netcservices.co.uk
Joined: Aug 06, 2002
# Posts: 1594
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Posted: 2003-Apr-24 08:48
This is more a design issue than anything else. I was told since I was 10 that websites should not be done with black backgrounds and from what I have seen I would agree.
However today I found this site http://www.magicalneeds.com/frames.htm (sorry moderators nowhere to put it in my profile really).
This has to be the most attractive site layout I have seen in a long time. Sadly its ruined by the massive images that appear when you click on things but.
What do you think? I think I may have to design a few black backgrounded site's now.
*Goes off on a mission to do something..!
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thejenn
Joined: Aug 08, 2001
# Posts: 9196
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Posted: 2003-Apr-24 16:18
I've had a few sites with black backgrounds. It can be done appropriately, but I wouldn't make it a regular habit.
The reason most people say to stay away from black backgrounds is because reversed text (white on black) is hard to read.
My rule of thumb is this...if it is a content rich site, do NOT use a black background. If it is a showcase, artsy type site that is more graphical than text based, then black isn't all bad.
Think of it this way...direct mail, which is short adn to the point and doesn't have much text, could have a black background, but a 10 page brochure outlining your services should not. Consider how much reading will go with it, and use that as a foundation for your decision.
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pjnunn777
Joined: Jul 17, 2003
# Posts: 381
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Posted: 2003-Apr-28 07:44
Netc,
Site in my profile has black background, have a look and let me know what you think if you want...
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magnumkp
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 66
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Posted: 2003-Apr-28 09:38
Black backgrounds are suitable for some, and not for others. I've done black, purple, yellow, blue background websites when I think it looks nice. Depends on the client, depends on the requirements.
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Linear_Existance
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 32
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Posted: 2003-Apr-28 09:47
pjnunn777
The site is pretty good mate. Probably the only thing is the top and bottom navigation which would be better served in frames or something to stop them loading afresh each time but otherwise its a cool layout. I like it..!
I think the main problem really with black bg's is the colour's that are used. It's hard to get good transitions which dont look out of place.
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nickn0783
Joined: Mar 26, 2002
# Posts: 1371
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Posted: 2003-Apr-28 10:13
pjnunn777 - I think your site's quite nice, but I would consider adding some energy by implementing some nice photographs in there. Also replacing that mirky water colour. Thats just my opinion but TBH I like it better than the magical needs site 
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pjnunn777
Joined: Jul 17, 2003
# Posts: 381
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Posted: 2003-Apr-28 10:17
nickn0783 - could you clarify murky water colour..not sure which colour you mean
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nickn0783
Joined: Mar 26, 2002
# Posts: 1371
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Posted: 2003-Apr-28 11:28
looks like dirty sand. like an off-khaki. clashes with the pinky-purple color. You have the pinky text over a khaki bar and it looks a bit funny IMO... sorry
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excell
Staff
Joined: Mar 19, 2001
# Posts: 14512
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Posted: 2003-Apr-28 12:33
{moved from rest of the issues}
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Linear_Existance
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 32
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Posted: 2003-Apr-28 12:37
The small Purple writing is not very clear either but still it looks good but we are not picking on bits and bats its the page as a whole I was looking at initially.
Does anyone know any colour charts or anything similar that show which colours you should and should not use with certain backgrounds etc.
I seem to remmeber a page somewhere but I don't know where it is..!
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Susanne
Joined: Oct 30, 2002
# Posts: 720
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Posted: 2003-Apr-28 13:31
Palette Man is one of them. There are ready made combinations of colours at the bottom of the page. Not fabulous but gives ideas at least.
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Linear_Existance
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 32
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Posted: 2003-Apr-28 13:36
I like it Sue, not a bad site which is going to help obviously with chooseing colours to use on a site.
What I saw the first time was different though. It was like a circle where you could click on a colour and it would display the easiest and most awful colours to use against that colour. Anyone know anywhere that there is information about this?
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stevenjm
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 824
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Posted: 2003-May-31 12:50
I like this one for color schemes. www.colormatch.dk
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excell
Staff
Joined: Mar 19, 2001
# Posts: 14512
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Posted: 2003-Jun-02 10:46
That's pretty cool.. thanks
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philh
Joined: Sep 14, 2001
# Posts: 3050
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Posted: 2003-Jun-02 12:55
What excell said - good find
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stevenjm
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 824
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Posted: 2003-Jun-02 22:49
your welcome.
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huebdoo
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 68
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Posted: 2003-Jul-28 21:18
One thing you should beware about black backgrounds is: Some SOME search engines see black backgrounds with black text as SPAM and can punish you accordingly.
You have a black background, a nested table with white background with black text in the table,
Some search engines will see this as an old SEO trick that we used to pull typing a million times a key word of say web design in black on a black background.
To avoid this, if you are to use a black background, make sure your text is a dark gray, or something else either than the black background
OR,
Create a simple 2x2 pixel gif with black, then use the gif as the background image and then you can type is black as much as you want.
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Ron Carnell
Joined: May 15, 2001
# Posts: 206
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Posted: 2003-Jul-29 03:25
http://www.visibone.com/colorlab/
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JQ
Staff
Joined: Mar 11, 2001
# Posts: 2752
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Posted: 2003-Jul-29 20:36
In addition to legibility and other points already made, black backgrounds have a bit of a stigma attached to them, as they are commonly used for porn, gambling, gaming and sites made by teenaged males.
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hcstudios
Joined: Jan 12, 2001
# Posts: 166
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Posted: 2003-Jul-30 18:29
"porn, gambling, gaming and sites made by teenaged males"
Well, those might be out there...but I don't run into them much. (I guess I'm not searching on any fun terms!) I mostly see black backrounds on photography sites, video (non-porn) sites, sites designed by advertising agencies (they seem to design things that match their clothes), sites for special effects companies, and 3D graphics sites. Anyway, except for the sites made by advertising agencies (wink), the black seems to be used like black background paper in a portfolio -- it makes the images "pop" and that's the goal of most image-related sites. Search for "b&w photography" or a similar phrase and you'll see a ton of sites with black backgrounds, many really dramatically designed.
I like black -- as long as the designer doesn't use gray text against the black like one of my friends did! Talk about trying to be trendy and cool...and unfortunately ending up too subtle to be legible on many monitors.
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