Light or dark themes?

dojo · Posted: 9/9/2005, 5:40 am Post subject: Light or dark themes?

It's an ongoing battle between people who love dark themes and those who like the bright coloured and light ones. Where do you stand?
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Patrick · Administrator

I'm OK with either. I only want something that is good. Smile

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Nick · Posted: 9/9/2005, 8:54 pm Post subject:

My main skin is a modified version of subBlack, but I also have good ole subSilver for the "light" members.
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Tanner · Posted: 9/9/2005, 9:03 pm Post subject:

I like light colors or colors that go together. Makes feel more welcome.

-Tanner
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Josh · Posted: 9/9/2005, 9:12 pm Post subject:

Yeah mine is also a modded version of subBlack...i went into the subBlack.css file and change the colors and stuff. I also have the subSilver template, subMirza, AirHead, and Boyz (the latter of which do not work correctly cause i have to add all the mods to them wich is gonna be a pain in the behind Laughing

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chrispian · Posted: 9/9/2005, 10:26 pm Post subject:

I've had a few members of my forums ask for dark backgrounds with light text. I told them the day they start printing all books with black paper and white text I'll switch Wink

Black text on white is standard and much more usable and readable. Who am I to argue with a few hundred years of printing.
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Josh · Posted: 9/9/2005, 10:30 pm Post subject:

My forum has a black background with white text...I actually prefer darker colors like blue and black (they are my two favorite colors) I think it'd be cool if they printed books with black pages and white text...change is good Laughing

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Triumvirate · Posted: 9/10/2005, 11:03 am Post subject:

I'm okay with either as long as it fits the style of the site/the content of the site (that is if you have a Star Wars site I would expect to see some darker colors to fit in with that idea of space battles and good vs. evil, etc. however, if your site is about Hello Kitty I would expect something different).

Honestly for me though when I am reading large blocks of text I find that a dark color background with light text is better for me. My eyes start to hurt and I have to take breaks from reading if it is a light background with dark text (I can't even right in Word for a long period of time without having my eyes hurt). The darker background seems to stop that from happening.

Truestar · Moderator

Lighter themes don't impress as much as the darker ones. Boyz, Artemis (Blue) and templates like that are usually my choice. But, I've installed many templates anyway, so my Users have quite the variety to choose from.

I don't like complete black, I don't aim for a "Goth" feel either, but darker, in my opinion is better. Smile

Siberian Fox · Posted: 9/10/2005, 12:54 pm Post subject:

From a purely practical point of view I would have though it depends on your userbase. Are your users the kind of people who sit up all night on the computer with only a small lamp on? (or is that just forum admins?). Then maybe dark would be kinder on the eyes. During the day though, not so nice.

Generally speaking, I find that black text on a light background is by far the easiest to read. However, I do not use white backgrounds because it creates glare. It's no different from trying to read a book outside in the summer, after a while the glare gets too much. So, backgrounds are best tinted (I use exciting grey). So my 'two cents' goes to light themes I guess, although I agree that they seldom look as 'cool'.