Working on a large scale intranet, I am forced to look at blue text on a black background. A big time fancy design firm came up with the idea, the VP’s bought into the layout, and it’s not going to change. There is nothing I can do.
Doing user testing, studying focus group answers from surveys, and reading user feedback emails, I can only guess the design firm does not specialize in developing websites.
Black Text on White Background
Sure, everyone does it, black text on a white background. Boring you say. Maybe so, but that is about the only complaint you will ever get about it.
Put blue text on a black background on a busy website, and you will get emails like:
- I have trouble reading the text
- the text is too small (even though its default is 1.2 em or 12px) – It’s not small text creating the problem, it’s poor contrast
- the webmaster is an idiot – why would you do that they ask
- the webmaster is an idiot – I have heard it more than once
- it hurts my eyes
The list goes on, and doing more user testing tomorrow, I am sure to hear some more complaints about it.
So the lesson here…don’t be afraid to use black text on a white background. It may be a little bit boring, but that is the only complaint you will ever get.
ariel (1)
Chris (1)
Curtis (1)
the user readiblity ratio gose down up to 60% if you used poor contrast on font and backgorund for the site.
in seo content is the king and it required to make your site user friendly where user can read your content easy.
Yes, I’m agree with him…
Yes that’s right. I agree with you. Content is the king
It all depends on preference, but you must also consider what your readers really want.
its true you need to make your site user friendly.
I also implement white background on my webiste you can check it and the best pattern with white background is black text
Heh. I totally agree. Black on white is best, no matter what any colour-blind web-designer says.
Blue on black? Well, I guess it’s making a statement… I’m just not sure it’s a positive one.
Guy.
I have to totally agree with you there mate.
Surely there are other color schemes that work, other than black on white? Maybe for some blogs the statement made by an unusual color scheme would trump readability?
John
Nice one. I agree, Black font on white background sounds boring but still the best.. How can you convey your message to your readers if at the first place they find hard to read the text through to bad font color.
Who are these evil people telling you not to use white on black? Those friends! white on black is fine…
In practice though, I try never to use that OR black on white. in real life, every color is a little tainted, which accidentally makes things easier on the eyes. A less than 100% black ink, a less than 100 brightness paper… if you are going to have people read substantial chunks of text, tone it down a bit with #ddd on #000, or #000 on #e7e7e7.
theyre not evil theyre just sensible
Hey…
Blue on black won’t look nice, black and white is much better or may be we are used to it that’s Y.
white font on black background is the best. it is visible to the to read.
Rob, where are you? No posts in over two weeks is very unlike you. Hope you’re OK.
Guy.
More than ok! Just been super busy. I am currently working on several major projects, and will have a ton more to share when done.
Great. That’s good to hear. I’m looking forward to what you have to share.
Guy.
Hi Robert, great to hear that you are doing well, can’t wait till you really come back, and make some new posts, hopefully your new projects are going the way you want them to go!
Till then,
Jean
black letters on white background sounds boring, but still the best .. How can you communicate your message to your readers, if in the first place, they have difficulty reading the text through the bad font color.
It may be boring but it works and if something isn’t broke don’t fix it.
white font on black background is the best. it is visible to the to read.
Yup, I agree on white on black.. but trying something new like black on blue might be better… as long as it is still visible to read..
For me traditional way is definitely the way to go, keep it basic, and you will win every time in my opinion!
Till then,
Jean
Hey Used Tyre,
I am impressed by your cool comments and have a nice stay and enjoy your participating!
white font on black background is the best. it is visible to the to read.
Black on white is the easiest to read, but it can get kinda boring, there are so many different combinations that work well you just have to find the right one
Blue on black won’t look nice, black and white is much better or may be we are used to it that’s Y.
It may be boring but it works and if something isn’t broke don’t fix it.
Blue on black won’t look nice, black and white is much better or may be we are used to it that’s Y.
i Guess black on white get the user attraction rather than the other colors
Some people told me that nobody likes white on black, but does it really matter?
Sure, everyone does it, black text on a white background. Boring you say. Maybe so, but that is about the only complaint you will ever get about it.
Daft to think otherwise. Any othe representation should be banned.
Black and white is boring, but if you use green and blue this is enough to emphasize user friendly design in web. Just like the typical ads in Google Adsense.