dark or light?

Please vote as to which you prefer, if you would be so kind I should like to know your reasoning for your decision, thank you.

I do like dark themes, but I prefer a light theme because of the contrast between the background and the text.

The thing I dislike the most is a dark (black) background with purple, gray (dark), or dark blue text. I've been to some sites where I had to highlight the text just so I can read it. As you become older it becomes increasingly difficult to read these kinds of sites.

Light.

My current site is dark, and I've regretted building it that way, specifically because it is ocPortal. The 'combined' CSS properties (appearing in global.css) for the various page/table/form displays, tend to cause many areas to be overlooked. Until somebody complains, and then adjusting the display to show 'correctly' for that element almost always zapppppps it elsewhere.

Yeah, I know, one can always 'target-edit' specifics, but that is a negative for me. Having to track down the various areas, that is!

I've always claimed ocPortal is 'the best CMS' available; I've never said it is 'perfect'!

 

I love the look of darker designs as long as the color value for text is carefully thought through (I wonder if the hue-shift algorithm in the theme wizard takes this into account). Dark themes can suggest a sumptuousness that light themes do not.

But overall, I prefer lighter themes. Most books and magazines are dark on light with good reason and much research backing up that choice.

Bob

I think whether the theme is dark or light should really depend on the content in context. For example, a website about space/sci-fi/volcanos might look good with a dark theme, whereas a website about fashion/politics/news might look good with a lighter theme.

But ultimately it doesn't matter how much I may enjoy browsing a dark-themed website, because I always managed to blind myself when I switch tabs to a light-themed website!

I tend to prefer light themes, rarely white, but rather with pastels tinted lenses. But I also love a great dark theme that sends my imagination soaring. I do not have a preference when a site uses the appropriate luminosity to convey its message or story in a way that is pleasing or spectacular. Having worked with light and dark skins, I agree with Fletch that it is a lot more difficult to control every aspect of a dynamic dark site.   

In general I prefer light (not white sites as they can be really blinding). Dark sites, although they can look great, tend not to do a very thorough job handling contrasts for all elements on the site and can make elements unreadable.

Having said that though, my site is actually dark because it is going for a specific old-style computer monitor feel. It took a fair bit of time to get the colours right in every scenario.

Some excellent responses there, and thank you all for your time and attention, this will all come together when the time comes for me to get to work making some skins for you all. Just one poll left now and I will have a stronger idea of where to begin.

Also here to, its depended on what you want to present So for Photo sites presentation site is more a darker theme. If you have more text to presend then a lighter theme is better to read.