Change of link color

[Computer Hope Admin]

It's been suggested in the past and suggested again recently that the forum current blue link color should be changed to some alternative that's easier to see. So I thought I'd bring this back into discussion and this time get it done. Please make any suggestions of link colors that you believe would work well with the forum. Keep in mind that many of the link on the from are all associated so it's not going to only change the link color in the message.

This is everyone's forum so any feedback is welcomed and maybe after we get some suggestions down we'll put it to a vote. If you need some ideas on colors visit the below Computer Hope color link chart for colors and their associated color codes.

http://www.computerhope.com/htmcolor.htm

[2k_dummy]

I don't really understand why this should be a problem for anyone. Those colors can be set in the browser. I like blue for unvisited links and red for visited links.

[WillyW]

...
Keep in mind that many of the link on the from are all associated so it's not going to only change the link color in the message.
...

Can you give us some examples - or direct us to them -   so we can see what else might be affected,   before we pass along our ideas?

Thanks

[WillyW]

I don't really understand why this should be a problem for anyone. Those colors can be set in the browser. I like blue for unvisited links and red for visited links.

Doesn't blue for unvisited kind of just blend right in?    Admin's first post above contains a good example.


But you have an interesting point regarding configuring one's own browser too.      When considering trying to be as helpful as possible to newcomers, it is probably not as good as changing the colors as Admin is considering though.    I wonder if newcomers sometimes don't even know that a link is there.

How do you go about setting your own colors?    For the rest of us,  it is a heck of an idea.     I might like to do that myself.

Edit:  Found it.  Experimenting with it now.

[Computer Hope Admin]

...
Keep in mind that many of the link on the from are all associated so it's not going to only change the link color in the message.
...

Can you give us some examples - or direct us to them -   so we can see what else might be affected,   before we pass along our ideas?

Thanks

All links you see that are blue, so user names, links on quotes, report to moderator, links on the top of each forum page, etc.

[soybean]

Maybe Royal Blue, which is code #2B60DE.  The current blue is rather subtle.  I believe some forum visitors, especially newbies, sometimes don't notice it. 

[soybean]

I don't really understand why this should be a problem for anyone. Those colors can be set in the browser. I like blue for unvisited links and red for visited links.

I wasn't aware of that and I'd bet many computer users are not aware of it since that option has only been available in recent browser versions. 

[CBMatt]

Personally, I like the color.  But I have noticed that a lot of new members have problems with it and get a bit confused, so maybe a slightly brighter/bolder shade of blue would be a good idea.

[2k_dummy]

I don't really understand why this should be a problem for anyone. Those colors can be set in the browser. I like blue for unvisited links and red for visited links.

I wasn't aware of that and I'd bet many computer users are not aware of it since that option has only been available in recent browser versions. 

Perhaps that is true of IE, but Netscape had it as far back as version 4. And all gecko base browsers have always had it.

[soybean]

I don't really understand why this should be a problem for anyone. Those colors can be set in the browser. I like blue for unvisited links and red for visited links.

I wasn't aware of that and I'd bet many computer users are not aware of it since that option has only been available in recent browser versions. 

Perhaps that is true of IE, but Netscape had it as far back as version 4. And all gecko base browsers have always had it.

And, Netscape and gecko have what percent of the market?   

[2k_dummy]

I don't really understand why this should be a problem for anyone. Those colors can be set in the browser. I like blue for unvisited links and red for visited links.

I wasn't aware of that and I'd bet many computer users are not aware of it since that option has only been available in recent browser versions. 

Perhaps that is true of IE, but Netscape had it as far back as version 4. And all gecko base browsers have always had it.

And, Netscape and gecko have what percent of the market?   

That just proves that IE sucks and most people don't know the difference.

[Fed]

Can someone post a variety of colours and start a poll?
(I haven't got time to do it) 

[Computer Hope Admin]

Until we get more colors and opinions it may be premature to start the poll. However, I personally would like to stick with some type of blue color for the links since the default link color and the color I'd assume most users would identify as a link is blue. But I'm still open to other color suggestions. I liked Soybeans suggestion of Royal Blue, here are some additional blue colors.

