What's Better for A Forum, Dark or Light Theme?

[Roxanne S.]

First topic message reminder :

Hi,

The title says it all, what's better? Well, if you're going to answer that it depends on your opinion, please don't answer that, okay? What my point here, really, is to ask forumotion members what theme is better for forums.

Let's see, if a forum is where you can speak your mind and read/write your opinions, it's a gotta be a light theme right? So that it won't be hard to read.
But if you like more design, and a bit modern, you'll choose a dark theme.

So it's your pick, what's better? Dark or Light Theme?

[Legolas]

Hello,
For a forum it's better a theme changer for users.

[Luffy]

i think a light theme its better because the dark ones make members wanna go early!!

(this notice is a conclusion of 10 friends of mine which 8 of them told me that light themes are better!! )

[runawayhorses]

Hello,
For a forum it's better a theme changer for users.

Yeah theme changers are cool, but you're asking the posters to care enough to make a conscience decision to change the theme, Someone being interested is a presumption the designer can make and be mistaken about. That's not to say its not a cool feature and awesome option, but some people are gonna view it as over-the-top and a little too self-involved.

[elle shadowalker]

It depends on the subject of the forum.

[perfectSTORM!]

I think that it depends on what your forum is about, like say if you had a roleplay forum, then the theme varies depending on the Plot of the roleplay.

[Matt23]

I think it depends on what you are doing.

Light forum is much easier to read and use in my opinion.

Dark forum is nice because most custom forums are dark.

[Guest]

I think it really depends on the type of forum and what the maker thinks looks best FOR the forums. I've seen some Zelda forums that are totaly different in designs that (in my opinion) went well with the sites specific name. Other forums that I had seen (again in my own opinion) basically lacked good backgrounds, but they made up for that in basic content.

[Kaizer Lee]

IMO, dark themes are for gaming forums while white themes are for professional forums. Multi-colored themes are for those gallery types of forums or for advertisements.

[Selvester]

For me... I have always been partial to a dark theme. I just always seem to have trouble creating a light theme that actually works I guess. Dark is just easier for me... As it has been mentioned though it kind of depends on the forum. If I go with a light one though... Well it just has to be really well done I guess.

[mikestang746]

I vote for light themes.

[robesz87]

It depends on the time of day.

[zoltan100]

Dark, of course:)



 

[intoxicatedwithdesire]

dark

[elle shadowalker]

Depends on what kind of forum it is, I guess both

[Sonikku1011]

I think it depends on the niche of the forum myself. While I prefer dark themes over light themes, I don't think a promotional forum needs a dark theme. A mixed theme would be fine, but I think dark themes fit gaming forums and other forums based around different franchises or roleplaying forums.

[rain shimatori]

I prefer dark themes because it show the concept of the Light better. If you understand what I mean.

[SophieDophs]

Light every time.  Dark themes are heavy on the eyes, especially if one has been using computers all day - the last thing we want to do is squint at a dark theme to try and read the text and have image burn of the text lines in our retinas!  If I hop on a site that has a dark theme, I just hop right off again.  Can't be bothered to strain my eyes so can't be bothered with forums like that.

[Guest]

I don't think that one is better than the other--some people happen to like light based themes and some people happen to like dark based themes.  I think what is important is trying to find some middle ground and giving the members of your board what they want.  If you run a poll, you can find out if the majority of the members prefer light or dark and give as many members what they wish for.

Additionally, if you have a back up forum, there is coding that you can do to provide both themes and allow members to select which one they use.  Either way, what matters is that your members are happy.  =)  I use a dark theme, because after a poll, almost all of them preferred a dark theme.

[Rhino.Freak]

whoa!!!! seriously when did Light became more popular than Dark?
UNACCEPTABLE!

[TMV]

I wouldn't recommend anything too light or too dark. I have received complaints in the past when I used settings that were extreme on either side of the scale. Another time, I used something colorful (more to the neon side), and one user said that the theme hurt his eyes. My recommendation is to choose a theme that uses a pleasant color scheme with only two or three colors used consistently at different brightness levels and to keep it at a moderate brightness.

[SLGray]

I would create a poll my forum and give the members a chance to vote for their favorite themes.

[JScript]

You must remember that there are people like me that are color blind and strong and dark colors are not pleasant!

Forums with high power of persuasion are mostly ligth themes ...

That's just my opinion,

JS

[abissos]

dark themes are cooler. but the most readable are definitely the light ones. i choose both.