Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Forum/Website Discussion => Topic started by: saint on August 16, 2012, 02:53:49 pm
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The default "Curve" SMF theme really bugged me. I hated the look and colors. However, I'm getting feedback that not everyone likes the YabbSE theme either. Please take a moment to check out the themes currently available, and vote in the poll as to what the default theme should be. Remember you can also override the default and use any of the available themes.
To change your theme:
Click the Profile button on the menu bar.
Choose Modify Profile - Look and Layout
Click the "(Change)" next to where it says Current Theme: Forum or Board Default (change)
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I tried Back in Black for a while... ended up going back to Curves.
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I tweaked Curve to have the PM notification show up at the top where it says your name like the YabbSE theme does.
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Well me and 5 other folks really appreciate the work you put into Back-n-Black. :applaud:
At least all my forums are starting to look the same, makes things easier but could be troublesome at some point...
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I chose "Curve" in the survey, but I wanted to clarify my answer.
Curve is SMF's default theme from SMF 2.0 forward. So it will the theme most likely best supported/tested by future SMF 2.0 mods.
For this reason alone, I think it's in your best interest to stick with a Curve-only policy to make maintenance and support easier going forward.
However, with that said, I think that you could (should?) offer several "palette swap" versions of the default core theme for people who don't like the blue-on-blue-on-blue of the default Core theme.
I can't point you at specific download locations for palette swapped Curve themes, but I'm sure they must exist. As I mentioned in another thread, I did something similar with the old Core theme in SMF 1.1.x.
At the very least, you should probably offer a black-text-on-white theme (like default Curve), and an inverted white-text-on-black Curve theme.
If I get some free time, I might try my hand at making an inverted green and black version of the Curve theme since I'm going to need it when I switch my forum to SMF 2.0 in the near future... http://www.tankadin.com/forum/ (http://www.tankadin.com/forum/)
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I like the yabbSE for default. It just seems the most welcoming and clear cut to the general public. Perhaps not the most amazing in the style department, but the lines are well defined, unoffensive, and it seems easy to follow. The big problem I saw with the Curves was that it just seemed difficult to separate the different posts, and it just had that unfinished webpage look. I hate it when divider lines are removed. My only thought is that if it is possible to lighten the blue used in every other post box, that would help links stand out a tad more on the YabbSE.
I might personally be using Black and Black, or switching between it and YabbSE, but my opinion is that YabbSE is just more inviting to an outsider. I think black forums just set the tone that it is more of an underground group, but that might be my personal feeling since I noticed a lot of black themes on various hacking forums, auto groups, and other tight knit groups of deviants. ;)
I think that the fact that you have Black and Black and Curves available as options should be enough to make the current members here happy.
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No thumbnails to pick from? Anyway, I don't like the current one with posts having alternating background colors (yes, I know the purpose for it, I grew up in the era of green/white continuous-feed computer paper), and I prefer the "word balloon" icon for PM instead of the "scroll". Maybe one day I'll find the time to switch between the themes and learn their names, but that's the best I can do right now.
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I prefer curves. I prefer colors to separate blocks of contents, I'm tired of seeing lines everywhere. Too many lines starts to go against the goal of separating content and makes things more confusing because your brain tries to follow those to separate blocks instead of just seeing the blocks.
But as long as we can use different themes, and that Curves stays in the choices, I don't mind.
One thing, though: on my first visit after the upgrade I was a bit lost, not sure if I had landed on the correct website. The default should have stayed the same as the old forums, IMO.
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I'm digging the black right now. the first one wasn't bad...then it got changed...hated it....so i changed to this black.
only thing I could ask about, is can we insert an extra carriage return in here, (see pic) it will even things out between the top and bottom. I'm OCD like that.
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Ya know it might be nit-picky but :stupid that would look better but is in no way necessary. In fact I hadn't noticed it before but I'm having a hard time peeling my eyes away from it now. Thanks a lot shawn.
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Heh. I'll put it in my list for this weekend. Someone yell at me if I forget, that's an easy fix.
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Hi, I know that I am not a regular, but that banner for the poll was just so inviting!
I intend to vote "other", and I will point to certain posts that make many of my intended points for me.
According to the education classes I used to take, it is visually easier for a person to read light colored text on a dark background. This means I am somewhat in support of a dark colored theme, such as the one used for krick's forum. Also, I like the alternating coloration of posts used by the default theme. However, I don't think the green used on krick's forum is very... appropriate? welcoming? I am not sure what word I am looking for, but what I mean to say, is I would prefer a dark theme similar to back n black, but with alternating post colors (instead of just the coal gray used right now). However, instead of having a darker gray to contrast the posts, and green for topics and other things, I think a dark blue should be used, and for boxes like the "Topic Summary" you will see below when you post, those should be a hue of dark blue as well.
I think the color blue will help take some of the "underground" "unwelcoming" and "tight knit" feelings out of the darker color scheme that I agree with Vigo on.
Personally, I would set yabbSE as the default for anyone who is not a member of the forums (thus to maximize the feeling of invitation) and then when they register and log in, their default changes to the darker color scheme I described. If I remember correctly, the Administrator should have the ability to set different defaults for members and non-members.
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Heh. I'll put it in my list for this weekend. Someone yell at me if I forget, that's an easy fix.
HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!
don't forget.
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I much prefer the SMF Default Theme - Curve theme. Just found out how to change it back and it looks way better again :cheers:. Looks very professional to my eyes. When I came on and saw the theme was YaBB SE Classic 2.0 I thought everything was way too large and very grade school looking. Obviously my vote goes to the curve theme!
End of the day though if users have to option to change it then it isn't a huge deal. For first time visitors though I think the curve theme sets a better looking forum overall.
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personally i like the default smf theme. with a few customizations, i think it could be a decent theme for everyone.
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I, of course, like it. But then I did do the graphic for it.
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Heh. I'll put it in my list for this weekend. Someone yell at me if I forget, that's an easy fix.
Here's your reminder. ;D
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Heh. I'll put it in my list for this weekend. Someone yell at me if I forget, that's an easy fix.
Here's your reminder. ;D
;D
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I say Curve. YabbSE looks extremely dated and the dark Back in Black is just too damn dark. Curve looks very web 3.0 and the touches of powder blue, mango, and salmon (my wife would be so proud of me if she reads this) are aesthetically pleasing. I am awash in pleasing tones and shapes when I scroll through Curve's pages and the gentle alternating shading between each message invites my eye to come on over and take a look at another post. As opposed to Back in Black's hard edges and abrupt sectioning, each post hits me like a jackboot kicking me in the face and I can't find where to go. Where I was once in a familiar place, now I am lost.
On all the webpages I make, I always choose a theme (or edit the CSS) that resembles Back in Black, it's my comfort zone. But it looks unprofessional, like something a WoW guild leader would throw together or a CS:S clan would make.
Curve is just pro. It's modern, aesthetically pleasing, and comfortable, like an Ikea showroom I just want to stay all day.
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I think it looks great as it is right now. I'm running whatever the current default is.
It's very easy to read and to navigate. I think that should be the prime concern, not how cool it looks.
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Voted for Curve. It's much easier on the eyes than the old default. It also feels up to date.