Royal Blue - #2B60DE
Cornflower Blue - #151B8D
Dodger Blue - #1589FF
Dodger Blue4 - #153E7E
Steel Blue - #4863A0
Slate Blue2 - #6960EC
iGoogle Blue - #2357C3



Some testing of text with the colors..

The quick Royal Blue fox jumped over the lazy dog.

The quick Cornflower Blue fox jumped over the lazy dog.

The quick Dodger Blue fox jumped over the lazy dog.

The quick Dodger Blue4 fox jumped over the lazy dog.

The quick Steel Blue fox jumped over the lazy dog.

The quick Slate Blue2 fox jumped over the lazy dog.

The quick iGoogle Blue fox jumped over the lazy dog.

*Modification - Added a blue iGoogle is using and added color codes on the side of each of the above blues mentioned.

[WillyW]

Perhaps that is true of IE, but Netscape had it as far back as version 4. And all gecko base browsers have always had it.

Using Firefox here.
Under Tools->Options->Content->Colors,   I found where I could change link colors.     "Allow pages to choose their own colors..."  must be unchecked though.
With that,  the rest of the colors are affected.

Not a good solution.


Have I overlooked something?

[WillyW]

Until we get more colors and opinions it may be premature to start the poll. However, I personally would like to stick with some type of blue color for the links since the default link color and the color I'd assume most users would identify as a link is blue. But I'm still open to other color suggestions. I liked Soybeans suggestion of Royal Blue, here are some additional blue colors.

Royal Blue - #2B60DE
...

I'm the first to admit that I am not good with color, etc.    So the final choice really doesn't matter to me -  I'll go with everybody else's opinion of what looks nice.
My only goal is to get a color that does not blend in.

In soybean's post above  (« Reply #5 on: Today at 02:59:01 PM »  ),   the background is almost white.     The royal blue jumps right off the page there.
No problem.
The better test is in Admin's post (« Reply #12 on: Today at 05:38:36 PM »)
where the background is blue.
Still,  the royal blue can be easily seen to be something different from the rest of the surrounding text.
So for me,  it is fine -  a big improvement.    I'm not saying it is the best - just that it gets the job done.   

Cornflower, Dodger, and Steel blue do not.    Blends right in.

[WillyW]

Perhaps that is true of IE, but Netscape had it as far back as version 4. And all gecko base browsers have always had it.

Using Firefox here.
Under Tools->Options->Content->Colors,   I found where I could change link colors.     "Allow pages to choose their own colors..."  must be unchecked though.
With that,  the rest of the colors are affected.

Not a good solution.


Have I overlooked something?

2k_dummy:

I think I'm on the right track.
User style sheet
usercontent.css   in the chrome directory
Right?


Played with it just a bit.
Oh,  I made a difference, alright!     I really   ugly-fied the links.   

This'll take some more reading and experimenting.

Interesting to experiment with though. 
I wouldn't have thought of looking for something like this....  thanks for bringing it up.

[CBMatt]

Royal Blue works well on white, but not as well on the light blue.  In my opinion, Cornflower Blue looks like the best choice, as it shows up well on both the white and the blue.

[Calum]

I'll go with Cornflower Blue, it definitely stands out well, and better than the current blue.

As for your comment on usercontent.css WillyW, yes that is how you can change the colours etc.
I know what it is and where it is as well as how to change it, but I have never messed with it before.
I've only toyed with userchrome.css, it's very useful.
It's worth looking on the web, there are a lot of guides on how to change things to suit you.

[WillyW]

Royal Blue works well on white, but not as well on the light blue.  In my opinion, Cornflower Blue looks like the best choice, as it shows up well on both the white and the blue.

Sorry,  I have to disagree.

Cornflower Blue is one of the worst of them all - it is the most difficult to differentiate when on the blue background,  as in   "  « Reply #16 on: Today at 05:57:55  AM »  "   above.

The letters are almost the same color as the regular text.    The goal is to make them different,  so they don't blend in.



