[Debate] The Grey Skin Look

[CIWY]

True. I think that it can always be different than grey.
But, if its a techy scheme with a lot of things that fit it, than it wouldn't hurt at all.

[Beatle Aimee]

It really depends on the forum, some forums look great in it, others look like crap. You can't say the grey skin looks bad on all forums because (unless you're a crazy forum user) you haven't been on all forums.
The answer's at the end.
....How did I manage to quote a George Harrison song?

[Avery ♥]

I think grey skins are cool but I don't see them around a whole lot. Another thing is that I don't understand how they get grey skins. There's no grey on the color chart that I see. I do agree with the fact that they are a bit bland at times if a person doesn't know how to actually set up a grey skin. Graphics usually help with that.

[dominic95]

Yeah i agree you should have a way to let a new member let themself feel welcome and be known and an other thing is like me i have a black background wit h red and blue text thats not really good because it could cause strain to the eyes and stuff and so its best to keep a nice text color so people dont have to strian just to see what you say.

[Timothy]

beatleaimee said:

It really depends on the forum, some forums look great in it, others look like crap. You can't say the grey skin looks bad on all forums because (unless you're a crazy forum user) you haven't been on all forums.

I completely agree; the principle itself is totalitarian at its core. Why should forums have to change their colors just because a support moderator or member personally doesn't agree with it? By that logic, should all Harry Potter RPGs and message boards on proboards be shut down due to my personal opinions on the matter? Absolutely not; if a member has a personal grudge against a color scheme (which is completely ridiculous in and of itself), then that's their perogative.

[McGani]

lovegood555 said:

I think grey skins are cool but I don't see them around a whole lot. Another thing is that I don't understand how they get grey skins. There's no grey on the color chart that I see. I do agree with the fact that they are a bit bland at times if a person doesn't know how to actually set up a grey skin. Graphics usually help with that.

You get the grays in one of two ways: Use the advanced color picker code or enter in the Hex Codes on your own (I use this method...I test out how the colors blend together in photoshop and then I throw the codes onto my forum)

Anyway, I love gray skins, if done properly. I myself have one and I love it because no member can say "I hate that color," because technically it's not a color (LOOPHOLE! heh), and it's very easy on the eyes. No blinding will go on with gray.

Also, with gray you can mix different colors into the sheme, such as different colored links. It spruces things up without being gaudy. I love it I have tried about 10 different skins with different color schemes, and have never liked one as much as I like the gray one I have now. I never want to change from the gray look. Another reason I like it, that I just thought of, is head banners are much easier with gray..it's easy to match the color, which is not a perk I thought of until I created the skin.

I also don't agree when it's said that Gray is ominous or depressing, or dull even--there are ways that you can work around this feeling if you are creative enough, which is the key to having a successful forum. If anything it makes things look more professional and organized, though I may be biased because my forum is gray =^.^=

transfermktforum said:

Grey looks are monotone, and boring. They just aren't exciting in any way, and you won't get members.

I find that using grey with a certain colour in places works well. Say, grey and red. You'd use red on the banner, red on some of the background, red on text and red on head/base. Oh, and buttons. That works, and it isn't too grayscale. I've done that with forums for a while, but it's better with designs forums.

I don't think it's true that you won't get members just because your forum's gray. To be honest, I've gotten MORE members since I switched to gray than I ever have. I think gray looks good and if you use different colors in with it (like your red for example), it really makes the difference.

geo2 said:

I will never join a forum with a gray skin. In fact, I lose respect for any forum that chooses to use a gray skin.

I went for the unique color scheme, and used red. Version 2 of my site will use an ever more unique color.

The only time gray works is as a secondary color.

I don't agree with this either. To lose respect for a forum just because it uses the color gray is a bit shallow. Choosing Gray isn't a form of laziness (not in my case, anyway), but a preference. In fact, I've seen more colored forums than gray ones, and I think half of the colored ones look terrible because the admin hasn't figured out how to coordinate the colors yet. If you think about it, there's so many proboards forums--every color has been 'overused' at some point. It's not necessarily the color scheme you choose, in my opinion, it's the way you use the colors and blend them with things such as graphics and secondary colors.

I have the feeling that I'm talking in circles...so I'll stop here

[flowerpetal]

It's a given that a forum needs to have an appearance that will attract the types of users the owner wants, but if we are putting aside topic of forum, I must say I find gray skins that are original among gray skins, to be very appealing. They are more relaxing and less distracting.

What I would love to see here is a competition of gray skins, to see just how creative people really can be. Maybe it would bring a whole new life to gray skin use, and put an end to this debate.

