We've been considering changing user icons from black and white to color. What's your opinion?
This is, of course, the most important decision you'll ever make. Obviously.
(Per reader request, there's a few examples after the jump.)
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19 Comments
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I used to be a big fan of b&w, but - come to think of it - that's when I was in the closet. Since then it's all about living in full color.
Adagio | November 24, 2008 6:03 PM
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Bil, does using color have a downside for you? I don't know what it might be (more server intensive?), but there are already color ads on TBP so I don't think color icons would upset the aesthetic balance of the website.
Dale | November 24, 2008 6:39 PM
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No downside. I just liked the black and white icons originally because it looked more like a newspaper photo for a columnist.
Bil Browning | November 24, 2008 7:11 PM
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I like the b&w user icons. They are very dramatic.
mcc | November 24, 2008 6:51 PM
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Can we see a sample of the color icon???
Brynn Craffey | November 24, 2008 7:26 PM
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Hold on and I'll put a couple of examples up after the jump.
Bil Browning | November 24, 2008 8:47 PM
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Looking at both, I prefer B&W!
Brynn Craffey | November 25, 2008 12:25 PM
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Are the smaller black and white icons sharper and clearer than the larger colour icons which pop up on the contributor pages? I'll go with whatever, but I think (not sure) my own picture might be fuzzier if smaller *and* in colour. On the other hand, other people might not have that problem.
But colour might be cuter and more contemporary. Damn. Now I might have to fiddle with the camera for a whole another year to to get a pic I like (it took me that long to get the most recent one).
Yasmin Nair | November 24, 2008 7:57 PM
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Dammit! Now I have to get out the pancake makeup for my color shot...
I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille!
Waymon Hudson | November 24, 2008 11:27 PM
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Hands down - COLOR!!!
Firecracker | November 24, 2008 11:36 PM
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go color for a test run, then take it from there.
and i just want to take this opportunity to say how much i appreciate Bil's presence throughout the blogs. even though i don't always agree with him, Bil's perspective is always intriguing and insightful -- he's a really smart and sensitive guy. he's also a marvelous role model for the many younger men and women i work with.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE, BIL!!
Marcus | November 25, 2008 5:20 AM
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Ooooh - color for a "test run" would be a nightmare. With over 70 current contributors and alumni, it would be a lot of work to make all new icons, upload them, go through each contributor and set their new icon, etc. It would be a good half a day's work. It's all or nothing! :)
And thanks for the compliment, Marcus; I appreciate it. It's nice to get a note of encouragement every now and then! (Although I'm not so sure you didn't confuse me with Alex when you said "smart!" *grins*)
Bil Browning | November 25, 2008 7:21 AM
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Color. Color. Color. Color. Color. Color. Color. Color. Color. Color. Color. Color.
Patricia Nell Warren | November 25, 2008 5:36 AM
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Both work, but I still like the b&w best.
mrxmas2 | November 25, 2008 8:12 AM
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I prefer Black/White.. more professional and what I see everywhere else for bylines. Perhaps cuz it looks newspaper-ish.
Sue Hoffman | November 25, 2008 9:08 AM
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COLOR!!!
marc | November 25, 2008 9:09 AM
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damn - so much for getting cute with the font color tag! I guess that's not one of the html tags you support in the comments?
marc | November 25, 2008 9:11 AM
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Bil,
A comment from a professional photographer--your B&W photos need some contrast/lightness adjustment. You need to do more than just convert color to grayscale.
I like both formats, & would leave it up to the contributors' preferences.
Keep up the good work.
david
dturk | November 27, 2008 6:47 PM
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Great idea! --- Let the contributor decide if she/he wants color or B&W ... a democratic way to address an issue that is so very personal and of such grave importance!
A. J. Lopp | November 28, 2008 11:15 AM
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