Comparison:
This is a  current colored clickable link
Here is Cornflower Blue.
This is plain old text.

It is a real shame that apparently there is no way to configure the forum so that only links within posts are affected.      Then it would be easy -  we could choose something outlandish.   

[CBMatt]

The difference is very noticeable to me.  But then again, I do have super-human eyes.  Heh.

Perhaps this color would be a better choice?

[unlovedwarrior]

i say something other than blue like dark green

Pastel Green
 #00FF00
 

[CBMatt]

i say something other than blue like dark green

Pastel Green
 #00FF00
 

Gah!  Are you trying to blind us?!

[unlovedwarrior]

my lord..... it looked good on my windows xp but it hurts my eyes on my linux boot

[Zylstra]

Plain written:
Link
Link
Link
Link
Link
LINKY
Link
Link
Link
Link
Link
Link
Link

And in text:
Lorum Espum Link jumps over the lazy dog Linkthe quick brown fox Link jumps over the lazy dog Linkthe quick brown fox Link jumps over the lazy dog LINKYthe quick brown fox Link jumps over the lazy dog Linkthe quick brown fox Link jumps over the lazy dog Linkthe quick brown fox Link jumps over the lazy dog Link the quick brown fox Link jumps over the lazy dog

Just wanted to point out that they do look different when placed inside text, and when outside
(In case no one already said that)

I would vote Maroon or what CBMatt said

(No, I didnt read the existing posts...)

The other thing, as it appears was already discussed, is choosing a Mac, Linux, Windows, IE, Safari, Netscape, FireFox, and whateverelsethereis compatible color format.

[2k_dummy]

How about just changing the blue background. Nothing else would be affected. Or is the blue background written in stone.

[Zylstra]

How about just changing the blue background. Nothing else would be affected. Or is the blue background written in stone.

YaBB Theme, baby, all the way!

It can be changed, simple edit of the style sheets

[CBMatt]

But then we'd all be disagreeing on what color to change that to.  Heh.  The two-color format makes threads much easier to read, so we can't just change it to white.

[2k_dummy]

Change the background to a shade of orange. All the basic colors show up up well on orange.

[WillyW]

The difference is very noticeable to me.  But then again, I do have super-human eyes.  Heh.

Perhaps this color would be a better choice?

Can't say...  would have to see it on the blue background too.

[WillyW]

But then we'd all be disagreeing on what color to change that to.

Just be extra clear -   I've not yet disagreed because of a color....  only when it blends into the background.    That's where we are right now. 
I really don't care much what color the links are -  just that they show up.

[CBMatt]

No worries, Willy, it wasn't directed at you.

Here is the normal black text.
Here is the blue text.
Normal black text.
Here is the blue text with black text.
More normal black text.

I hope that helps give you a better idea.

It looks good to me, but I don't know if it blends in too much or stands out too much for anyone else.  The code, by the way, is #1512FF.

[WillyW]

No worries, Willy, it wasn't directed at you.

Same - no worries.     Didn't mean to sound like it.
But it did make me want to reiterate where I was coming from - just to be sure.

Here is the normal black text.
Here is the blue text.
Normal black text.
Here is the blue text with black text.
More normal black text.

And Here is the current color of a link for comparison.

I hope that helps give you a better idea.

Sure does.   

You know -  this thread ought to be mandatory double posting.    , just so we can compare on both the white background and the blue background.

It looks good to me, but I don't know if it blends in too much or stands out too much for anyone else.  The code, by the way, is #1512FF.

To my eye,  the color that you used in this thread does stand out much more than the present color.   Further, it stands out much better than Cornflower and ..  I forgot the other one...     ,  but so far - if we want to stay with a variation of blue -   this one is an improvement.

[WillyW]

No worries, Willy, it wasn't directed at you.

Same - no worries.     Didn't mean to sound like it.
But it did make me want to reiterate where I was coming from - just to be sure.

Here is the normal black text.
Here is the blue text.
Normal black text.
Here is the blue text with black text.
More normal black text.

And Here is the current color of a link for comparison.

I hope that helps give you a better idea.

