Anyone else hate the white background?

As a newcomer who really likes most of what I see here, I must say I am disappointed by the choice of screen background color against which your wonderful images are displayed. I find myself blocking the screen surrounding an image with my hands so I can see the actual values of the image. It's amazing what detail can be perceived in the shadows once the surrounding white glare is eliminated. I can't imagine y'all are editing your images with a white background glaring at you.

Is it just me? Is this an old, overworn or controversial topic? Or can I get an "amen"?

Cordially,
Don Eason

Hi Don. Welcome to NPN. I usually post my images with the black BG. However, there are some times the black BG makes it look as if the image is a different size. Then I use the white. I have yet to use the custom BG color selection available.

I've seen it suggested a couple of places that when using Photoshop your desktop color should be set to a mid-tone. By the same token I suppose it might be better if the background color were not white. On the other hand, white is right for text, and text is a big part of this site. You can post your photo against a different color background, but it's just a little rectangle. That is a decidely lukewarm amen, brother.

Pete D.

Never thought about it before, but I'm not bothered by the white except with images having lots of white in them. I have to say too, that choosing colors other than black or white follows into the same aesthetic issues on choosing mat colors for prints. Some work and some don't and I bet we can't agree which is which.

I regularly drop the whole screen to black briefly when viewing my own work in Photoshop. It can be really helpful in making decisions about subtle light or colors.

If you haven't done it look at the tool Palette in PS and notice that there are three little tiny screens in the second row up from the bottom. Click on the right-most and your screen should drop to black except for the image and the tool palettes. Too distracting? Hit tab and the tool palettes disappear for an all-black screen. Hit tab again and the palettes reappear, allowing you to click on the left-most of the three little screens and restore everything back to "normal."

I tried doing all my photo work with the black background, but it simply didn't work for me. YMMV.

Just to add to Hanks comment about alternate screens in PS. A quick short cut for the same screens is to just hit the "f" key. It alternates between the three options without needing the tool palette.

Easily changed! And you can also add a drop-shadow or a real frame to your picture before you post it, if you like.

Sandy R

Don - I agree with you to an extent. I don't HATE the white, but I think it might be nice to have a light grey instead, just to tone it down a little. So I'll give you half an "amen". Would you like the "am" or the "en"?

Thanks, everyone. I was not aware of the BG options for posted photos. I will tone my original comment down to "dislike".

I think it depends on the image. Some images work well with white, some with black. In general, I prefer a medium or light gray.

Cheers,