Project "ATS Dark Matter" -- The Evolution Continues...

Thanks for all your comments.

As you can tell, we seem to have three camps of people:
1) Majority: love the new site and color scheme
2) Minority 1: hate the new site seemingly just because it changed :p
3) Minority 2: hate the site because of age and/or vision issues

I'm currently working on refining the color scheme choices down to two selections (2 were intended from the beginning)... one will be optimized for the dark background and light text, the other for lighter backgrounds and darker/black text.

The default will be for the dark backgrounds, with obvious options to alter your settings, and even guests will be able to select their desired option.

I'm currently running into some legacy HTML/CSS issues with the litany of modifications and old code that is rampant throughout all our templates... when I said this could take weeks, I wasn't kidding.

Thanks.

Already an improvement, speaking as a member of "Minority 2: age and/or vision issues."

Will be more patient.

:sigh:

one question (that may have been addressed already):

will BTS / PTS get this new look too???

thanks...

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord
3) Minority 2: hate the site because of age and/or vision issues

The weird thing is Im not old and have very good eyesight, its just white text on dark backgrounds or 60hz CRT monitors totally kill my eyes.

Originally posted by Flyer

The weird thing is Im not old and have very good eyesight, its just white text on dark backgrounds or 60hz CRT monitors totally kill my eyes.

Well... I hate to tell you this but...

That's strange... back "in the day" of early multimedia development, there were several tests to gauge the best color combinations. For low to medium refresh rates, light text and dark backgrounds was the best (less emitted light).

Originally posted by chissler
thelibra,

Have you tried the four color schemes that SO has introduced? I only see them on ATS at the moment, but I am sure all four will be introduced to BTS and PTS in the near future.

I hadn't noticed, to be honest. I just tried them. It makes the text MUCH easier to read, but now the "buttons" for each post (like quote, reply, profile, etc) all vanish against the brightness. Looks like there's still work being done.

And to SO, thank you very much. I hope my post didn't come across as whining, I just don't see too well these days. I look forward to the upcoming changes.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord
Well... I hate to tell you this but...

That's strange... back "in the day" of early multimedia development, there were several tests to gauge the best color combinations. For low to medium refresh rates, light text and dark backgrounds was the best (less emitted light).

SO, that's as maybe, and I too remember the days of the dark monitor with green (sometimes orange) monochrome interface, and my eyes did fine. But that's also because -every- application was set to dark background with light lettering. Since the standard convention nowadays is to have light background with dark lettering, the contrast, color, etc, are set to reflect that. Especially on work computers where we have very little administrative control. So the switch between white with black lettering and black with white lettering is sorta like running back and forth between inside a sauna and outside in a blizzard. Gray with black lettering is a nice compromise. Thank you for the "light" buttons.

Haha nice Zed ... definitely fits with the theme here

My eyes are pretty bad and really I have no problem adjusting to any of the settings on here ... and particularly at night I found the dark is very welcoming. There is, however, a bit of shock jumping to say cnn.com at night ... but that happens with all transitions from a dark site to a light site anyways and reading at night was MUCH easier for me personally. Keep the good stuff coming!

I love the new look to the site.

Good Job

We'll be introducing a major "CSS" (site style sheet) change a little bit later that norrows the color choices down to two.

I've been tracking what people are picking (not clicking, but what you are sticking with), and we're at about 76% darkest, 1% dark, 4% light, and 19% lightest. The two choices will be optimizations of the two most popular picks.

These address issues with the threads, forum listing, and recent posts pages.

After that, the rest of the site will begin to fall into place.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord I'm currently running into some legacy HTML/CSS issues with the litany of modifications and old code that is rampant throughout all our templates...

HUH???

Does that mean the same as ''I need a new box of Crayons''?
Me no speeky computer good.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord
We'll be introducing a major "CSS" (site style sheet) change a little bit later that norrows the color choices down to two.

I've been tracking what people are picking (not clicking, but what you are sticking with), and we're at about 76% darkest, 1% dark, 4% light, and 19% lightest. The two choices will be optimizations of the two most popular picks.

These address issues with the threads, forum listing, and recent posts pages.

