Websleuths is changing our colors

[chaz]

@fraize, I'm really starting to like the Orange is the new Blue. You've put some shading into the quotes and the color blue of the profile names is easy to read. Two things I wish for on this mode are (1) more readable quote profile names that stand out just a bit more against the shaded quote. (2) Links to articles show up in an orange box with white text which is very glaring and hard to read.

Examples: View attachment 570355 View attachment 570360

RBBM
I just found out, if I tap on the name of the quoted post it doesn't bring me to the post that was Quoted.
ETA. Now it does bring me to the quoted post. My error, I think.

 

[Curious Me]

RBBM
I just found out, if I tap on the name of the quoted post it doesn't bring me to the post that was Quoted.
ETA. Now it does bring me to the quoted post. My error, I think.

Hi! Yes, I checked it after you posted that, and it does work if you're talking being on the Orange is the new Blue mode. Can you find the text symbol in the ribbon above your typing area? That's kind of hard for me. There's a dark overlay on them. Well, it's late again. I better sign off. Good Night.

ETA-- I need a ten minute edit time, not just four.

 

[chaz]

I'm using the light version of Orange Is The New Blue, the light theme. In dark mode that part is not visible.
But.. when I use the nightmode on my tablet, (Android) it is more visible. Not a sharp contrast but visible

 

[fraize]

The Orange Is The New Blue theme was only a stopgap until we get a good working high-contrast theme built. I have a "High Contrast" theme ready for people to test. Please send me any issues you encounter!

 

[Gemmie]

I keep switching modes. Right now I'm on this Orange the new Blue mode. Over where you're typing in the reply box it does not show the ribbon symbols to change color, etc., Changing text size is not easy in this mode. It doesn't show any symbols on the reply ribbon to change the text size, but it will if you hover over that blank ribbon. You might see a vague ghost of a ribbon. Yes, it shows if you hover, BUT that ribbon with the four three dots is difficult to navigate as it is. It's a pain to find the underline. I use that ribbon constantly so, not sure I can live with it.

The ribbon in the old Orange-Black mode.
View attachment 570267
View attachment 570260....View attachment 570261....View attachment 570262View attachment 570263​

You can use keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl-U to underline (it's a toggle), Ctrl-I for italics, Ctrl-B for bold, etc.

 

[Gemmie]

ETA-- I need a ten minute edit time, not just four.

I think it was you that brought this up before. Do we no longer have an hour to edit our posts? I haven't tested it but have gone right up to the wire a few times in the past. 4 minutes ain't gonna cut it. If it's no longer an hour, and now 4 minutes, is there a reason it can't be longer?

 

[Bounceycat]

Did anyone else see that there's a WS app now?! I'm so excited over this, I can't believe I didn't know until now!

 

[Ghostwheel]

I liked Orange is the new Blue, but I get it. The only thing I dislike about the High contrast is that it's still gray. Gray quote boxes, gray poster names and stats, gray writing area. Gray to gray is harder to differentiate a quote box from a poster's comments. And the quote box has slightly lighter gray for the Quotes's name than for the quote and REALLY close to the gray for the writing area.

CAN the quote box be some color of Blue, maybe? Just not gray?


vs

 

[Curious Me]

Did anyone else see that there's a WS app now?! I'm so excited over this, I can't believe I didn't know until now!

Please explain what you're talking about. Not sure I saw what you're talking about. Thanks in advance.

 

[Bounceycat]

Please explain what you're talking about. Not sure I saw what you're talking about. Thanks in advance.

Click on the hamburger menu (the three lines) at the top right, then look all the way to the bottom. I can't screenshot it as since I've installed it, it doesn't show it for me anymore.

 

[bestill]

I like it! Looks fresh, now off to see if I can find the app.

 

[Curious Me]

I think it was you that brought this up before. Do we no longer have an hour to edit our posts? I haven't tested it but have gone right up to the wire a few times in the past. 4 minutes ain't gonna cut it. If it's no longer an hour, and now 4 minutes, is there a reason it can't be longer?

No, we still should get the hour to edit or delete our post. I'm talking about the 4 minutes to edit after posting before that darn "Edit Comment" shows up. I always try to beat the comment. I'm so picky about my posts that I almost always get the edit comment. Me, embarrassingly known as the Edit Queen.



BTW, don't want to use my keyboard to make my options. I want to use my mouse and have an easy read options ribbon to change text, etc.,

ETA-- BUT APPARENTLY changes are happening all the time.

