Is the font size on the main Empire site too small?

RedWizard · Post by **RedWizard** » 2004-06-30 10:50pm

Looks fine to me.

nightmare · Post by **nightmare** » 2004-07-01 12:53am

I run 8000x600 and have no problems. I think Spanky has a point, however. There's too much stuff on the main page. A main page is an introduction. I suggest moving out the poll from its high-profile placement and make it smaller, cut down the intro, provide links to in-depth articles with very brief description (alternatively, and perhaps better, expand the sidebar somewhat).

Put the ST-vs-SW and misc. on an "about" page, cut the disclaimer and put it in a link at the bottom in small font. It's enough that it's there, it doesn't have to eat page visibility.

I like the "recent topics" box.. but I suggest moving that to a page of its own, linked under the "forums" button, in which you also have the direct link to the bbs.

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2004-07-01 12:59am

Gil Hamilton wrote:The text size is readable, though if it were me doing the designing, I'd put the text in narrower fixed length columns to aid readablity (like how newspapers put text in columns). It's the text size to line length principle.

The reason people probably think the text is too small is because some jokers are probably viewing it with as much resolution as their monitors can handle, even though it looks like it was designed around a reasonably low viewing resolution. At the resolution you suggest at the bottom of the page (800 x 600), the text is a reasonable size.

Yes, I'm a joker because I run my monitor at 1600x1200 for the sake of graphics work, and also because I like to fit a lot of stuff on my screen...

But I don't complain about it, I just manually increase the text size. A couple of points of size probably wouldn't matter much. The column suggestion is also a very good point.

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2004-07-01 01:00am

nightmare wrote:I run 8000x600 and have no problems.

You can get 8000x600 monitors?

I want one! Although, on second thought, that wouldn't be much height to play with

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2004-07-01 01:13am

Since I have an LCD screen my default setting is 1200xsomething or other, I forget.

The small font gives me a headache, but it is only really noticeable when there is a large body of text, or big paragraphs. Also the white on black hurts, for example the green on black is much nicer to the eye when reading your debates and it offsets a lot of the pain from foucusing on so much writting that is so small.

But everyone has a different monitor, and so you will never be able to totally satisfy everybody.

nightmare · Post by **nightmare** » 2004-07-01 03:23am

Crayz9000 wrote:
nightmare wrote:I run 8000x600 and have no problems.
You can get 8000x600 monitors? I want one! Although, on second thought, that wouldn't be much height to play with

I have an LCD, I just prefer to run it on 800x600. Any higher resolution would make everything tiny, and I don't like to sit with a magnifying glass two inches from the screen.

Crazedwraith · Post by **Crazedwraith** » 2004-07-01 07:01am

Looks fine to me.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2004-07-01 07:17am

Its fine, though black on white does get aggrevating after 3 hours of reading.

either you could change the color on each and every page, or update the old stuff, I say update

Mitth`raw`nuruodo · Post by **Mitth`raw`nuruodo** » 2004-07-01 07:54am

The font does give me a headache after awhile.. partially because of size, and partially because of the color scheme. It'd be great if the font increased a few points. Also, maybe you could start looking into a different colour scheme. Personally, I love the blues of Blacksoul, easy on the eyes.

Mitth`raw`nuruodo · Post by **Mitth`raw`nuruodo** » 2004-07-01 08:02am

Oh, and why is this in SWvsST? Seems like an Off-Topic thing to me...

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2004-07-01 08:10am

Mitth`raw`nuruodo wrote:Oh, and why is this in SWvsST? Seems like an Off-Topic thing to me...

Yes, do tell the owner of the site where he should post his threads ...

Mitth`raw`nuruodo · Post by **Mitth`raw`nuruodo** » 2004-07-01 08:25am

Crown wrote:
Mitth`raw`nuruodo wrote:Oh, and why is this in SWvsST? Seems like an Off-Topic thing to me...
Yes, do tell the owner of the site where he should post his threads ...

eh... I wanted to delete almost as soon as I posted it, but there's no button here.

Lack of sleep causes lack of good judgement... sorry. I'll think before I post next time.