Sure does.   

You know -  this thread ought to be mandatory double posting.    , just so we can compare on both the white background and the blue background.

It looks good to me, but I don't know if it blends in too much or stands out too much for anyone else.  The code, by the way, is #1512FF.

To my eye,  the color that you used in this thread does stand out much more than the present color.   Further, it stands out much better than Cornflower and ..  I forgot the other one...     ,  but so far - if we want to stay with a variation of blue -   this one is an improvement.

[patio]

Default Blue

[patio]

Default Blue

Shows well on both backgrounds. The underline makes the difference.

[WillyW]

Default Blue

Shows well on both backgrounds.

I agree.

The undrline makes the difference.

Yes, it does make a difference.    Interesting.....   but now the question becomes:   Can including the underline be made the default behavior when a poster clicks the  add url icon?

That would be very nice!

[2k_dummy]

From color selection in reply:

Bold blue

Link in Bold

http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php

[patio]

Default Blue

Shows well on both backgrounds.

I agree.

The undrline makes the difference.

Yes, it does make a difference.    Interesting.....   but now the question becomes:   Can including the underline be made the default behavior when a poster clicks the  add url icon?

That would be very nice!

I've seen it on other Forums i volunteer at...not sure if there is a plugin for SMF though...

[WillyW]

...
I've seen it on other Forums i volunteer at...not sure if there is a plugin for SMF though...

I'm not a web software wizard,  but here is what this is making me wonder about -

When I hover over the   add url   icon,  I can see at the bottom of my screen that it is javascript.       Would there be any chance that the javascript could be edited?   To the un-initiated like myself,  it seems reasonable.
That would open up all sorts of possibilities.     Colors, bold, underline, etc.,  wouldn't it?

[soybean]

Here is the normal black text.
Here is the blue text.
Normal black text.
Here is the blue text with black text.
More normal black text.

It looks good to me, but I don't know if it blends in too much or stands out too much for anyone else.  The code, by the way, is #1512FF.

Looks good.  Where did you find it?  It's not on the table the Nathan posted.

[CBMatt]

I agree, underlined links would make things a bit easier.  But what other links would be affected, and would they look right being underlined?

Here is the normal black text.
Here is the blue text.
Normal black text.
Here is the blue text with black text.
More normal black text.

It looks good to me, but I don't know if it blends in too much or stands out too much for anyone else.  The code, by the way, is #1512FF.

Looks good.  Where did you find it?  It's not on the table the Nathan posted.

I didn't find it anywhere; I just played around with the code a little until I got a shade of blue that I liked.  As far as I know, it's not listed on any tables.  Using hex triplets, there are 16,777,216 possible results, so it's a bit hard for anyone to list them all.  Heh.

[WillyW]

I agree, underlined links would make things a bit easier.  But what other links would be affected, and would they look right being underlined?

That's exactly what I was thinking of,  when I commented about the javascript for the   add url    icon.   
If it is possible to edit that script,   wouldn't that solve it?    The change would apply to only one thing?

...Using hex triplets, there are 16,777,216 possible results, so it's a bit hard for anyone to list them all.  Heh.

Get right on that,  ok?
Post back when you're done.
 

[Zylstra]

I agree, underlined links would make things a bit easier.  But what other links would be affected, and would they look right being underlined?

That's exactly what I was thinking of,  when I commented about the javascript for the   add url    icon.   
If it is possible to edit that script,   wouldn't that solve it?    The change would apply to only one thing?

...Using hex triplets, there are 16,777,216 possible results, so it's a bit hard for anyone to list them all.  Heh.

Get right on that,  ok?
Post back when you're done.
 

The only thing is that a lot of your average forum users just manually type [url = address] [/url ] (minus the spaces) so that wouldn't solve much of it.

[2k_dummy]

The average user will just copy/paste a url. Thats why we get those urls that are about 150 characters long that warp the pages and cause side to side scrolling. Thats more of a problem than the link colors.

[WillyW]

The only thing is that a lot of your average forum users just manually type [url = address] [/url ] (minus the spaces) so that wouldn't solve much of it.