After that, the rest of the site will begin to fall into place.

i tell you what... It's this sort of intelligent approach to issues here at ATS that make ATS a seriously quality site.



NeoN HaZe

Originally posted by AGENT_T

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord I'm currently running into some legacy HTML/CSS issues with the litany of modifications and old code that is rampant throughout all our templates...

HUH???

Does that mean the same as ''I need a new box of Crayons''?
Me no speeky computer good.

Long ago ... in a dark dark time ... there was a horrible place. A place filled with fear, loathing, and 1200 baud modems. This place was called ... The Internet. The Internet was riddled with NATs and FTPs. One would literally go crazy trying to figure out how to move around this "Internet". Many starved to death, many simply went crazy. It was a crude, dismal time indeed.

Then comes a new player to the game that had become commonly known as "Tha Web". This seedy character, HTTP, bannished all other acronyms into utter damnation. HTTP became the new king of The Internet. He rode a blazing white stallion known as HTML. This tandem of HTML and HTTP would bring about the creation of such great masterpieces as the rotating internet explorer E, the windows hourglass, and flashing porno ads. Thanks to their work, The Internet became a safer place for all mankind.

HTTP eventually married a saucy harlot simply named "stylesheet", although in the shady dens she hung out in she was known as "CSS". A flashy dame, CSS was known for dramatic flairs and her abilities to change her image seemingly at will! Together their power was unlimited (although they had help from some friends like Javascript along the way). They are still together today. However some of their early fights left behind some nasty trails of destuction. This "code" can be found everywhere on the "Internet" (in fact you are standing on some of it right now!!!). Nevertheless, HTML and CSS will continue their marital bliss (they have a few children, DHTML and RSS as well) and live happily ever after.

There ya go ... the legacy of HTML/CSS. God am I bored.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord
I've been tracking what people are picking (not clicking, but what you are sticking with), and we're at about 76% darkest, 1% dark, 4% light, and 19% lightest. The two choices will be optimizations of the two most popular picks.

Thats amazing that you can find that out. Is there anything that you can't monitor on this site on links?

Seems like an appropriate time to throw out an opinion, now, after SO's recent comments, so I shall.
Personally , I think the edge was lost with the continual lightening of all areas.

I loved the all black look in the beginning, although the slight lightening of the thread areas, was probably for the best , as far as long term viewing, was concerned.

But with all the surrounding areas, being lightened as well, I lament the loss of crispness.

But I'm easy, and am happy to bow to the greater good.

You've got some thick skin, SO, I must say. And I applaud your restraint, as well as

your hard work. And I feel your pain , of having no 'sandbox'.

I've been, very surprised with the impatience and negativity surrounding this major
undertaking.

I mean suggestions are one thing , but threats (to leave ATS), bashing

threads, and back seat driving, on the FIRST or SECOND day, are just mind boggling to me.

Anyhoo , the more black the more me and my eyes like it.

Cheers to Skeptic and all his elves, no matter what the outcome.

[edit on 6-12-2006 by Jbird]

First off -- I love this dark site. (My eyes send their thanks!)


....and yet, I find myself squinting to find the page numbers at the top of threads.. any way to lighten just those?

Everything else is peachy keen, fine and dandy...

edited to add: Okay, it's only on pts. Methinks this is simply because the style has not been completely implemented.

I likes it!!!!!

[edit on 6-12-2006 by Diseria]

BACK IN THE DAY THE TEXT WAS ALWAYS GREEN WITH A BLACK BACKGROUND

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord
I've been tracking what people are picking (not clicking, but what you are sticking with), and we're at about 76% darkest, 1% dark, 4% light, and 19% lightest. The two choices will be optimizations of the two most popular picks.

Nice work SO. I personally have chosen "light" as "lightest" was too bright.

I also do really like the reflection icons, keeping in mind of course that the angle of incidence in the reflection bear direct relation to how many pixels are devoted to the reflection thereby taking up page space. Anyway, the graphics do look good and the solutions are being quickly put into place.

Outstanding work, outstanding board.


[edit on 6-12-2006 by smallpeeps]

NIce work - one suggestion (if it hasn't been made already) center the layout (oh and haven't you heard of W3C Standards...).