As with any redesign there is some mixed reactions occurring. That’s fine and that’s what I expected. Most of the complaints seem to be about the readability of the site. Maybe this could be helped out by a change in color (yes I know Nicole, this is the moment you have been waiting for) so I am asking you readers what colors do you think FG should have?
I try to stick with three main colors to keep my life simple so I am looking for:
- Background Color (can be white)
- Link Text Color
- Third Color
And yes, adding a tool that allows you to change between a million different themes would be cool, but I don’t think that is going to happen anytime soon, so if you have an opinion feel free to share. If you like the current color scheme don’t hesitate to say that as well.
Thanks for the help. Oh and if you could give the hex values for your colors that would be super.
I’m fine with the current color scheme. Normally I’m not fond of dark background sites, but this one never bothered me, and it is easy for me to read. Color choices is too subjective, there will always be someone who won’t like the choices, no matter which you choose. However, blue seems to be the safest choice when it comes to web design.
This current color scheme does not bother me at all.
What I do find distracting is the middle column of links. I don’t think you should alter the color, but maybe increase the text size in the content column to keep my eye (this is my opinion, so…) from jumping back and forth between the content and the middle column.
Other than that…Rock.
Well, since you asked… :)
I honestly like white (or light) backgrounds the best for readability. My eyes dislike white on dark background.
Any solid, dark link/highlight color (red, green, blue) would be fine I think, although red is my favorite color so that’s my vote.
For a third color, I find a grey variant to be the most versatile.
In conclusion:
Background: #fff
Link color: #990000
Third color: #e5e8e5 or #ccc
The only thing about the current color scheme that bothers me, and even this it isn’t something i can’t live with, is the comment background color. It is (for me) right on the threshold of being to light for white text. i would almost rather see it a tad bit darker or a good bit lighter with darker text.
Other than that, the color scheme works for me.
Any one who has ever seen one of my websites know my colors; a light tan, #555 for text, #c70 (orange) for links, a third color would be #358.
Although I think I might shock the world here in the next week or two when I launch a site that has absolutely no orange whatsoever. So what is my go to color this time? I’m feeling kind of rich, so I went with green.
But as far as this site. Keeping the exact same layout, I would go with a white background, a greyscale pallette (#555 for text, #aaa for borders, #eee for blocks) and maybe a dark red (like #900). I think the colors would be easy enough to stomach, but it would be kind of sad to see this slate blue gone :/
The current color scheme is great IMHO. The complaints about readability may be due to the center column of links. I actually preferred reading on the old layout.
I think you should center the damn page. This is just downright annoying it being on the left.
I’ve only started reading FG about two weeks before the change, and frankly the change has made the site a lot harder to read. The color scheme is perfect — but the layout is really difficult.
When I open the site it’s difficult to tell if there is a new post — it isn’t as obvious as before — too much scattered *text* everywhere.
Also, the site doesn’t perform well when scaling text (for those on large or tiny screens, fonts need to go up in size). It just comes out very messy.
I don’t remember much of the former layout, but I thought it was fantastic (though you probably got bored of it, I’m just a new reader).
Your content is always first-rate though, keep it up!
One of the problems of the site now is that it has too many things drawing your attention, when you first load the site you’re bombed with hundreds of letters and while you’re scrolling down you get the white spaces in the submission form drawing your attention due to the white on gray contrast.
The site would be better with a bit more space between the article column and the other ones and the third one being less wide. A light grey background on the search and submission forms wouldn’t do any harm either, it’s all a matter of testing really.
I like the color scheme, I don’t think changing it will solve the readability interely.