You are correct - in that it wouldn't fix those posts.  Whether they are many or few,  I don't know.
However, if it is possible to have the icon's script do it,  it would still be worth it to have it available.
At least that way,  the option to one-click it would be there.

[WillyW]

The average user will just copy/paste a url. Thats why we get those urls that are about 150 characters long that warp the pages and cause side to side scrolling. Thats more of a problem than the link colors.

Does this only apply when the  [ url ]   [ /url]   tags are used?   
Or does it also apply when the  [ url= ]   tag is used?     

[soybean]

[ url ]  accomplishes nothing.  The = sign must be used inside the brackets with the URL following the = sign.

[WillyW]

[ url ]  accomplishes nothing.  The = sign must be used inside the brackets with the URL following the = sign.

Nope.   The  = sign is not necessary.

www.computerhope.com    is an example.   I didn't type it manually... clicked on the   add link   icon .

>Click here<    is an example using  url= .
Allows for including a descriptive link.


Here is a nice page on it:   BBCode  here

And here is the page on this site:  >Click here<  .   Scroll down to    Insert hyperlink.

[soybean]

If you want to post a link to www.computerhope.com, just type that exact text.  No need to click on the button or manually type the tags.  And, I'm well aware of posting a descriptive link; I've done it probably hundreds of times.   

[WillyW]

If you want to post a link to www.computerhope.com, just type that exact text.  No need to click on the button or manually type the tags.

Right.   

And, I'm well aware of posting a descriptive link; I've done it probably hundreds of times.   

I know.  I've seen them.

[Computer Hope Admin]

Have put up a vote with the colors that seem most reasonable as well as well as some of the blue colors I suggested. Feel free to post your vote and/or any additional comments.

As far as changing the forum background colors I think the colors we have now are nice and unless there is a major revolt I don't see the need for changing that. However, the link color has been commented about several times, which is why it's up for a vote.

[WillyW]

... Feel free to post your vote and/or any additional comments.

Option one: Color 1 example

If anyone is interested, the first option, as above,  is the same blue that CBMatt brought up - 1512ff .


patio brought up   "default" blue     -   Default Blue


Either is fine by me.    ( Is there even much difference to your eye?)


In the absence of patio's  "default" blue as an option,   I will go with 1512ff
Were default blue there as a choice,   I'd have to look again to decide.



Side by side comparison:

Default Blue
1512ff example

In a sentence, with some black letters around them:  The quick blue fox jumps over the lazy dog.



To my eye,  Default blue is slightly better.    1512ff is plenty good enough to get the job done though.

[Computer Hope Admin]

As you've have undoubtedly already noticed I updated the link color as promised. As can be seen it changes the forums quite a bit so lets get some additional feedback whether or not this color looks good or not. Below is an example of a link.

http://www.computerhope.com/

This was the original color:

p://www.computerhope.com/

Personally I think the color that was most voted on is a little overwhelming.

[WillyW]

...

This was the original color:

p://www.computerhope.com/

That doesn't look like the original link color to me.   The original was much closer to regular text.
This stands out.

Personally I think the color that was most voted on is a little overwhelming.

Which color was most voted on?


This link color now  Link does make a difference.... it is easier than it was before to spot a link in a post.
As far as the looks of the rest of the forum,   it doesn't bother me.   Sure, it looks different.... but that just takes some getting used to.   I don't find it repulsive.

Thanks for working on it.

[street1 (RIP)]

Did anyone mention a bold bright yellow like Toliver Gravy?


 

This looks great Nathan...Thanks!

[Fed]

There's no chance of people missing the links now.
Maybe a couple of days to get used to it.

[Deerpark]

Hehe when I logged in I could swear the links looked different but I couldn't put my finger on why. I was even considering if it was my update to FF 2.0.0.5 that was the culprit. I'm glad I stumbled over this post before starting a larger investigation of the "issue".

I'm not really for or against the new color. I thought the old was fine but I can see how the new one might be easier to see for some.

[CBMatt]

Whoa, that's a little...freaky.  Heh.

