Changed default background color

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chrisb
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Re: Changed default background color

Post by chrisb »

I have asked Wilfried from the german forum to provide his more modern looking color set, and he kindly provided it here: https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic. ... 95#p622720
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chrisb
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Re: Changed default background color

Post by chrisb »

In Wilfried's color set can the expression dependent constrains not easily be distinguished from the normal dimensions. I propose to make them more brown/orange and make the preselection lighter.

From Top to bottom:
- selected
- driven
- normal (driving)
- expression dependent (#c56300)
- preselected (#ffa200)
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chrisb
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Re: Changed default background color

Post by chrisb »

Another thing to consider when changing the colors: It would invalidate many tutorials. At least the introductory tutorials should be remade/rephrased.
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onekk
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Re: Changed default background color

Post by onekk »

chrisb wrote: Thu Sep 01, 2022 11:37 pm Another thing to consider when changing the colors: It would invalidate many tutorials. At least the introductory tutorials should be remade/rephrased.
I agree with you.

To be constructive?

What solution is better, due to the workforce involved (How many collaborators, volunteers FC wil have to modify tutorials?):
  1. Having a "color set" dedicated for tutorials, that will remain unchanged across versions.
  2. Modify the tutorials colors to adapt it to the new scheme.
Or this is a more "general approach" toward the 1.0 milestone, in the sense that a coherent FC interface, colors and so on with the Wiki documentation reworked "should be" ready for 1.0 release.

As during the making of my Scripting guide, someone has pointed out that there are people that are "color blind" and that there is at least three type of "color blindness" when discussing about colors defaults, should be have some "color scheme" to mitigate this problems?

http://mkweb.bcgsc.ca/colorblind/

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Carlo D.
GitHub page: https://github.com/onekk/freecad-doc.
- In deep articles on FreeCAD.
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yorik
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Re: Changed default background color

Post by yorik »

A bit late to the party (back from holidays, sorry!) but I also didn't like @uwestoehr's new background. IMHO it's simply too light/bright, and therefore there isn't enough contrast with drawn elements. All the "default" colors of FreeCAD are thought mostly as "white on a darker background".

I agree some things should be "just done" to avoid endless discussions, but then one should be ready to revert if there is opposition, otherwise it looks mostly that you're simply pushing your own agenda.

I would vote for reverting these changes. IMHO what people don't like in the current (I mean the previous) gradient is that its colors are too, how would we say it, childish? basic? eighties? I think we could attack that simply by desaturating a bit the two colors. Ex:
gradients.jpg
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adrianinsaval
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Re: Changed default background color

Post by adrianinsaval »

After using it a little while I agree the new color is too light but I would say just desaturating the previous upper color would worsen the issue that uwe had at the begining with the FEM overlay, IMO that overlay should check if the background is dark or light and automatically switch between white or black text to compensate for that. Or maybe it should have it's own background.

About color sets for colourblind people, that has been discussed before, if someone is willing and knows how to make it it would be great to offer colourblind optimized preference packs. Do we know what things in FreeCAD are problematic regarding this?

It seems properly choosing colours is not an easy task, should we maybe make a call for help from professional graphic designers or something like that?
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obelisk79
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Re: Changed default background color

Post by obelisk79 »

adrianinsaval wrote: Fri Sep 02, 2022 10:04 am About color sets for colourblind people, that has been discussed before, if someone is willing and knows how to make it it would be great to offer colourblind optimized preference packs. Do we know what things in FreeCAD are problematic regarding this?
I think the lack of proper layering inside sketcher which would allow the use of patterned lines for various elements would be a huge road-block in this regard. You can only easily differentiate so much with various shades of gray.
It seems properly choosing colours is not an easy task, should we maybe make a call for help from professional graphic designers or something like that?
I've done some research into this. The mechanics of choosing the colors is not so difficult. Before implementing, you just have to take the background, the proposed colors (in various levels of brightness/saturation) overlay them in your image editor of choice and fully desaturate the colors to observe contrast. Medium-high contrast, and slightly muted/desaturated colors will offer a better viewing experience and offer less eye strain. The problem with the proposed yellow/blue gradient was that several default colors crossed the line regarding the grayscale balance making them either invisible on parts of the screen, or less prominent for the eyes.

I currently agree with Yorik's proposal until a more comprehensive analysis and overhaul can be performed. I'm willing to put together some examples to illustrate my points this weekend.
GeneFC
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Re: Changed default background color

Post by GeneFC »

uwestoehr wrote: Thu Sep 01, 2022 8:34 pm So what is your proposal?
You responded (negatively) to my proposal in your previous reply.

I suggest adding a first-use startup routine that allows new users to pick from a small set of "preference packs." I believe there is a bunch of related discussion ongoing in the UI/UX forum.

Gene
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onekk
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Re: Changed default background color

Post by onekk »

When I have spoken if colorblind people I've posted a link where some examples were done, there are also some other works, now I'm not at the computer, but a research using the technical terms of colorblindness and palette usually make some good match.

Speaking of palettes there is also some rules about readability and online service or formulas to match color based on contrast values (calculated with these formulas) usually "readability" and "palette" maybe with "color" will do some hints.

When I've searched about these sort of things I had found many "university studies" but sadly many "garbage" so some filtering is needed to avoid irrelevant match.

When I return to my computer I will make some search and I hope to find some link to post here.

Regards.

Carlo D.
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- In deep articles on FreeCAD.
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onekk
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Re: Changed default background color

Post by onekk »

Hello, I've done some research, there are many things, but I think the three first links below will gave a "scientific" approach, being based on study made by "competent people", even if they are 20 years old (research are from 2002)

Some links:

http://mkweb.bcgsc.ca/colorblind/

https://jfly.uni-koeln.de/color/

https://knightlab.northwestern.edu/2016 ... -graphics/

These are other articles that may worth read.

https://davidmathlogic.com/colorblind/# ... -%23004D40

Linked in the above document: (Link from IBM are not reachable anymore)
https://personal.sron.nl/~pault/

https://thenode.biologists.com/data-vis ... /research/

https://yellowchalk.com/blog/designing- ... blindness/

https://www.colorblindguide.com/post/co ... y-design-3

Hope it helps.

Regards

Carlo D.
GitHub page: https://github.com/onekk/freecad-doc.
- In deep articles on FreeCAD.
- Learning how to model with scripting.
- Various other stuffs.

Blog: https://okkmkblog.wordpress.com/
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