​

The Orange Is The New Blue theme was only a stopgap until we get a good working high-contrast theme built. I have a "High Contrast" theme ready for people to test. Please send me any issues you encounter!

• @fraize, think I've arrived there under High Contrast Dark Mode. It looks great so far. ​
• The quote profile names show up nice. Happy with that. ​
• The options ribbon is there and easy to select options with a mouse. Happy with that. ​
• I see a faint but distinct shading for the quote box that divides it from the reply. It's faint, but it's there. I am happy about all these changes. Thank You so much. ​

Can I be specially awarded 10 minutes to edit before that Edit Comment shows up under my post? ​

 

[MAHBOOBOO]

Thank y'all so much for making a new color skin. SO much easier on the eyes.

 

[Ghostwheel]

BTW, when I go to my account, the background is still orange (high contrast). Is that normal?

 

[SteveS]

The Orange Is The New Blue theme was only a stopgap until we get a good working high-contrast theme built. I have a "High Contrast" theme ready for people to test. Please send me any issues you encounter!

I appreciate the work you are doing. But I have a question about the "High Contrast." Why isn't the background white? It's some sort of pale blue or gray or off-white, which lessens the contrast and makes it harder to read.

Yes, this is far better than the other options so far, but what's the aversion to black letters on white background?

Isn't it just as easy to code the background as white, rather than some variation of kinda-white-but-not-really? Isn't the point of High Contrast to max out the contrast? Simple pure-black letters on pure-white background is much preferable for me, and I suspect I'm not alone.

 

[Curious Me]

Has Everyone been trying out all the themes? Again, thank you @fraize for all the work and focus you put into this. I really like the High Contrast in the Dark Theme.

Not that fond of the High Contrast in Light Theme mode, and still think the Orange-Black is easier to navigate and read. As time goes on, I'm sure I'll stick to the High Contrast Dark. Really like it a lot.​

Find this on the very bottom of page on left side.

Click on the hamburger menu (the three lines) at the top right, then look all the way to the bottom. I can't screenshot it as since I've installed it, it doesn't show it for me anymore.

Thanks @Bounceycat. Admittingly, I find screen shots are the easiest way for me to learn. I'm so visual, huh. Snip and Sketch screenshots are a blessing. Still haven't found the new app you talked of because I don't know what you consider the "hamburger menu" and which three lines. Thank You though. ​

 

[Sarahlou]

Did anyone else see that there's a WS app now?! I'm so excited over this, I can't believe I didn't know until now!

I can't see a websleuths app?

 

[Amika69]

I miss the ORIGINAL ws before the orange and black but I get it. Anyways, Blue is my favorite color.
The OLD ws was easier to navigate or maybe Im getting OLD AND MOLDY lol

 

[fraize]

I appreciate the work you are doing. But I have a question about the "High Contrast." Why isn't the background white? It's some sort of pale blue or gray or off-white, which lessens the contrast and makes it harder to read.

Yes, this is far better than the other options so far, but what's the aversion to black letters on white background?

Isn't it just as easy to code the background as white, rather than some variation of kinda-white-but-not-really? Isn't the point of High Contrast to max out the contrast? Simple pure-black letters on pure-white background is much preferable for me, and I suspect I'm not alone.

Forgive me if this sounds pedantic - that's not what I'm going for, just illustrating my thought process!

From a UI-philosophy position, having text enclosed within a block that's visually separated from the background conveys meaning. For example, the background of the block above this text, being slightly darker than this text-block's background, conveys that it's separate. It's obvious to anyone who's visited web forums for years that this means it's a quote from a previous poster.

It conveyed all that meaning without me having to label it with "THIS IS A QUOTE".

To convey that with just borders is possible, but modern web-design standards aren't leaning in that direction. We want Websleuths to grow, and if it looks looks old and outdated, they'll think the content is also old and outdated, and likely leave. That said, our long-time users won't appreciate big change. It's up to me and my team to strike a balance, and that can be harder than writing the code itself!

I could make the background (what is white on the High-Contrast - Light theme) some accent-color. Going with the blue-theme, I could experiment with a light desaturated-blue, and move in a stepped-fashion towards white as we get closer to the actual text-editor.

 

[fraize]

I can't see a websleuths app?

Maybe what @Bounceycat is saying is that, with chrome, you can click on a little icon on the URL-bar to "Install Websleuths." That's just a "Progressive Web App" or PWA. It's essentially a tiny Chrome (or Safari) browser that only runs the one website within it.