Dark Mode/Dark theme for ARCHICAD (on both macOS and Windows)

[Daniel Kovacs]

Apple introduced Dark mode in macOS 10.14 Mojave, and Microsoft also started implementing it in Windows the same year (2018).

ARCHICAD currently works when the Operating System is turned to Dark Mode, but doesn't have a dark theme yet. This change could be quite development-resource heavy (as the engine of ARCHICAD’s UI is not ready for having 2 different representations, so it would require a complete overhaul), and could also take away time from functional developments in favour of a cosmetic upgrade.

PS.: I found other similar polls but I wanted to get more specific than those. I link them here for reference (I personally like the mock-up of Emil Meijer):
Black/Dark theme option for UI
Dark GUI theme
Dark scheme

[Rex Maximilian]

Yes, a good start! But for sure needs to toggle the screen dark also, with pen adjustments.

[Alakelele]

Yes please !!! That would attract all the people (75% of architects/engineers etc) that are already accustomed to change their interface the way they like.
Please listen to us !

[Alakelele]

No more replies to this thread ? Are we forever locked in 2018 ? Please bring it

[Karl Ottenstein]

Alakelele wrote:
No more replies to this thread ? Are we forever locked in 2018 ? Please bring it

Fascinating that you have made only 2 posts here... and only in this thread. Is the dark mode in AC 25 not enough for you?

The only issue I see in AC 25 dark mode so far is that I have not seen an option to automatically change the background color for views. Everything else looks nice.
(Personally, I never use dark mode - actually more eye strain for me.)

 

[jl_lt]

personally i couldnt care less about this dark mode. but if mac users got it, it seems fair pc users get it too, for simmetry reasons

[Mike96]

Wow, has AC 25 just added a dark theme?

[Podolsky]

I don't see dark mode in ArchiCAD 25 on Windows. On Mac it appeared in version 24.

[DGSketcher]

I prefer Dark Mode to the low contrast mono chromatic grey theme, BUT someone really needs to sort out the font colours, blue on black isn't good and dark grey on black is even worse. It is kind of ironic that software for the design community must have one of the worst interfaces out there.

[Podolsky]

Cannot say about one of worst. Dark mode on MacOS has some issues (been reported on this forum) but still it is cool. Just compare AC interface with Revit. Revit is like does not have interface at all. Some random pictures on buttons, blurry, with no strict colour scheme. All dialogues like excel spreadsheets or something.
ArchiCAD has got one of the best interfaces. That is for sure.

  

[Revec58793]

I think that I can have a middle ground suggestion on the topic that should be both lightweight and not development intensive. 

Since most of the interface is white and black you can most likely just put a switch in the GUI that invert the luminus value of the colours (also, give it a gamma correction drop down menu so you balance out the gray contrast). Since that would keep all the colours, most contrast and don't require double development since it uses existing resources it should be a good option.

(Just an suggestion but for the 3d view it might be better to just change the sky to a different preset that's more of a night sky, it would also make it a practical easy to access function)
(the inverted image have the 50% gray set to 65%, why the gamma setting is needed)