About the default layout

[SnoringFrog]

I didn't want to, but I finally switched to the default layout instead of "Lite" so that I could use the chat. By now, I'm mostly adjusted to the difference, but one thing still bothers me: the white borders around everything. What I'm wondering is, am I the only one who's bugged by that?

I'm considering making a quick Stylish userstyle to change the border colors. (For those who might not know, Stylish is a Firefox extension that allows users to plug-in CSS styles to alter webpages, there's a large collection of styles at Userstyles.org, so you don't have to be able to make them yourself), and if there are any other browsers with a way to input a userstyle, then I don't mind tweaking it for those as well.

So, does anyone else want a style like this? And if so, what color should the border be changed to?

[goldenspines]

No, they don't bother me (I do use FF, btw). They keep the layout of the forum nice and clean cut. I can't really imagine changing the color of the border would improve it in any way. XD

Though, if enough people would like to see it changed, I personally wouldn't be against it. Or, if there was some way to get the chat to work with both skins.

[Roy Mustang]

It doesn't bug me at all. I like the black/gray background and not a lite color background.

As a wed designer major and most web designers will tell you, you never go with a light background for a web site. Light colors not really easy on the eyes and style that CAA uses works well as it's easy on the eyes, but not too dark as well of a theme.


[color="Red"][font="Book Antiqua"]Col. Roy Mustang[/font][/color]

[ADXC]

I think it's fine. I like the black and white contrast. I think keeping it simple like this is best and lets the users do the "coloring" as in their own posts, avatars and sigs.

But that's just my opinion.

[Kaligraphic]

For a moment, I thought you meant the button images, and I would have said yes, it's annoying that the button images blend to the wrong background color, but I like the white square borders.

[Mithrandir]

Gee... I didn't know my design skills were going to be the source of a board wide discussion. XD

Usually when I'm working on upgrades to CAA, I kinda have to do them pretty fast - everyone I've talked to universally says they want things up sooner rather than prettier.

<O.O#

[Tsukuyomi]

It doesn't bother me ^^

CAA is pretty much the only Dark Skin I can tolerate on sites (The gray makes it easier on my eyes. It's not dark dark) xDDD; Most dark skins makes my eyes go: >_O.. @__@.. O_<

Ooh, when/if you do change it with the extension, you should take a screenshot ^O^ I'd love to see what you decide on ^^

[CrimsonRyu17]

I'm not bugged at all. White borders help me distinguish between postings and keeps them organized. I like them just the way they are. If they were to change, then maybe a shade of gray and that's it.

Just give it some more time and you'll get used to it. Switching from white/black to a sudden black/white can be pretty jarring.

[Dante]

But... the every dark cloud should have a silver lining .

I like them, but I'm sorry to hear that you don't (and I have Google Chrome).

[Radical Dreamer]

Nah, they've never bothered me before. XD I don't really notice them while I'm browsing, but I think they serve their purpose in separating a box from the background pretty well. XD

[SnoringFrog]

Or, if there was some way to get the chat to work with both skins.

That would be awesome, but, I suspect, the most work for Mith. I messed with that once and gave up and just switched skins.

I miss the old dark layout. Only saw it briefly, but I recall liking it when I did. At the time it was too much for my horrible, dial-up bearing comp of the time to put up with though.

I'm not bugged at all. White borders help me distinguish between postings and keeps them organized. I like them just the way they are. If they were to change, then maybe a shade of gray and that's it.

Just give it some more time and you'll get used to it. Switching from white/black to a sudden black/white can be pretty jarring.

I had a reply typed up, but it wiped itself. Oh well.

I switched a few months ago (don't think I made that clear enough initially, but the white borders still jump out more than I feel they should. They're needed to separate posts, most definitely. The change I was thinking of was exactly what you said.

But, seeing as how there's a grand total of two of us that are bothered by them, and the other one is using IE, which (to my knowledge) has no way to support userstyles, I guess I'll just tweak whatever for me and leave it at that. ^_^

I'm also thinking of tweaking the reply boxes to make them darker as well, so there aren't the giant splashes of white on the nice dark background. Those'll take a few more minutes than the border changes though, and since it's somehow magically 4am already, I don't think I'll be finishing that up tonight lol.

For anyone who wants to at least give the darkened borders a temporary shot, just copy/paste one of these lines into your address bar and hit enter (changes will vanish with a page refresh)

Code: Select all

javascript: document.body.innerHTML+="<style type='text/css'>*{border-color: #777 !important][code]
javascript: document.body.innerHTML+="<style type='text/css'>*{border-color: #333 !important;}</style>"; void(0);

But... the every dark cloud should have a silver lining .

XD Technically, they're just a tad brighter than silver

[SnoringFrog]

Ok, got what I'm going to do done, for now at least. Judging by the reactions in this thread already, I doubt many people will want to use these, but I'll share them anyways.

Here's the Userstyle for Stylish: http://userstyles.org/styles/32611?r=1277610005

And here's the Userscript for Greasemonkey: http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/80214

For anyone who wants to test the GM script without installing GM, just copy and paste this into your URL and hit enter.

Code: Select all

javascript: document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].innerHTML+="<style type='text/css'>* {border-color: #777 !important;}select {background-color: #999 !important;}#vB_Editor_QR, .imagebutton, .alt_pickbutton, .vBulletin_editor, .imagebutton + td {background-color: #777 !important;} #vB_Editor_QR_textarea, textarea, .bginput{ color: white !important; background-color: #333 !important;} .fieldset td{background-color:#414141 !important;} table[width="95%"] {border: 1px solid silver;}</style>"; void(0);

The Stylish style doesn't have quite as much as the GM script; it leaves the reply boxes white instead of grey. I'm working on figuring out how to fix that.

Pascal: I added a "silver lining" to the "dark cloud" quote boxes for you in both of those. ^_^

Apologies for the double post, but I thought it was significant enough a change from my last post to warrant it.

[Bobtheduck]

I have no problem with it... I didn't like it at first, but that time has long passed.

[Alcuinus]

For a moment, I thought you meant the button images, and I would have said yes, it's annoying that the button images blend to the wrong background color, but I like the white square borders.

I offered to fix those... no response at all :S

[Radical Dreamer]

I offered to fix those... no response at all :S

That's actually one of the things we're looking into fixing in the next update. XD

[Alcuinus]

That's actually one of the things we're looking into fixing in the next update. XD

Glad to hear it

When will that be if I may ask?

[Radical Dreamer]

"When Mith has time" is the only answer I can give. XD

[ADXC]

Mith is very busy these days, meaning fixing the button images is probably at the bottom of the list. XD

[SnoringFrog]

Sometimes it seems like having another person helping out with all that would be good, even if only grabbed for temporary volunteer work, just to lessen the load on Mith (i.e., 'hey we need this done if someone can do it', but I suppose then there's the extra work of sifting through replies and help that just...fails) but I'll leave that all to them to decide.