[archimedes]

Personally, I believe the last thing a Graphics forum should have is a bland or dull colour like grey or white. They're trying to show off their graphics, draw people in, not sure that they've read a few tutorials and know how to make a boring streamlined professional look.

I love SoCal's board, it's not the 'commercial' look as I like to call it. It's 3D, it's original, it kicks butt! The three designers (graphics mods) outdid themselves on that. I'm not fussed on grey for coding forums and advertising boards, because I don't sign up and stay there, I go there for exactly what they give. Codes! As long as it doesn't hurt my eyes for the few minutes I'm there for I'm not too fussed.

So I believe that anything besides coding and ad forums should NEVER have grey. I love seeing colourful and 'bouncy' forums.

[Saxor]

People have said my forum looks almost silver, but I think it's gray. I think for a gray forum it depends on your banner and the shades of gray that you use. You can create a unique look with the color gray.

[Gamoc]

Well, I really do think that the grey skin look can look good depending on how it is made. There are many people who just put them together and try to get the people to think that theirs is the best. Most of the time, there needs to be more lively colors. The good boards have nice colors. I know some bright colors mixed with some grey can actually look good. Just go look at socal and XD Designs, they are great. But, a lot of the time, brighter colors are the way to go. My board has bright colors, and many people love it.

You should try a variety of colors over just the average grey color. It really does look much much better most of the time, and that is the truth of the matter.

[Sven]

myke said:

Using Grey Skins On Your ProBoard

Grey skins are a very popular here on ProBoards. Incidentally, that just may be the problem with it. With them being so popular, they make new forums that used them look less unique, and stand out less from all of the other competition. What do you think?

Also, many feel that a Grey skin, as opposed to original looking skins using a nice mixture of matching, unique colors, fails to capture the initial interest of a guest, since Grey skins tent to be monotone, and lacking in a 'lively look'. What do you think?

Debate.

As a designer, a darker skin can result in ALOT better detail, however, you can create a great techno look or alien look with a darker skin. Gives your saturated colors a better look and makes them stand out.

However, darker skins are also ALOT easier to design. A light skin, if not dont properly can blind someone, however, a dark skin is easy on the eye. I don't find that a well designed dark skin does not capture a guests.

It depends on what you're making I guess. You wouldn't have a general chat forum in dark colors. I'd slap the person that did. It depends on the style.

[Gamoc]

Well, yes, that is very true. It is also good to see when someone goes for a bright skin that looks nice and is quite easy on the eyes. If someone is going to make a Pokemon or anime forum, I would suggest brighter colors than grey. If it is holiday themed(not halloween), I would never suggest using any grey, I doubt someone would find it appealing to see merry christmas on a banner that is really dark.

Yes, theme is very very important. That is for certain. Some boards do go great with grey skins, many others attempt, but never get quite the result they were looking for, in fact, most of the time, it is the opposite. It is nice to see when someone has made a really nice bright skin, or even put some bright colors with a great skin to make it look nice.

I agree with you, they are easier to make and are easier on the eyes most of the time, but that's not to say that a bright skin would kill(which I think you said).

[eagletalon]

I mainly use black backgrounds for my Forums, though perhaps that's mainly because I like that kind of background, and it usually catches your eye to see a black background Forum, since they are, amazingly, not overused. I usually use white for the titles/ text, and blue for the links. And about pokemon and anime, that depends. For example, my Forum just uses a Dark Lugia background, and is quite dark. Whereas a Naruto fan Forum, for example, should be lighter, with maybe some Orange.
Streamlined Forums are often effective, but especially for Graphics sites, as using codes to enhance the welcome table can help make the logo stand out, and make users want to see some more of their images.
Grey Forums are more suited to discussion and Graphic Forums, as most other Forums should have a colour based on their topic, and grey is a pretty rare colour in that sense.
But anyways, grey is quite popular, and can look pretty neat, though it is overused, and gets annoying. However, sometimes I see a grey Forum with a unique layout that makes it stand out.

[~Shade~]

there is no such thing as a bad color to use for a forum its how you blend the colors. If you have a red background and orange font well that is like suicide for your forum but with a black background and white font or vice versa it will look fine because there is no strain on the eyes and it also depends on where you place the item on your forum so its easy for the user to navigate around that makes it a good forum

Visit my forum at: ticlanleader.proboards56.com/index.cgi

[Princess-Star-Angel]

I really think it depends on the site. If the site is about a place where people are often sad and gloomy, fine. If it's a place where people are cheerful, not so fine. My site is pink, but it's a girly bording school RP. If the site has a sad feeling, then by all means use gray!