you something to think about. I am currently developing a project that is currently being beta tested by over 5000 people. In the next year we will be releasing version 1.0 which will potentially seen by many, many more people than that.

We spent over 2 months researching accessibility standards to make sure our colors, text, graphics, etc, all fit not only recognized standards, but fit within known scientific standards as well.

One of the things we learned was that high contract colors work only with a small handful of people who have specific vision problems. Pretty much all others like more subtle contrast because it makes it easier on the eyes, and for navigation purposes.

Recently Apple released an update for iTunes which changed the dark gray background to a pure white background. The contrast was so hard to look at that the forums and blogosphere lit up. Within abut three weeks an update was released allowing users to put it back if they wanted.

If you need further proof. Read this post, and then read a few others, then look at a white wall. You will see a strange Ghosting effect. This is due to the high contrast website "burning" it's image into your rods and cones. This residual ghosting is a result of strained eyes.

If the owners of this website don't want to change the colors because they think it is the best way to present this subject matter, then there isn't much I, or anyone can do about it. I would however encourage them to listen to my experience and perhaps reconsider.

Jeff

Tomasso · Nov 22, 2009

crazylegsmurphy said:
I really think that the colors of this forum should be reconsidered.

Mike in Seattle said:
The colors aren't going to change

crazylegsmurphy said:
If the owners of this website don't want to change the colors.... then there isn't much I, or anyone can do about it.

OK...next item on the agenda?

crazylegsmurphy · Nov 22, 2009

I just wanted to put in my two bits is all.

Just keep in mind, a poorly designed website is kinda like an underwater stove. It's not a bad idea, but it surely doesn't benefit everyone.

I'll leave this alone, but I really hope it is taken into consideration. It would be a shame if this website was missing out on users because of something as simple as this.

I would be glad to offer my knowledge if they ever want to address this problem...and yes, it is a problem.

Regards,

Jeff

cptjeff · Nov 22, 2009

I voted for mildly. The yellow is great for me, but the white can be a little painful after a while. It would be wise to be very careful doing anything though, There are a lot of much, much worse web layout choices. If geocities still existed they could be very readily demonstrated, but alas.

I don't know how easy it is to do with this board, but I wonder if a skinning option might not be a bad idea. Have a light navy background option, black option, and some different text color selections, that way people can change it if it bothers them.

crazylegsmurphy · Nov 22, 2009

I was running this forum software a while back and I remember there being add-ons that would allow for a bunch of things. I'm sure by now there must be something that allows this.

I don't feel it's necessary however. Check out the following link

Retro Web Design

This is just a small example of how that retro look can be achieved without resorting to black. Trust me when I say there are a LOT of design ideas that would suit this place just as well, but be a little more friendly on the eyes of the users.

Giben · Nov 22, 2009

Yeah, I have to admit some new colours would be good. And also iI do sometimes see like a blur surrounding the white text, It makes it a little bit hard to concetrate.

4and1 · Nov 22, 2009

I like the black background much better than a bright, glowing screen. Maybe something other than white for the text would be easier to read.

Methuselah · Nov 22, 2009

crazylegsmurphy said:
I was running this forum software a while back and I remember there being add-ons that would allow for a bunch of things. I'm sure by now there must be something that allows this.

I don't feel it's necessary however. Check out the following link

Retro Web Design

This is just a small example of how that retro look can be achieved without resorting to black. Trust me when I say there are a LOT of design ideas that would suit this place just as well, but be a little more friendly on the eyes of the users.

I agree, and voted that the contrast is too high.

fftopic: The white halo around the button / icon gifs annoys me too.

If you're a designer, could you mock up a couple of 'what it could look like' images? - if it bothers you that much, I think the easiest way to get people on your side is demonstrate how it could be better.

I have no idea how vBulletin renders the markup - but I assume it would be easy enough to have a style switcher using jQuery or similar?

skyvue · Nov 23, 2009

crazylegsmurphy said:
Check out the following link

Retro Web Design

The majority of users seems to fine with the site as is and if you throw in those who answered "mildly," it's a runaway.

As for the site you linked to, I had to laugh -- there's nothing whatsoever new about retro websites; there have been sites with a retro look since the earliest days of the web. My own web zine, which won its share of awards in its day, went live in 1994, and it was fully retro in appearance.

scottyrocks · Nov 23, 2009

I prefer dark letters on a light background, but I dont think anyone is gonna convince anyone else to change whats here. Its a preference but not that important.

AtomicEraTom · Nov 23, 2009

The white can strain, but only when I'm tired. I really like the color scheme, it's classy, it's warm, it's friendly, it's familiar. But what can I say? I am a creature of habit and not a fan of change.

Miss_Bella_Hell · Nov 23, 2009

FYI saying "keep in mind I have a degree in design" is, well, pretty funny.

Slim Portly · Nov 23, 2009

I think it's funny that the OP's poll offers three negative responses and only one positive, so unless one is overwhelmingly thrilled with the status quo, that only leaves the negative options... and yet the one positive answer is still leading the others combined.

Tomasso · Nov 23, 2009

Miss_Bella_Hell said:
FYI saying "keep in mind I have a degree in design" is, well, pretty funny.

Have you a problem with a guy whipin' out his credentials,Young Lady!

Shangas · Nov 23, 2009

Speaking from a medico-visual stance, as a young man with a vision impairment (non-PC-worrying folks: 'crappy eyesight'), I do sometimes find the site a bit of a strain to read for longer periods of time.

I personally reckon the site would look better with a few more colours to brighten the place up. Having everything black makes this place look like some sort of seedy little speakeasy ("Mac sent me..."), and I think it would make the posts a bit easier to read.

Tomasso · Nov 23, 2009

Shangas said:
Having everything black makes this place look like some sort of seedy little speakeasy ("Mac sent me..."),

Don't know about seedy.............

Mike in Seattle · Nov 23, 2009

crazylegsmurphy said:
Well this simply isn't a true statement. There are many color combinations that are easier on the eyes and would look just as nice, if not nicer.

With all due respect - that's YOUR opinion. It's not a fact.

crazylegsmurphy said:
If there have been several other posts, then it makes me wonder why this hasn't been looked at more carefully.

It has been looked at carefully. Repeatedly. Just because you don't like the results doesn't make them invalid, or just because you don't like the way the site owner runs the site doesn't mean you have any say in said site's operations.

crazylegsmurphy said:
If the owners of this website don't want to change the colors because they think it is the best way to present this subject matter, then there isn't much I, or anyone can do about it.

And there in is the answer. It's not your site. The topic's been covered many times before. This site is operated as a benign dictatorship and not a democracy. As such, we're his guests.

You wouldn't, one hopes, walk into someone else's home, sit down and say, "Repaint your walls. I don't like the color." Quite frankly - this is MK's site. As such and since he foots the all of the bills and does all the work to maintain it, if you don't like it, move along and start your own site in whatever color scheme suits your fancy.

Website Colors

Do you find the high contrast text colors (white & yellow) hard to read on black?

Yes, I find my eyes are strained after extended viewing

Mildly, I don't spend long here so I only slightly notice it

No, I have no problem at all with the contrast

I just find the look dated

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