chrisb wrote: ↑Wed Sep 14, 2022 12:33 am
Good idea, but let's wait until Chennes has improved the preference packs to make such exchanges easier. Changing
only the background color will most probably not do.
If we do a voting, we shouldn't exclude non gradient backgrounds.
Why should we wait? What we want is to find another default background color that average new users either don't notice at all being special or notice it as "modern".
According to the chosen new color we must then adapt the default of other colors. But this is independent on preferences packs. The result will be a new default preference pack.
I would start soon with the poll because it takes time. I think my proposed 30 days would be necessary to collect as many proposals as possible and because also users who like to send in a proposal need time to test their proposal a week or so to deliver a proper proposal.
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Concerning non-gradient backgrounds this post:
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic. ... 81#p601881
was interesting for me. Since then I googled around several times and all I found was that the eyes are less tired by a gradient because the 3D effect is important for 3D CAD. Then I searched the default backgrounds of other 3D CAD programs, and they all have a 3D effect. So apparently the human eye prefers this in the long run.
Then I looked closer how other 3D programs do this. There are programs with a plain background, here a screenshot from the program ChiTuBox (a 3D printer slicing program):
- CHITUBOX_ekfPYcATUF.png (53.45 KiB) Viewed 959 times
They achieve the 3D effect my a light source. Then the background can be plain, the object's surface is then shaded 8has a gradient).
Now take FreeCAD with a plain background:
- FreeCAD_pXVt3MWR2M.png (15 KiB) Viewed 959 times
This looks like a plain 2D rectangle with a stroke. So without a gradient background we have no 3D effect. That we need this for ergonomics is something, I think is out of question.
Therefore I see only two options:
A: background with gradient
B: new feature to set a 3D light source
However we don't have B yet (other CAD programs do) and I don't think we will get this soon.
(Personal: I used more more than 1 year a plain background and it was fine for me. however, now with the gradient of current master that I use since July, it feels indeed more comfortable and I will not return to a plain background.
I write my personal experience because only because I liked something does not mean it is the best for the eyes but a default should be a good ergonomic choice.)