849386 - Default link text color is too light, the color should be like other browsers

Status: RESOLVED FIXED

(Core :: Preferences: Backend, defect)

Description

[Alice0775 White]

Attachment: Screen shot, (IE9, Aurora21.0a2, Nightly22.0a2, Chrome25, Opera12.14)

Build Identifier:
http://hg.mozilla.org/mozilla-central/rev/cb432984d5ce
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; rv:22.0) Gecko/20130308 Firefox/22.0 ID:20130308031005

See screenshot

Comment 1

[Alice0775 White]

Attachment: sample html

Comment 2

[Josiah Bruner [:jsbruner]]

(In reply to Alice0775 White from comment #1)
> Created attachment 722930 [details]
> sample html

Actually, this demonstrates a reason TO change. The lighter color makes it easier to recognize a link when surrounded by black text.

Also, one could argue that this new color could cause problems for websites, but again that is not true. Most websites override the color anyway, and even if they didn't the change is so minor that no site will look much worse.

Comment 3

[Jim Jeffery not reading bug-mail 1/2/11]

I disagree.  tbpl and the moz ftp links look too pale.

I posted screen shots of tbpl in the original bug 847807

Comment 4

[Alice0775 White]

>The lighter color makes it easier to recognize a link when surrounded by black text.

Please show me scientific evidence.
Actually, The color is too lighter in my eyes. And other browser is not lighter color.

> Also, one could argue that this new color could cause problems for websites,

I do not say that. Because this is the site problem in this case.

> but again that is not true. Most websites override the color anyway, 

Your comment has nothing to do with this bug really. this is the site problem.

> and
> even if they didn't the change is so minor that no site will look much worse.

This is the site problem in this case.

Comment 5

[Josiah Bruner [:jsbruner]]

(In reply to Alice0775 White from comment #4)
> >The lighter color makes it easier to recognize a link when surrounded by black text.
> 
> Please show me scientific evidence.
> Actually, The color is too lighter in my eyes. And other browser is not
> lighter color.
> 
> > Also, one could argue that this new color could cause problems for websites,
> 
> I do not say that. Because this is the site problem in this case.
> 
> > but again that is not true. Most websites override the color anyway, 
> 
> Your comment has nothing to do with this bug really. this is the site
> problem.
> 
> > and
> > even if they didn't the change is so minor that no site will look much worse.
> 
> This is the site problem in this case.

Well, my previous points were there to address others concerns. I am aware that this is really a site problem, but people here like to know we are not breaking sites.

I also assumed you had read the bug relating to this, where I stated most of my points:

"About 90% of users won't even notice the difference, the rest that really care will change it using Preferences. (No need for about:config)

In the meantime, it makes Fx and TB look more modern and lighter. It appeals more to most users. (Take cues from Apple and Google).

Finally, UX decided it was fine. (More than three people had input, and many colors were suggested). UI-review has be finalized. I suppose if you think it is really going to affect users you can talk to Stephen about it."

However, I will leave this bug here, and anyone who has issues with the color can post here. If enough people think it's too light, we can make it slightly darker (Though going back to the original almost purple color is probably not going to happen. But perhaps something in the middle of then and now.)

Thank you for your feedback.

Comment 6

[WildcatRay]

(In reply to Josiah Bruner [:JosiahOne] from comment #5)
> (In reply to Alice0775 White from comment #4)
>
> Finally, UX decided it was fine. (More than three people had input, and many
> colors were suggested). UI-review has be finalized. I suppose if you think
> it is really going to affect users you can talk to Stephen about it."

So far, there have been no positive responses in the mozillazine Nightly thread regarding this: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=2674499

There have been negative responses from many longtime regular users of Nightly. There are slightly more Nightly users than UX.

I would think that this would encourage you all to rethink this change.

I would also point out that the side by side comparison that Alice put together clearly shows that this change does not demonstrate the claim that this is a change for the better.

Comment 7

[ferongr]

I have deuteranopia and the new link color is quite a bit harder to see on a white or light-gray background compared to the old one.

Comment 8

[Josiah Bruner [:jsbruner]]

Alright, we can conclude then that the color is too light. However, I still would prefer we switch to something other than the old purple color. Perhaps a little darker blue.

Comment 9

[Josiah Bruner [:jsbruner]]

Actually, after going through things again. I can see what people are talking about. Let's just drop this entirely. At least across platforms, the real point of this was to update the TB style so it doesn't look so outdated, Fx wasn't really an issue.

Resolving this. There will be no change on all platforms for now.

Comment 10

[rsx11m]

(In reply to Josiah Bruner [:JosiahOne] from comment #8)
> would prefer we switch to something other than the old purple color. Perhaps
> a little darker blue.

Actually, that's what the old #0000EE is - a 93% blue. If it looks purple on your screen (the visited links are), this may be due to a wrong color management curve. Set gfx.color_management.mode to 0 to double-check the color.

Comment 11

[Josiah Bruner [:jsbruner]]

(In reply to rsx11m from comment #10)
> (In reply to Josiah Bruner [:JosiahOne] from comment #8)
> > would prefer we switch to something other than the old purple color. Perhaps
> > a little darker blue.
> 
> Actually, that's what the old #0000EE is - a 93% blue. If it looks purple on
> your screen (the visited links are), this may be due to a wrong color
> management curve. Set gfx.color_management.mode to 0 to double-check the
> color.

Yeah sorry. I was typing quickly. I meant a tint of purple (quite a bit different then all purple eh. :) )