Background Color

[Anonymous]

Is there a, visually speaking, a most efficient background color that would make a more comfortable working environment? I am used to a Black AutoCad background (when i started working in AC7 the office standard was black), and in using 3D Studio/3D VIZ there was a specific blue color for the background that was easy on the eyes and made all the colors pop out really well. I don't want to use black anymore because of the "shadow edge" on the left side of some windows in OSX; with multiple windows open in AC unless you are paying attention to it, you can click on a window behind, just a bit annoying, and also other co-workers have had trouble with the black background staying black all the time, sometimes after redraw or rebuild it displays a white background until you zoom again.

[Djordje]

Dan wrote:
Is there a, visually speaking, a most efficient background color that would make a more comfortable working environment? I am used to a Black AutoCad background (when i started working in AC7 the office standard was black), and in using 3D Studio/3D VIZ there was a specific blue color for the background that was easy on the eyes and made all the colors pop out really well. I don't want to use black anymore because of the "shadow edge" on the left side of some windows in OSX; with multiple windows open in AC unless you are paying attention to it, you can click on a window behind, just a bit annoying, and also other co-workers have had trouble with the black background staying black all the time, sometimes after redraw or rebuild it displays a white background until you zoom again.

Using black is completely counter productive. No, it is not easier on the eyees than the white of ArchiCAD, especially if you use ArchiCAD's colors. In that case you see what you will get on the printout/plotmaker layout. You need black background fro primary colors of AutoCAD palette because the colors are mostly code for the pen weight, and will not be printed as such in any case.

If the white hurts your eyes, consider the birgtness/contrast setting of your monitor, the overall lighting (turn the overhead fluo off by all means) and maybe choose a very light gray.

While it is very personal, using black is IMHo for ArchiCAD compeltely wrong.

In 8.1 you also have the automatic color viibility adjustment, under Preferences. See what it does to your workspace.

[Dave Jochum]

Dan wrote:
Is there a, visually speaking, a most efficient background color that would make a more comfortable working environment?

There was a post recently by someone (sorry, can't remember who) who uses a Borco beige color. I had forgotten about it until your post. I think I'll try it.

[Anonymous]

Djordje wrote:
Using black is completely counter productive. No, it is not easier on the eyees than the white of ArchiCAD, especially if you use ArchiCAD's colors. In that case you see what you will get on the printout/plotmaker layout. You need black background fro primary colors of AutoCAD palette because the colors are mostly code for the pen weight, and will not be printed as such in any case.

If the white hurts your eyes, consider the birgtness/contrast setting of your monitor, the overall lighting (turn the overhead fluo off by all means) and maybe choose a very light gray.

While it is very personal, using black is IMHo for ArchiCAD compeltely wrong.

In 8.1 you also have the automatic color viibility adjustment, under Preferences. See what it does to your workspace.

I respectfully disagree Djordge. Contrast is what matters for me. Since ArchiCAD's pens can be set to pretty much what ever color we want some people might find that black works best. Or grey or blue or beige or green or whatever. Depending on the color of the pens you use, the contrast might be stronger with a black background.

Another thing. With a black background you reduce the number of lumens (and radiation) entering your eyes and hitting your face. This reduces eye strain. I know this might seem minor, but IMHO it's not.

Some people cannot change their monitor contrast. They might have adjusted the settings to match their printer.

Personally I change my background color on a regular basis. Just about a new background for each job. I have a palette of maybe 6 colors. They are generally light beige, light green, or light blue. These colors seem to work best with MGA pens. But as I always say, to each his own.

I miss that you could set the background color for each window. It was real handy knowing at a quick glance what window you had open. Did I post this as a wishlist item? ?? Hmm...

[James Murray]

Dave wrote:
who uses a Borco beige color. I had forgotten about it until your post. I think I'll try it.

Yo.

R=237, G=236, B=202

You can see white, black, grey, yellow...anything but beige. I've been on it for about five years. Never looked back.

I can't recommend using white since I like to see the white elements. The workaround for that would be to use a non-white color that plots white.

Black I just don't get. The exact opposite of paper? Why?

[Dwight]

James wrote:

Dave wrote:
who uses a Borco beige color. I had forgotten about it until your post. I think I'll try it.

I like a mid tone, too. That way it seems more like charcoal paper where you can make lighter and darker elements - white things are visible to the eye but don't print.

[Jacek]

Dwight wrote:
I like a mid tone, too. That way it seems more like charcoal paper where you can make lighter and darker elements - white things are visible to the eye but don't print.

I prefer the 'Buff' or 'Flimsy' look for background, it reminds me of the old days and sketching presentations on 'Onion skin' for client review.

[Dwight]

I prefer the 'Buff' or 'Flimsy' look for background, it reminds me of the old days and sketching presentations on 'Onion skin' for client review.

But things are different now. "Buff" is now much more like sun tanned skin tone than beige. It is also important to pull that paper tight with lot of tape to avoid a sagging middle.

I was in love wth the Leonardo yellow flimsy and sepia ink until somebody said that Big Leo was using white flimsy and black ink - things just got old.

So much for that style......

[Erika Epstein]

I use the eye-ease 'buff 'color posted here years ago. Very restful on the eyes, cheery with a bit of yellow and can see white lines and fills.
Red: 248
Green : 243
Blue: 222

[Anonymous]

Hey, those are nice background colors. I'll add them to my palette.

Some of my other favs are:

Light Blue:
R 235
G 240
B 233

Light Green:
R 218
G 239
B 222

Pinkish:
R 219
G 210
B 202