I used to think pure black backgrounds were the only way to go for dark mode

I was working on a project for a local library's app and made two test versions, one with #000000 backgrounds and one with a dark gray (#121212). After showing them to my friend, she said the pure black one 'felt like staring into a void' and gave her a headache after five minutes. The dark gray version was way easier on the eyes for reading long articles, and the text contrast still looked sharp. Has anyone else found a sweet spot for their dark gray base color?

3 comments

3 Comments

jennifer_fisher15d ago

Agree with @lilyt90 about how fast headaches can hit, I've seen it too with my sister and it's scary how quick the switch flips... For the color thing though, I think a lot of people stop at #121212 and call it good but I've actually been tweaking mine a tiny bit warmer, like adding just a hint of brown or maroon to the gray. That warm dark gray feels way less harsh than a cold gray, even if it's the same brightness level. Have you messed around with tiny color shifts like that?

morgan.cameron2mo ago

Wait, she got a headache in five minutes?

lilyt902mo ago

Oh man, my friend gets migraines that come on that fast. One minute we're grabbing coffee, the next she's pale and has to sit down in a dark room. It's wild how quick it can hit some people. Her doctor said it's a specific kind of headache trigger. Totally believable to me now after seeing it happen.