5.19.2008

Question

In looking into doing a major overhaul to my blog, I'm contemplating templates and wondering if white text on a black background is really that big a deal to people. So, here's a question: would you really stop reading my new-and-improved blog if I had a black background with white text? Discuss.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

i read in a reader and don't see the colors.

Anonymous said...

I would never stop reading you. . . but I will say, www.insidestl.com used to be white on a black background, and it drove me up the flipping wall. Tim just launched his redesign today, and my favorite part of it is the change away from the black.

LisaS said...

I find dark text on a light to mid tone background easiest to read. All white is almost as difficult on the eyes as all black, IMHO.

but ... since you're on blogger anyway, why not just test it for a day or two and see what you--and we--think.

Anonymous said...

I work with web design and am reading/on the computer a lot. I avoid sites with black backgrounds that are heavy on text because it tires the eyes (we also avoid designing that way for that reason). If it were a photography blog, it would be different, but the font also makes a big difference in readability... if you are looking for unsolicited advice? Lighter background, darkers text, san-serif font for a blog.

Crafty and Crap said...

well shoot, i'm white on a black background and it doesn't bother me.. i didn't know it bothered others.

Anonymous said...

I have a dark grey background (one of Typepad's templates, actually) and I don't think it is too bad to read, plus a dark background makes the photos snap. I do kind of think that white BG/black FG or the reverse is a little harder on the eyes than reducing the contrast just a little between text and background.

I've followed the guideline of projecting using dark background and light text, printing using light background and dark text. In my mind, computers are closer to projection than print, but seem to have a lot of leeway as to what works OK.

I'd just experiment a little and see how it works. Non of these color combinations are really too noticeable to me unless I A/B things, either.

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't stop reading, but black text on a white background looks much better. You could have a white background with a black border. I use the denim theme, and all the colors are easy to modify.

Blogger Buster is a good site for all kinds of Blogger mods, too.

a.eye said...

Mine's white on black. I like it. Didn't realize it bothered people so much. Perhaps I need an overhaul as well.

Jaelithe said...

I know some people find it annoying, but I wouldn't care.

My husband does it on his blog and it never bothers me.