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Boards' BG and Text Colors (Light on Dark = Bad?)

Hilltop Sunset·12/24/2014, 4:04:28 PM·2 votes·1,181 views
Why light text on dark background is a bad idea

So this is something I've been thinking about posting, and maybe it's something I can fix on my own and just don't know about it, but I figured since I've been getting more and more into reading board posts recently, I might as well throw it out there: can we get boards with a light background and dark text, instead of dark background with light text? I've included an article that explains the issue, which has apparently been a topic of discussion for a long time.

I've noticed my eyes straining pretty harshly after reading through a few boards; it discourages me from reading more, even though I'd like to. Is there any way to perhaps change the colors? Or perhaps to add a function within the boards where we can opt to invert the colors? Or change them in general? Is there already something like this that I just don't know about? It would certainly help me want to participate on the boards more if I don't get a headache just from reading them. :]

3 Comments

TheSeltzerBaron12/25/2014, 1:55:52 AM4 votes

I disagree completely. I love the dark background they changed to. I've written well over 400 pages in Abiword and I got to the point where I couldn't stand the intensity of the white background anymore. I changed it to black and made the text either red or green. I've used various dark colors from black to blue and dark shades of grey and all of them are much more comfortable for me to read. Why, I think, this is true is because my eyes are super sensitive and the white background projects too much light into my eyes which respond by my pupils shrinking to reduce it making it harder to distinguish the small black text. I also have a major problem driving at night because other people's headlights damn near blind me.

This dark blue background with tan text has a perfect median level of contrast so that the text is easy for me to distinguish and much more comfortable than the old forums. If anything I'd be more likely to get a headache from the lighter boards. Bright light in general I find uncomfortable.

Thryale12/27/2014, 10:34:08 AM1 votes

I agree with DEG, I can't stand light backgrounds on forums. they come across as either sterile or uninviting. I could not stand the second iteration of the boards when riot was using all of those cool tones and the off-white backgrounds. If dark text on light backgrounds are the only choice, it has to be warm colors.

but with forums, I muchly prefer light text on dark backgrounds. It is much more inviting and I feel at home and at ease. Also, light on dark is much better when viewed in a dark room, which I'm usually in due to me working a night shift and before that just being a night owl in general.

Vamps Aram Smurf12/27/2014, 10:49:35 AM1 votes

they tried making it light background and dark text. we hated it and invented a CSS mod to change it to black background and white text. so... yea.