Variation of "Tropospherical" Site Scheme

[faevii]

Title:
Variation of "Tropospherical" Site Scheme

Area:
site schemes

Summary:
I'd like a variation of the "Tropospherical" site scheme in colours that are easier on the eyes.

Description:
As it happens, the default site scheme has always been the one that I liked best. However, "best" in this case means "just about bearable" because I absolutely can't stand the colours. I love everything else about it, but those particular shades of red and purple both make me cringe - especially in combination with that light grey background.

Vertical navigation confuses me to no end, so switching to Celerity is not an option for me. I really like the colours of that one, though. A plain, white background and a shade of green that's easy on the eyes - awesome!

It would be neat if there was a version of Tropospherical that had a white background as well, maybe combined with a similarly muted colour as Celerity - it doesn't have to be green; I'd suggest blue or brown, for example. Even the default red would look better without the grey.

I'm curious - does anybody actually *like* these schemes as they are?? Could one of them perhaps be replaced? If not, what do you think about adding a third option? I know I'm not the only one who has a problem with the colours; I've come across several comments by random people complaining about them off-handedly.

Poll #4244 Variation of "Tropospherical" Site Scheme

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 50

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This suggestion:

View Answers

Should be implemented as-is.
28 (56.0%)

Should be implemented with changes. (please comment)
8 (16.0%)

Shouldn't be implemented.
0 (0.0%)

(I have no opinion)
13 (26.0%)

(Other: please comment)
1 (2.0%)

Comments

[melannen]

This is pretty much what I was trying to ask for in my attempted suggestion but wasn't nearly this clear with. :D

Basically, I've had several people say they really need a site scheme that is horizontal navigation, with a) white backgrounds with very dark text, and/or b) no bright colors. Multiple people in move-to-DW discussions have said that trying to use the tropo schemes exacerbate chronic headaches, because of the bright colors, or because they have difficulty reading text on grey (or black) backgrounds.

It's been suggested that a Tropo scheme with white backgrounds and muted colors would work, as would, probably, a horizontal Celerity.

I'm generally against proliferating options, but I think DW really does need a horizontal site scheme with black text on white background and muted colors. It's a basic style that most websites have and people feel comfortable with, either for accessibility or otherwise, and it's a bit strange that DW doesn't have one.

ETA: I am glad to know about the stylish option! I will try to pass it on to people now.

[faevii]

Aha! So I didn't just imagine that other people were saying the same thing! Thanks for that - I don't always trust my memory.

Now I'm actually worried that the default scheme might be driving potential new users away. That would be sad.

[melannen]

I know for a fact it has - someone on my lj flist just posted about wanting to move but not being able to deal with DW's site schemes, and got two other people replying that they had the same difficulty. I'll go find the conversation and ask if they mind me linking it here, I think, so I'm not just talking about lurkers in e-mail. :D

And I know I've heard it mentioned other places, too, that's just the most concrete one.

[faevii]

Hmm, yeah, I dimly remember seeing a comment along those lines in an LJ newspost, too. The same newspost where I also recruited three new members, but still. :D

[ninetydegrees]

Basically, I've had several people say they really need a site scheme that is horizontal navigation, with a) white backgrounds with very dark text, and/or b) no bright colors. Multiple people in move-to-DW discussions have said that trying to use the tropo schemes exacerbate chronic headaches, because of the bright colors, or because they have difficulty reading text on grey (or black) backgrounds.

*nods* I wouldn't go to the Dreamwidth site until they had something else than the red theme because I can't stand to look at it for long. The purple one is only slightly better.

[ex_rising236]

For the record, having a not-quite-black would be utterly preferably to having 'true black' and 'true white'. Usually, that means that there's enough contrast, without creating its own chronic headaches trigger.

Say, #FEFEFE for the white, and #0C0C0C would probably be good.