Change the background color of our challenge entries.
I searched the forums and noticed a few similar requests, none that take the approach I was thinking of.
There are times when the 18% grey background isn't the best choice to show a challenge entry in it's best "light". Many times I've wished for black or a charcoal grey.
Here's what I would like to see. An option when submitting a challenge entry for selecting the background color that will stay with my challenge entry photo regardless of who is looking at it. A simple color pallete group could be used to choose, or the three RGB fields, heck even a html color code field would work.
The key part of this is having the background be a photographers decision that stays with the image. Consider it a color matting decision that the photographer can make that works best for their photo.
This decision would impact viewer/voter perception of an image the same way selecting the right image and title currently do.
You could always give it a border in the colour of your choice but you are gonna lose photo display space in that case. Hey! ... I am a poet and don't realize it.
You could always give it a border in the colour of your choice but you are gonna lose photo display space in that case.
Once or twice I've actually done that to a limited degree, but it's not really a viable solution as the size of the surrounding background is still overpowering.
do we want dpc to look like myspace.com? I like the idea, but can we keep the palette to greyscale, please?
I've not visited that website. What do they do that is so offensive?
I just thought it would be helpful to have some flexibility in color that enhances your image - like you would if framing it on your wall. Would you pick neutral grey for all of your wall prints?
Is there another viable option? Perhaps allow an additional frame or border for challenge entries - say up to 100 pixels or something?
outside of it being a haven for pedophiles it's a user driven site, and each user can set up their own 'site' with their own color scheme. think about really bad plaid. layered over really bad plaid and then layered again...
Originally posted by glad2badad:
I've not visited that website. What do they do that is so offensive?
outside of it being a haven for pedophiles it's a user driven site, and each user can set up their own 'site' with their own color scheme. think about really bad plaid. layered over really bad plaid and then layered again...
Originally posted by glad2badad:
I've not visited that website. What do they do that is so offensive?
Ok. Thanks. I'd heard about issues with kids, identities, etc...but wasn't familiar with the site.
As for "bad plaid", I don't see that happening with what I'm asking about. It would just be for the challenge voting page and deal with a single solid color.
To take it a step farther, based on fotomann's comment/concern, the colors available to the photographer could be limited to a small number of non-garish colors perhaps? Scratch the html color code input or the RGB input, just have a color palette to select from a predetermined (by Langdon) set of color choices. I'm thinking colors like white, neutral grey, charcoal grey, black.
I think you would be loosing the limited usefulness of your suggestion with that modification. The best matting color is often a custom color taken from some aspect of the image.
I don't like the idea either. If you want your image matted, do so with a border -- that is, in part, why they are allowed.
I'm thinking colors like white, neutral grey, charcoal grey, black.
I think white, the current grey and black would be quite effective as options. The only issue is how it messes with your eye jumping between them, but they certainly change how particular images are viewed. Some images are transformed by a completely black or white surrounding (and not just 10 pixels on each side). Photoshop & lightroom has that built in for their various display modes.
I think you would be loosing the limited usefulness of your suggestion with that modification. The best matting color is often a custom color taken from some aspect of the image.
I agree that custom color would be ideal, however, as was pointed out (fotomann earlier), some colors are quite extreme (yellow, red) and could impact the viewing experience. By having a handful of safe neutral colors at least there is some flexibility, which in many cases would work quite well.
Originally posted by David.C:
I don't like the idea either. If you want your image matted, do so with a border -- that is, in part, why they are allowed.
David
Nice thought. However, to get a border large enough to add any impact to the photo (and negate the neutral grey), it would have to be quite large and nothing left over for the image itself. :P
imo, the picture speaks for it's self, borders are in the main, a distraction, as for a change of background color every time you go to the next shot, I think it would just put me of, I personaly think it's fine as it is
Boarders for the most part don't go over well here. I play over on eyefetch too. Some shot posted here are so, so. Yet with the darker background it really pops off the page....hmmmmmm
edit; Eyefetch background page is Charcoal in color....
... Yet with the darker background it really pops off the page....hmmmmmm
When I'm getting an image ready for a display and I need to select the right color for the mat I'll choose other colors (in PSP X) as the background color for previewing.
It can make a difference, and it doesn't have to be anything fancy. Nothing weird. Just a clean slate of color in a few basic "neutral" shades.
edit to clarify...I'm not talking just about "borders", I'm talking about the lower page background area that is used for viewing images while voting.
I'm thinking colors like white, neutral grey, charcoal grey, black.
I think white, the current grey and black would be quite effective as options. The only issue is how it messes with your eye jumping between them, but they certainly change how particular images are viewed. Some images are transformed by a completely black or white surrounding (and not just 10 pixels on each side). Photoshop & lightroom has that built in for their various display modes.
If all have either a dark charcoal or a black background for the portfolios (NOT the forums)there would be less of the back and forth eye strain some are worried about.
I like the idea of a dark charcoal or black background on the portfolio, voting and galleries pages. Again, NOT the forum pages. My 2¢.
Change the background color of our challenge entries.
I searched the forums and noticed a few similar requests, none that take the approach I was thinking of.
There are times when the 18% grey background isn't the best choice to show a challenge entry in it's best "light". Many times I've wished for black or a charcoal grey.
Here's what I would like to see. An option when submitting a challenge entry for selecting the background color that will stay with my challenge entry photo regardless of who is looking at it. A simple color pallete group could be used to choose, or the three RGB fields, heck even a html color code field would work.
The key part of this is having the background be a photographers decision that stays with the image. Consider it a color matting decision that the photographer can make that works best for their photo.
This decision would impact viewer/voter perception of an image the same way selecting the right image and title currently do.
The "18% grey" question in relation to computer monitors has many people confused, including me. I believe that 18% grey refers to the amount of light reflected back by the object. An 18% grey card reflects back 18% of the light; it doesn't imply that it has 18% grey in it, so I'm not sure the background of DPC is actually 18% grey. I think comparing the colour of the site to a grey card is meaningless. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Having said that (did anyone catch the season finale of "Curb"?), there is some effort to emulate the visual effect of a grey card in CSS, but the range is huge -- everything from RGB 47,47,47 to 128,128,128. A common value is 105, which translates to CSS #696969. It looks like this. That link also has a link to show what the DPC voting page looks like in comparison to this grey value.
I tried reading through these few comments and I did not notice a point I feel is important.
By maintaining a Neutral colour background or Neutral Density background for challenge images it allows all images to be graded with the same eye. Certain colours pop more with certain colour backgrounds. Thus it would give an unfair advantage to force coloured backgrounds on one's image and user.
Yes, I feel if you FORCE my background into a colour I do not want it will make me lower your score because you are trying to garnish my vote and disrespect my personal preferences.
Now for forums, sure change the colour to something a bit more interesting, or offer options.
Personal galleries/portfolios sure, give the members an option to how they want to view on their screen. User preference is for the individual user, not the viewer. Viewers have their own preference.
So this is my opinion.
Challenge - maintain neutral background.
Forums - update style (user options possibly)
Individual member gallery/portfolio - (members choice for members view)
