Background images: Okay, or do they interfere with text?

Question

When I searched for information about background images for profile pages, I came across several posts saying that they made profile text difficult to read. But  those were dated back in 2015. Do some people still have issues with (subtle) images, instead of just the plain gray backgrounds?

Comments

The subtle ones do enhance profiles, but have seen some that are startling when I open the profile.  If you don't have any images to use, this collection that Debby Black created, are lovely   https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Simple_Backgrounds

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Thanks for the link, Patricia! The reason I was asking is that I've been taking a photo art course, which includes making brushes and the like with Photoshop... Just struck me it would be fun to see them on a web page.

(I made one last night that _I_ would consider startling -- https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Collection_of_photos_for_S_Banks_Tree_pages -- but I like it, so put it on that out-of-the-way free space page... Four of the other pix there are of locations, but there is another background with tiny, pale cliff swallow, which is hardly startling at all...)

I am just getting my head around this, and the visual aspects, etc., so will likely set up a page for backgrounds then and keep separate from other photos. (I find that plain white and pale grey screen create too much glare; hard on my eyes. And my monitor is calibrated for photo editing, so I don't much feel like making many changes there.)

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I personally love background images. But for everyone who loves them, you'll find someone else who hates them. By the way I like your maroon flower

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Thank you, Anne! Although I suspect it will work "better" when I use the Fleabane brush (yes, it's a Prairie wildflower; I have a blog with my pix of wildflowers) in a very pale colour, on a pale background.

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I started my own page of background patterns for subtle background images in early 2017.  Mine are mostly grey based but I use them judiciously.

Answer 1

As you mentioned, there was a time when that had been discussed, but I do not believe anything came of it.

 

This is all I can find:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Background_Images

Comments

Thanks so much! I've noticed they're not the norm, but can't tell whether that means people are focussing on the data (good), instead.

Answer 2

I find it a problem when a profile has patterned side borders. Very difficult to focus on the text and read normally. If the patterns are too busy I need to cover them with my hands.

Comments

That's good to know -- thanks!

Answer 3

I find some background images annoying -- and even overwhelming, as Lynda describes. I like the background on https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Collection_of_photos_for_S_Banks_Tree_pages -- it's not visually distracting or annoying.

Comments

Thanks! I'm not planning to use it on any people profiles, but it was fun to create!

Answer 4

Backgrounds can often greatly enhance a profile.  It can give them a finished, professional look.  

The best ones to use are subtle repeating tiles.  You can find many thousands with a google search.  There are also a number of free space pages on wikitree which have good repeating patterns.

• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Simple_Backgrounds
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Library_of_Background_Images_2017
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Seamless_tiled_background_textures

The worst is to use a picture as they will never be cropped right, and will be very distracting.  It is also important to know if you try to use a picture with a non-repeating pattern that it will not look the same on everyone's computer due to different screen sizes and different resolutions.  So what may look fine on your computer probably looks awful on mine.

Comments

S Banks has designed a couple of beautiful and subtle background images, featured on the page she linked to here.

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Thanks, Ellen!