c/dark-mode-design

Update: Got my dark theme to pass accessibility checks

Proper contrast ratios finally make sense to me.

Rant: Dark mode contrast is getting worse on too many apps I use

I noticed several popular apps recently have dark themes where the text and background colors are too close. This makes reading a strain, especially in low light. My own design had the same problem until a client complained about it. Now I always run contrast checks before finalizing any dark theme. Don't let your users struggle with bad readability.

A talk with my neighbor about his phone screen at night

He was reading outside after dark and his bright screen lit up the whole yard. I suggested he try dark mode, but he said the text was blurry. That made me see how important it is to pick colors with enough contrast for outdoor use. Now I test my designs in low light to make sure they work for everyone.

Showerthought: Dark mode colors shifted from plain black to soft tones

I recall when dark themes were just black screens with bright text, which felt harsh during late nights. Now, we mix dark grays and warm undertones to ease eye strain and create a calm vibe. For example, my old app used pure black, but changing to a charcoal shade helped users stick around longer. It's nice to see design evolve for better screen time.

Shoutout to our product manager for demanding neon colors on dark mode

It looks awful and hurts readability after a few minutes. I tried explaining accessibility guidelines, but it fell on deaf ears.

Working on a finance app, I see pure black dark themes causing more problems than they solve.

I think pure black backgrounds in dark mode are a bad choice, even though many say they look sleek and save power. On one side, people love how pure black makes colors pop and helps battery life on some screens. But from my tests, it creates too much contrast, making text blur and straining eyes during late hours. For example, users of my app complained about headaches when we used pure black instead of a dark gray. I believe softer shades like charcoal are easier on the eyes and keep interface details clear. What do you all think, are we sticking with pure black just because it's trendy?

My gym's app dark mode is more of a workout for my eyes

Ngl, the text blends into the background. I might just stop using it.

Tried to design a dark theme based on my store's emergency exit signs. Big mistake.

I was making a dark mode for a hobby app and thought the green on black from exit signs would work great. So I set the background to pure black and the text to that bright emergency green. After using it for a bit, my eyes started to ache and everything looked weirdly intense. It was like the app was shouting at me in a dark room, which is the opposite of what dark mode should do. I'm really confused why some designers pick colors that seem clear but end up hurting your eyes. Is there a trick to picking colors that are easy to read without being too harsh? Now I'm rethinking the whole color palette from scratch.

My dark mode design improved when I stopped using pure black.

I dialed back the white in my dark theme and it worked better

I had this thing where I'd crank text to full white on a black screen. Once I swapped to a light gray, folks told me it was easier on their eyes during late nights. How do you balance text and background to avoid glare?

When presenting our dark mode, a client called it 'depressing'.

Warm grays beat cold blacks for user mood, I agree now.

My cousin finally understood dark mode contrast after our chat

I walked him through why pure black can strain eyes. He texted me later saying his site looks WAY better now.