Client Issue
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- fues
My client says it has been proven light text on a dark background would be more legible than dark text on a light background (ie on screen).
What arguments would you use to change his mind, maybe any interesting links on this subject?
Thanks.
- canuck0
Just look in any usability book, or even *shivers* go to neilsons website, sure he says something about it. Nothing beats dark text on a white background for legibility/readability.
- Terminal270
We do a lot of web work which has to be easy to use by people with sight difficulties. Dark text on light is always best for most people. In extreme cases where very high contrast is needed, white text on dark is better.
go to the http://www.bbc.co.uk website and change the site to text only. This is a good example of a site having an alternative for visitor with difficulities. It looks crappy to most of us, but I can see how this would help others.
Good luck
- blaw0
some folks say that the white text on dark background is easier to read on a monitor because you are essentially staring at a light and the dark background eases the strain.
this may depend on the type of typography being used. anti-aliased type seems to blur more when reversed.
- Kuz0
Nothing so beautiful as a white sans-serif font on a black background.
- dippy0
It depends on the amount of text, the age of the audience, the browser settings, the degree of contrast between the light and dark colors, etc.
This article mentions that research has shown that dark on light is better for reading.
http://psychology.wichita.edu/op…
- canuck0
http://www.stanford.edu/group/we…
Tognazzini's principals (near bottom of page), see the one on readability.
- stewart0
high contrast websites accessible for nearly blind people have always a black background and big yellow texts.
it's proven to be the best visible.
if you have a black text on a white background, the white is overshining the text.
if you make light text on a black background, the text is the only lightgiving element and this is giving the best result.
but why bright yellow text is better than white text - i really don't know.
- fues0
Thanks guys, your comments have been very useful.
- fate0
stewart, probably the inherent "brightness" of yellow as a color, whereas white lacks that impact. But I'm just guessing.
- tripface0
in print...
black on white is easiest with a serif font...
that's straight from ogilvy himself...