Ice · Post by **Ice** » 2004-07-01 09:10am

Looks good to me, Chief. I use 1024x768 and it all reads fine to me.

As for the general content stuff people have put out... I think it's cool the way it is. Gives it more life, and the intention of mimicing a military recruiting page is dead on, IMO. The only thing that kinda gets in the way is the poll up top (not like that's been changed for many moons anyway

).

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2004-07-02 01:33am

Even with my font size at it's smallest setting, I can read it without problems. Of course, there really wasn't much of a difference in size between the smallest and largest font settings, or at least that's the case on my computer.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-07-02 01:36am

I am running 1024 x 768 and the text looks just fine to me. There is no need to change the font size.

However I feel that the old frontpage was better. I liked the bit about an Imperial task force encountering a Federation starship from a far far away galaxy. Maybe it is just nostalgia bu I still like the old page.

Hardy · Post by **Hardy** » 2004-07-02 07:21pm

The text size and font is fine. I don't like reading text above size 12 (or two on <font=2>)

I do however have problem with the contrast with the white on black text. Most of the time I amr eading this site in multiple browser windows, so when I change from white-on-black to black on white, my eyes are hurt. I have no problem with the sizing, but could the text color be less contasting?

Luzifer's right hand · Post by **Luzifer's right hand** » 2004-07-02 07:25pm

I use 1600 x 1200.
The text size is fine imho

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-07-02 07:43pm

OK, if the black background is difficult to read, what background do you guys suggest?

Post by **RogueIce** » 2004-07-02 07:53pm

Darth Wong wrote:OK, if the black background is difficult to read, what background do you guys suggest?

I don't think it's too bad, but... Whatever scheme MF uses wors pretty well, and it's not like a huge, noticable change in the overall style. Basically, sort grayish-black and the sorta gray-ish white. That's pretty good on the eyes IMO and wouldn't look like such a huge drastic change to the site.

Although maybe keeping it straight black and making the text off-white would still work? Not too sure...

Hardy · Post by **Hardy** » 2004-07-02 08:56pm

Darth Wong wrote:OK, if the black background is difficult to read, what background do you guys suggest?

I don't at all suggest changing the backround color. It's fine as it is. You'd lose the "Imperial look" if you were to change it. I would lean towards making a minor change to the text color.

I did notice that in the Strategic Evaluation of Extra-Galactic Empire page made for easier reading than the normal scheme. I also note that I have an easier time reading the red headers for some sections of pages. They both have a reddish tinge in common. Perhaps you should take advantage of the color red's night vision properties and add a minor reddish tinge to the text. Something similar to maroon or even purple would suffice as readable text. But the text still has to contrast with the backround to insure that it doesn't become obscure.
If you really want to retain the Imperial look you could go with a gold tinge. I'd stick with maroon since it has the night vision proerties and is not too shiny, however.

But the most reasonable suggestion, as mentioned before, would be to make the text an off-white, or a more dull looking white. A very light gray is also in that league. A light-gray on black scheme would be less drastic, but it would likely make reading far easier than it presently is.

jegs2 · Post by **jegs2** » 2004-07-02 09:08pm

Looks fine to me.

Boyish-Tigerlilly · Post by **Boyish-Tigerlilly** » 2004-07-05 12:16am

I agree, the black background is tiresome. Perhaps Mike should introduce a different color scheme?

Yea. Like yellow on white

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-07-05 11:01pm

OK, I'm trying out some prototype tweaks for appearance. Let me know which you prefer:

New: http://bbs2.stardestroyer.net/Temp/Empire/
Old: http://www.stardestroyer.net/Empire/

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2004-07-05 11:04pm

Darth Wong wrote:OK, I'm trying out some prototype tweaks for appearance. Let me know which you prefer:

New: http://bbs2.stardestroyer.net/Temp/Empire/
Old: http://www.stardestroyer.net/Empire/

I prefer the original.

Meest · Post by **Meest** » 2004-07-05 11:07pm

The lowered brightness of the text makes it easier to read, just that the text grew abit, lowered brightness with the new text just the same size would be perfect imho.