Comments on: Stop the Graying of Sites Trend http://www.meryl.net/2008/05/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/ Content on writing, tech, business, marketing, web design. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:31:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Arlene Elcott http://www.meryl.net/2008/05/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-765494 Arlene Elcott Tue, 20 May 2008 21:04:40 +0000 http://meryl.net/2008/05/07/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-765494 <p>A great article Meryl thank you. I found your site (through Google), because I questioned my beige background with dark brown lettering on my site. Although it went nicely with the pastel green border I am using, it did seem hard to read. Plus, you don't see many newspapers that use those colors, so there must be a reason. :) Well, as others have done, I changed the CSS and said "adios" to the beige and brown. Thank's again, Arlene</p> <p>http://arlenesworld.com</p> A great article Meryl thank you. I found your site (through Google), because I questioned my beige background with dark brown lettering on my site. Although it went nicely with the pastel green border I am using, it did seem hard to read. Plus, you don’t see many newspapers that use those colors, so there must be a reason. :)
Well, as others have done, I changed the CSS and said “adios” to the beige and brown.
Thank’s again,
Arlene

http://arlenesworld.com

]]> By: Karen Putz / DeafMom http://www.meryl.net/2008/05/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-757403 Karen Putz / DeafMom Fri, 09 May 2008 12:20:55 +0000 http://meryl.net/2008/05/07/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-757403 <p>I'm in the process of looking for a new theme so I'm going to keep this in mind as I search.</p> I’m in the process of looking for a new theme so I’m going to keep this in mind as I search.

]]> By: Chris Cree http://www.meryl.net/2008/05/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-756395 Chris Cree Thu, 08 May 2008 12:43:14 +0000 http://meryl.net/2008/05/07/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-756395 <p>While I sincerely appreciate the mention, Meryl I'm not sure I agree that font color is such a black and white issue.</p> <p>I know many designers who do wonderful work in the gray areas. Sometimes the attention to detail it takes for a designer to work with grays can really make a site stand out.</p> <p>Color and style is a very subjective thing. I've built sites for clients that I didn't personally find attractive but they absolutely loved. As Ryan said above it's all in the eye of the beholder.</p> While I sincerely appreciate the mention, Meryl I’m not sure I agree that font color is such a black and white issue.

I know many designers who do wonderful work in the gray areas. Sometimes the attention to detail it takes for a designer to work with grays can really make a site stand out.

Color and style is a very subjective thing. I’ve built sites for clients that I didn’t personally find attractive but they absolutely loved. As Ryan said above it’s all in the eye of the beholder.

]]> By: Stephen Hopson http://www.meryl.net/2008/05/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-756354 Stephen Hopson Thu, 08 May 2008 12:01:35 +0000 http://meryl.net/2008/05/07/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-756354 <p>Meryl:</p> <p>Way cool - and come to think of it - your site fits the bill too. It better! LOL.</p> <p><em>Stephen Hopson's last blog post..<a href='http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/2008/05/06/stephen-hopson-interview-with-alexander-kjerulf-chief-happiness-officer-from-denmark-part-ii-of-ii/' rel="nofollow">Stephen Hopson Interview with Alexander Kjerulf, Chief Happiness Officer from Denmark, Part II of II</a></em></p> Meryl:

Way cool - and come to think of it - your site fits the bill too. It better! LOL.

Stephen Hopson’s last blog post..Stephen Hopson Interview with Alexander Kjerulf, Chief Happiness Officer from Denmark, Part II of II

]]> By: Meryl http://www.meryl.net/2008/05/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-756341 Meryl Thu, 08 May 2008 11:47:47 +0000 http://meryl.net/2008/05/07/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-756341 <p>@Anne Though you can't take credit for the design, it's worth recognizing your sites.</p> <p>@Ryan, a few sites tricked me with their #222 and #333, but I think it was their choice of font -- as some fonts are thin and make it hard to be sure. I think designers forget gray may look faint on one monitor and good enough on another.</p> <p>@HowNotToWrite Good to know you think the unholy trend of gray text matters.</p> <p>@A.B. I think black on light gray is a good contrast. The white can glare for some people.</p> <p>@Dawn, it works for me. Glad you included your site. I just quickly scanned home pages.</p> <p>@Stephen, hard to believe... but earliest monochrome monitors were green on dark backgrounds. But I guess we've been spoiled after all these years of color.</p> @Anne Though you can’t take credit for the design, it’s worth recognizing your sites.

@Ryan, a few sites tricked me with their #222 and #333, but I think it was their choice of font — as some fonts are thin and make it hard to be sure. I think designers forget gray may look faint on one monitor and good enough on another.

@HowNotToWrite Good to know you think the unholy trend of gray text matters.

@A.B. I think black on light gray is a good contrast. The white can glare for some people.