Personally I think the color that was most voted on is a little overwhelming.

That's the currently currently being used, correct?  If so, I agree.  Seeing it used all over the forum makes a much bigger impact than seeing it used in a post.  It's too bad we can't just change the in-post links without having to change all of the others.

With that said...I'm not a big fan of how this looks, but I'll get used to it if I have to.

...

This was the original color:

p://www.computerhope.com/

That doesn't look like the original link color to me.   The original was much closer to regular text.
This stands out.

Looks like the original to me.  I think the new bolder color might just be throwing your eyes off a bit.

[Zylstra]

I just HAD to press F5 to make it load the new style sheet.

Perhaps another template, of the original without the updated colors, could be added so that we could disable the neon blue from the profile menu)
(I know its not neon, but its very contrasting)

[CBMatt]

Perhaps another template, of the original without the updated colors, could be added so that we could disable the neon blue from the profile menu

Yeah, I like that idea.  But can it even be done?

[Zylstra]

Perhaps another template, of the original without the updated colors, could be added so that we could disable the neon blue from the profile menu

Yeah, I like that idea.  But can it even be done?

It sure can! 
Go into your profile, click Looks and Layout, and at the top, click the "Change Template" link. You can make the forums look different from the default.

It might be possible to change only the color of the links made in posts, and set the links of the Forum System color back to the original.
(That would take some research and using the SMF support site)

[CBMatt]

Perhaps another template, of the original without the updated colors, could be added so that we could disable the neon blue from the profile menu

Yeah, I like that idea.  But can it even be done?

It sure can! 
Go into your profile, click Looks and Layout, and at the top, click the "Change Template" link. You can make the forums look different from the default.

Of couse, silly me!  It's been so long since the last time I visited my profile options that I had completely forgotten about that feature.

[Calum]

I'm sure it could be done, yes.  Might take a fair amount of work though.
On the issue of the new colour, I think it's pretty much OK.
Maybe a little bright, but then again it does make the forums look more cheery.
I can see how some would consider it too bright and perhaps garish though.
But, you can't deny that the links stand out more

[street1 (RIP)]

Perhaps another template, of the original without the updated colors, could be added so that we could disable the neon blue from the profile menu

Yeah, I like that idea.  But can it even be done?

It sure can! 
Go into your profile, click Looks and Layout, and at the top, click the "Change Template" link. You can make the forums look different from the default.

Of couse, silly me!  It's been so long since the last time I visited my profile options that I had completely forgotten about that feature.

Chris,I click on your head regularly.

Robert

[CBMatt]

Robert, I sometimes wonder if you have a crush on me.  Ha.

[Shynnie]

Robert, I sometimes wonder if you have a crush on me.  Ha.

hmmmmmmmmmmm makes me wonder what time do you sleep.

Blue rocks

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

How come I missed this entire topic??

I just realized a few minutes ago when I logged on that all the links were changed.
Now I have to get used to it....

Chris,I click on your head regularly.

Robert

[CBMatt]

Robert, I sometimes wonder if you have a crush on me.  Ha.

hmmmmmmmmmmm makes me wonder what time do you sleep.

Lately...from about 7 AM to about 2 PM.  I'm actually going to try getting some sleep in just a minute.

Chris,I click on your head regularly.

Robert

He's referring to the profile image with my mug on it.

[reaper_tbs]

Chris,I click on your head regularly.

Robert

i prefer clicking on his nose.

[WillyW]

...  It's too bad we can't just change the in-post links without having to change all of the others.

I already asked that, and had an idea.   At least as far as the  add url icon goes.
See: « Reply #38 on: June 23, 2007, 05:22:18 PM »
and   « Reply #41 on: June 24, 2007, 11:43:05 AM »
and   « Reply #44 on: June 25, 2007, 11:04:22 AM »

Exchanged a few PMs with Admin,  but he never addressed the question.
Somehow got confused.     My last reply was back in June,  but I've heard no more on it.   

[2k_dummy]

Short and direct. 

Reply#38

Reply#41

Reply#44

[street1 (RIP)]

Click!   LOL