Patch may not want me to say this, but he's been trying to develop a second forum skin () that has a lighter background. Apparently someone around here has been whining about the default skin being too dark.

It's nowhere near finished, but check it out anyway. Just scroll down to the bottom of your screen, to a drop-down box labeled "Quick Style Chooser." Select "Test Style." See what you think.

You can immediately change back by going to the same menu and selecting "Default Style."

I haven't been wining but the test is easier on my eyes.

David

Originally Posted by wxwax Patch may not want me to say this, but he's been trying to develop a second forum skin () that has a lighter background. Apparently someone around here has been whining about the default skin being too dark. It's nowhere near finished, but check it out anyway. Just scroll down to the bottom of your screen, to a drop-down box labeled "Quick Style Chooser." Select "Test Style." See what you think. You can immediately change back by going to the same menu and selecting "Default Style."

OK... but put back the parts that had black backgrounds in this version JMHO

wxwax: I personally prefer the default skin.
Will we have a choice?

Originally Posted by Tuesday wxwax: I personally prefer the default skin. Will we have a choice?

Yeah, eventually we'll have quite a few skins people can choose between. For example, here's one we can buy for $30:

http://vbskin.pixicore.com/

Originally Posted by Baldy Yeah, eventually we'll have quite a few skins people can choose between. For example, here's one we can buy for $30: http://vbskin.pixicore.com/

Truth be told, I think changing background colors and maybe a bit of
layout would be better than something so fancy. In the end, nice as it
is, it takes away from the subject matter.

In many ways, that smugmug is not too fancy is a good thing. Just MHO.

Ian

Originally Posted by ian408 Truth be told, I think changing background colors and maybe a bit of layout would be better than something so fancy. In the end, nice as it is, it takes away from the subject matter. In many ways, that smugmug is not too fancy is a good thing. Just MHO. Ian

Yeah, I agree. All those design elements distract you from the main attraction: the photos.

I've been messing around with a white style for people who like it lame, uh, I mean light. Lots of broken things right now with it but you get the idea. Let me know what you think.

You'll be glad to know that today I finally saw dgrin on a relatively new plasma monitor, and I like the 3rd look (work was first, then home.) I could finally see what the backgrounds are supposed to look like with the default skin. Very nice. Why are you guys even bothering with different skins?

The white is good, now that it's been toned down. Not as sophisticated as the default, but practical.

The grey has the same issue - not as sophisticated.

The sample you posted in the link, Baldy, is beyond garish and overwhelms the content. The skin should complement the content, not be a distraction.

JMHO, of course. The HO of a man with two bad monitors.

Well, I've now viewed dgrin on four monitors. Three of them at work. The verdict?

Default Lookin' Good = 1
Default Lookin' Bad = 3

The only one that made it look good is the 15" plasma that's less than a year old. I can't help but think that there are many others with less then optimal monitors.

The expensive good news is that my four year old Micron-badged Trinitron now has tearing along the top of the screen... time to upgrade. I'm thinking about a terribly expensive 19" plasma. Good idea?

Strange, but on my new powerbook the default looks medium-gray, much lighter than on my desktop.

vBulletin just came out with a new "pro" style that's silver. Looks nice! Not as stark as the white, not as dark as default.

Get yer monitor calibrated.



I just saw dgrin on an Apple Theater display... looks very elegant. So the score is now:

Lookin' Good = 2
Lookin' Dark = 3

I suppose it's okay to have an option for dark on light, but light on dark is much MUCH easier on the eyes. All of the coders I know have their desktops set for white on black for a reason.