@Dawn, it works for me. Glad you included your site. I just quickly scanned home pages.

@Stephen, hard to believe… but earliest monochrome monitors were green on dark backgrounds. But I guess we’ve been spoiled after all these years of color.

]]> By: Stephen Hopson http://www.meryl.net/2008/05/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-756319 Stephen Hopson Thu, 08 May 2008 11:21:29 +0000 http://meryl.net/2008/05/07/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-756319 <p>Thanks Meryl for mentioning Adversity University! I'm glad you're talking about sites with white backgrounds and black lettering because that's what I look for when discovering new blogs or websites.</p> <p>Personally, I don't care for black background with white lettering or even green lettering. It's hard on the eyes.</p> <p>And because of that, I'm conscientious of keeping it "clean."</p> <p>Thanks again for the mention. :)</p> <p><em>Stephen Hopson's last blog post..<a href='http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/2008/05/06/stephen-hopson-interview-with-alexander-kjerulf-chief-happiness-officer-from-denmark-part-ii-of-ii/' rel="nofollow">Stephen Hopson Interview with Alexander Kjerulf, Chief Happiness Officer from Denmark, Part II of II</a></em></p> Thanks Meryl for mentioning Adversity University! I’m glad you’re talking about sites with white backgrounds and black lettering because that’s what I look for when discovering new blogs or websites.

Personally, I don’t care for black background with white lettering or even green lettering. It’s hard on the eyes.

And because of that, I’m conscientious of keeping it “clean.”

Thanks again for the mention. :)

Stephen Hopson’s last blog post..Stephen Hopson Interview with Alexander Kjerulf, Chief Happiness Officer from Denmark, Part II of II

]]> By: Dawn Goldberg http://www.meryl.net/2008/05/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-756024 Dawn Goldberg Thu, 08 May 2008 04:15:13 +0000 http://meryl.net/2008/05/07/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-756024 <p>While the entry page isn't black on white (it's black on lavender), the interior pages are black text on white (except for the sidebar).</p> <p>I like gray text, but it's not quite as much a contrast as the black on white. While I like the sophistication and difference of gray, it just doesn't cut it.</p> <p>:)</p> <p>www.writewellu.com</p> <p>Thanks for always helping us through usability, Meryl!</p> While the entry page isn’t black on white (it’s black on lavender), the interior pages are black text on white (except for the sidebar).

I like gray text, but it’s not quite as much a contrast as the black on white. While I like the sophistication and difference of gray, it just doesn’t cut it.

:)

http://www.writewellu.com

Thanks for always helping us through usability, Meryl!

]]> By: A. B. England http://www.meryl.net/2008/05/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-755991 A. B. England Thu, 08 May 2008 03:26:13 +0000 http://meryl.net/2008/05/07/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-755991 <p>Now you have me wondering, is black wording on a light gray background unreadable? Personally, I find it less straining since I don't have to squint for glare on a computer screen, but it may very well have something to do with my contrast settings.</p> <p><em>A. B. England's last blog post..<a href='http://tekaranlady.blogspot.com/2008/05/craving-dark.html' rel="nofollow">Craving the Dark</a></em></p> Now you have me wondering, is black wording on a light gray background unreadable? Personally, I find it less straining since I don’t have to squint for glare on a computer screen, but it may very well have something to do with my contrast settings.

A. B. England’s last blog post..Craving the Dark

]]> By: How Not To Write http://www.meryl.net/2008/05/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-755873 How Not To Write Thu, 08 May 2008 00:26:24 +0000 http://meryl.net/2008/05/07/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-755873 <p>Thanks, Meryl!</p> <p>P.S. I had to rush and load up my CSS to make sure I didn't have any stray grays lying about! :)</p> <p><em>How Not To Write's last blog post..<a href='http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HowNotToWrite/~3/284633791/' rel="nofollow">Six Reasons to Finish My Story</a></em></p> Thanks, Meryl!

P.S. I had to rush and load up my CSS to make sure I didn’t have any stray grays lying about! :)

How Not To Write’s last blog post..Six Reasons to Finish My Story

]]> By: Ryan Christensen http://www.meryl.net/2008/05/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-755737 Ryan Christensen Wed, 07 May 2008 21:44:17 +0000 http://meryl.net/2008/05/07/stop-the-graying-of-sites-trend/#comment-755737 <p>I generally use that or #333333, as I find the shades more pleasing to the eyes. Contrast is great, but <strong>too stark</strong> a contrast can take away from overall aesthetic and readability. (YMMV, of course. As with most things, it's in the eye of the beholder.)</p> I generally use that or #333333, as I find the shades more pleasing to the eyes. Contrast is great, but too stark a contrast can take away from overall aesthetic and readability. (YMMV, of course. As with most things, it’s in the eye of the beholder.)

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