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Font colours on megalithic portal |
Zenmonk
Joined:
09-11-2004
Messages: 45
from Pontypridd
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|  Posted 03-02-2005 at 11:41
I was annoyed/confused as to why when someone posts a link in their forum posting....
google
It comes up almost the same shade of grey as the rest of the text. Thus it is not obviously a link let alone clickable.
So I have just enabled "ignore website colours"
Tools
Internet options
Accessibilty
check - "ignore colours specified on web pages"
This has the desired effect of highlighting a clickable link for me, but the undesired effect of loosing all the background colours on the website.
And it doesn't help other users of the site to see the links. So can I suggest the webpage designers change the set colours of clickable links from grey to some more noticeable colour.
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Andy B
Joined:
13-02-2001
Messages: 7043
from Surrey, UK
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| Posted 03-02-2005 at 14:06
I'd not noticed that. Try this less drastic way: Log in and go to 'Your Own Page' (left menu). Try one of the other themes we have with Select Theme. Quite a few people like Extralite which is a high contrast black on white with no frills that highlights the links more clearly.
The green graphical style is due a bit of a revamp and I've been thinking of removing the underlines from the links on the menus, a technique used by more trendy web sites. I tend to go for usability so I'm not sure this is such a good idea.
Don't worry there are no plans for a rainbow colour scheme although we have some other fun themes I'll let you try for yourself.
Comments on trendy vs clarity anyone?
Cheers,
Andy
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Zenmonk
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Messages: 45
from Pontypridd
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|  Posted 03-02-2005 at 17:38
Hi Andy,
I just returned after considering that the effects might change depending what theme you have selected.
When I posted I was on the pastel-yellow called "megalithic"
megalithic:
Normal text = black
link text = dark grey
linkability factor = 0 / 5
Megalithic-green:
Normal text = black
Link text = navy blue
linkability factor = 1 / 5
Kaput:
Normal text = black
link text = dark grey
linkability factor = 0 / 5
Extralite: (the same effect as "ignore webpage colours")
Normal text = black
link text = bright blue (probably depends on what you have set in your browser)
linkability factor 5 / 5
Megalithic purple:
Normal text = black
Link text = dark blue
linkability factor = 1 / 5
Pixie:
Normal text = black
Link text = dark grey
linkability factor = 0 / 5
Slash Ocean:
Normal text = black
Link text = dark blue
linkability factor 1 / 5
I think I will switch to extralite, however, IMHO the other themes' link-colours need to be changed.
On another note, one can't preview ones post before posting 
[ This message was edited by: Zenmonk on 2005-02-03 17:48 ]
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Andy B
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from Surrey, UK
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| Posted 03-02-2005 at 19:11
> When I posted I was on the pastel-yellow called "megalithic"
Ah, you didn't say that! It's very difficult to optimise the display for a multitude of different display schemes, such that I've tended to concentrate on more concrete new features in the very limited development time I have.
Cheers,
Andy
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Thorgrim
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25-06-2003
Messages: 794
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| Posted 03-02-2005 at 19:19
I am very happy with Kaput as I loathe the dull grey 'n green of the normal version. Losing the underlining links would be a fatal error. Please keep or show with a bright colour
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Andy B
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from Surrey, UK
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| Posted 03-02-2005 at 19:29
Thorgrim,
I've lightened up the greens on the standard theme a tadge, have a look and see what you think. I'm reluctant to change the standard colours radically as I think the green has become a bit of a signature we are known by.
Zen, I'd avoid the yellow theme and go for a calmer one if you're having trouble with contrast. That was once our standard theme many years ago so at least I've learned something!
Cheers,
Andy
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sem
Joined:
12-11-2003
Messages: 1722
from Bridgend,S.Wales
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| Posted 03-02-2005 at 21:15
What the hell is this doing on the forum page? If the children want to argue about COLOURS can they please do it in there own prams.
Yours antagonistically
SEM
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Thorgrim
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| Posted 03-02-2005 at 21:19
Now now Sem - who are you to tell us what we can and cannot talk about on the forum? If it is about the effectiveness of presentation and how people use the Portal - it seems highly relevant.
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Andy B
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from Surrey, UK
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| Posted 04-02-2005 at 14:15
This is the General Forum, anything goes within reason. If you want Stones and Prehistory there's the Stones Forum
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LizH
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Messages: 7
from Northampton
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| Posted 05-02-2005 at 02:11
Arguing about colours is not unimportant if the portal is trying to be accessible and inclusive. Font colours and designs are very significant for people with visual problems. The dark green background and dark print are not very accessible. While, as shown, you can change this if you are a member and have your own page, if you have poor vision you might decide long before this to ditch the whole thing and so never find this out. It is difficult to know how to make the whole site more accessible because of the complexities of features like the clickable map, but colours and fonts can be changed. Most people with visual impairments are older people. A significant proportion of us will have visual impairments when we are older - and may still want to have access to the site. I hope I will, and I hope it will still be accessible to me.
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Zenmonk
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from Pontypridd
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| Posted 05-02-2005 at 17:09
Andy,
I think I know what your difficulty is. You can't make the user written links in HERE be a different colour from all the standard links on the page. i.e. those over there <<<< on the menu.
But a lot of sites use an orangy/red for links, and I think you should try that.
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Andy B
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from Surrey, UK
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| Posted 06-02-2005 at 14:10
Liz,
Do you mean the darker green behind in the side menu or the lighter green behind the main pages is a potential problem. I've already lightened it a touch. I'd like to keep some sense of colour depth otherwise it will turn into a pastely wash.
The forum has the lightest background of all (or at least every other panel does), being grey.
Andy
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LizH
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from Northampton
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| Posted 07-02-2005 at 16:38
Yes, Andy,
The dark green on the side menus is particularly likely to be difficult. The dark fonts on this (black and dark blue) are potentially difficult to see. Red or white text on these would perhaps be easier to see? The mid green at the top isn't that easy to see again, although the lightening of the background has made the main pages easier, but it's colour contrast that helps the most. Contrast is usually what helps the most. (Black on yellow, white on black) The blue and green are rather too close to each other. While red might be better visually, I can understand what you mean about the site's identity and colours and you don't want to lose that. It may be a compromise, - some sites have a text only version in good contrast colours for people browsing with a screen reader or with screen enlargement software. But I suspect that's difficult to set up. The black and white of the news items and the grey in the forums is the easiest to see.
It's always a bit of a compromise I think Andy. Thanks for trying.
Liz
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templar
Joined:
20-07-2004
Messages: 31
from Cardiff
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| Posted 08-02-2005 at 08:49
Well, while we're at it...
The supreme arbiter for all web accessibility discussions is the w3c consortium who define standards that most organisations adopt to ensure accessibility. These standards allow users with text readers etc to view websites.
Their home page is
http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/
.W3C Website
and I recommend looking at the checklists to see what they consider as important.
I will now put my anorak on and pop outside...
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