Now don't do a Nielsen on me and pronounce that all grey text is bad. I have been using grey text for quite a while now, and I use it because it is less readable.

Other people may be using gray, because:
it's fashionable,
it's not black,
it makes a change,
it has less contrast,
it uses less ink when you print it,
it's harder for people to read over your shoulder,
it doesn't wear down the laptop batteries as fast,
it takes less rubbing to erase it,
it is more likely to be read by fit young people with proper eyesight.

Or maybe they just mis-spelt black.
.

Posted by: Mac on January 17, 2003 04:08 PM

---

 

Internet Explorer Users, Try This Embossing Effect

Posted by: Gary on January 17, 2003 04:57 PM

---

 

It goes back to the Dave Siegel days of dark blue on a very light blue background, which was determined (possibly wisely so) to be less harsh than pure black on pure bright white. Retina burn doesn't necessarily equal readability.

Posted by: Tony Fonducho on January 17, 2003 05:16 PM

---

 

Grey text is possibly an extension of many designers' apparent desire to make text as small as possible, so that a Web page can work more like print and that nasty content stuff doesn't spoil the design.

Posted by: Matt Round on January 18, 2003 03:51 AM

---

 

The Grey Aliens will do anything and everything in their proliferation throughout our society as they adapt our world to their ways.

Poor contrast web sites are yet another way the Grey Aliens communicate between their kind. It's an identifier so that they can do business amongst themselves while promoting the disenfranchisement of the Monkey Boys.

Posted by: Street Preacher on January 18, 2003 05:20 AM

---

 

When I see "grey" I think disabled (as opposed to enabled :)

Posted by: daniel szuc on January 18, 2003 05:49 AM

---

 

Ponder this: Less contrast can INDEED be more readable!

Posted by: Hank Havelock, designer on January 19, 2003 08:16 AM

---

 

You are so right Hank. Less contrast is easier to read. You are so wise Hank. Have you written a book? I'd like to read it in my cave sometime. Can I get your autograph? Just wave your finger in the air for your signature, I'll be able to read it.

Posted by: Bibo the God Monster on January 19, 2003 11:51 AM

---

 

The harsh aliasing on pre-OSX/XP systems is also a lot less noticeable when text is not 100% black.

Posted by: Timo on January 19, 2003 12:50 PM

---

 

This HomePage uses grey text to convey different messages. The grey text at the bottom of the page tells you to ignore it by virtue of its position and colour.

The other pieces of grey text are bookmarked by bolder items.

Posted by: Mac on January 19, 2003 01:42 PM

---

 

Got some examples or research Hank?

Posted by: Boyink on January 19, 2003 02:36 PM

---

 

Grey is the mark of the devil. Deal not in his ways or his ways will come unto you.

Posted by: Street Preacher on January 19, 2003 06:17 PM

---

 

Although none of you usability-ist seem to have much interest in tools that fix problems-- here's one for Internet Explorer users that's real hard to hate. It's a bookmarklet (save the link to your favorites) that pretty much takes care of most "font" problems.

FontFixer

Ps. The "Embossing Effect" link in the above post is also a save-able bookmarklet.

Posted by: Gary on January 20, 2003 12:58 AM

---

 

So an article about contrast is printed in black on grey!

Posted by: Philip Chalmers on January 20, 2003 11:20 AM

---

 

The theory I was taught for on screen readability is called "the 70% difference". So if you have a white background your text should be 70% black. Simple black text on white is very hard on the eyes.

Poor readability IS the designer's problem.

Posted by: on January 21, 2003 08:52 AM

---

 

How do you compensate for the varying default brightness levels on each monitor and the degree to which each user may have adjusted the brightness after sale? 70% of unknown is still unknown.

Posted by: Da Mole on January 21, 2003 06:33 PM

---

 

Gray text isn't a matter of usability. It looks cool. End of story. As much as we all love usability, we have to allow for the idea that some people want their sites to look cool. Granted, there may be some people who copy the idea and use gray text inappropriately, but I have seen cases where it is used well and looks cool (albeit hard to read).

As for usability, I prefer black text on a light, neutral background (like... um... gray!) as opposed to white. After a while, the white areas start to "shimmer" and it hurts my eyes.

Bottom line: using gray text interferes with an optimal reading experience, but so far I haven't seen this used on sites that care about communicating content rather than design or overall experience/impression of the company.

Posted by: Lydia on January 22, 2003 04:55 PM

---