The graphics part of the GUI

[nrbiocom]

I'm not going to try to duplicate Keith's efforts for functionality. I'll try again when you guys have sorted that out. In the meantime I will make appearance suggestions. As you requested, I will make a new issue for each one. Here is the first:

Please implement the color scheme I used in the excel comp. It actually was intentional. Do you need me to call out the colors using some particular color space? The outlines are a darker version of the green/khaki color of the background. The other two colors are a grey and a peach. I know there are some specifics with regard to certain buttons and details, but if we can get the general color scheme going, I can work on the details.

Thanks,

Norah

[kinman1]

Going back to your GUI comp, I never looked at it for color. Not for the first time, I don't like colors you've chosen, but for the first time I'll say so, as they bother me more than usual. Given the layout, and lack of distracting material, I don't think we need much color, if any at all. An all gray background is distracting, and coloring one column (Assumed), and in a color that is to my eye displeasing, is more distracting, which is something we specifically don't need. If you're trying to have different columns pop out, the same thing could be accomplished with vertical lines separating the types of columns. As an interesting example of the distraction for me, you have the Detected and the Unattributed the same color, but they do not designate or mean the same thing, and I would have to block out the color to make sense out of them.

I will reiterate that with a cleaner GUI that is behaving properly, the need for color (primarily a means of quality control) is much less obvious or requried.

[kinman1]

Staring at the GUI comp much longer now, I have changed my mind about the background, but I think it should be more subtle (lighter) and less green, realizing that latter is a preference. The colored columns though, are still distracting to me.

[nrbiocom]

On Feb 2, 2013, at 7:58 AM, kinman1 wrote:

Going back to your GUI comp, I never looked at it for color.

Wow, that a main part of what I was doing. I never ever choose colors randomly or unintentionally. And I've said so several times throughout this discussion. The color scheme here is, as always, opposite sides of the color wheel (green and orange) but in very desaturated versions. I've used light and dark hues of these desaturated versions.
Not for the first time, I don't like colors you've chosen, but for the first time I'll say so, as they bother me more than usual. Given the layout, and lack of distracting material, I don't think we need much color, if any at all. An all gray background is distracting, and coloring one column (Assumed), and in a color that is to my eye displeasing, is more distracting, which is something we specifically don't need.

Interestingly, the background is not grey, it is a light khaki green. But it does bring up the issue of color blindness, which occurs in varying degrees. Given your specific comments, I have to wonder if you don't see colors the same way that I do. You are probably not alone, so it is something to consider. I am highly sensitive to color, but maybe I am an outlier.

I don't think we want a white background. That is not standard for these sorts of things - both Xing and Ken used colored backgrounds - and you never want to be looking at a bright white background

If you're trying to have different columns pop out, the same thing could be accomplished with vertical lines separating the types of columns. As an interesting example of the distraction for me, you have the Detected and the Unattributed the same color, but they do not designate or mean the same thing, and I would have to block out the color to make sense out of them.

OK, fine. But we can't do away with color completely. So we need a color scheme. And it can't be primaries or secondaries as they look garish and amateur. So what do you suggest? I will reiterate that with a cleaner GUI that is behaving properly, the need for color (primarily a means of quality control) is much less obvious or requried.

You still don't want to look at a bright white screen or a black and white page. It looks unfinished, and it is hard on the eyes. Look at just about any professional page or app and you won't see B&W.

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[nrbiocom]

On Feb 2, 2013, at 8:08 AM, kinman1 wrote:

Staring at the GUI comp much longer now, I have changed my mind about the background, but I think it should be more subtle (lighter) and less green, realizing that latter is a preference.

We can try blue also - that might be easier for you to accept. I actually chose the lightest green possible from the immediate excel preferences, admittedly not a graphic design program. The colored columns though, are still distracting to me.

They were an afterthought. It was an attempt to be helpful. But with the automated input, it is probably not necessary.
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