No more black interface in Pixelmator

What features would you like to see in Pixelmator?
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2011-12-19 21:18:11

Since Pixelmator 2.0, I have a hard time seeing what I’m doing in the GUI. The black interface completely kills the user experience for two reasons :
- It is very, I mean VERY aggressive to the eye. I’ve had a few ergonomics classes recently, and specialists would agree together that the new interface is a visual disaster.
- The surroundings of artwork influences it a lot. This is why Photoshop, and even Mac OS X, chose to adopt some very light shades of gray all around.

Please bring back the old interface, and even add some tweaks to it because it was already a little too dark. or let us choose our background color.

Note : The luminosity on my iMac is usually on the third bar from the left because otherwise it’s too luminous for my eyes. It’s the very first Mac app that causes me this kind of problem. Even AutoCAD 2011 or 2012 for Mac is better.

Note #2 : I don’t wear and I don’t need to wear glasses, as my eyes are in very good condition according to optometrists.
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2011-12-22 10:54:58

I agree! Also the website is impossible to read !, All interface is TOO black, in impossible to see windows one on top of others, palette icons are too small and dark !
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2011-12-31 19:29:35

I say they can easily bring back the interface from Pixelmator 1, this would be a good start to lighten the interface just a bit and make it more clear.

Pixelmator 2 is great and everything but the black interface is a total turn off. I’ve never seen an application THAT black in my entire Mac experience so far.
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2012-01-01 16:59:41

The black interface of this part of your site is terrible too! VERY HARD TO READ DARK GRAY ON BLACK!
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2012-01-02 19:16:38

I agree!!
Please get rid of the black background with light gray print.
It might have a novel look and be very trendy, but it is very hard on the eyes of anyone over 25 or those of us that do not have 20/20 vision. Human minds are trained - very early - to read black on white, not white on black.
The program is great, however, for me it is difficult to use due to the black backgrounds on everything.
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2012-01-03 00:28:15

I wholeheartedly agree.
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2012-01-03 04:39:23

@ KAB1939 : Trust me, I’m 23 years-old and my vision is perfect. Pixelmator app AND their website are both unbearable.

Join the contrast rebellion with me : http://contrastrebellion.com
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2012-01-03 18:40:01

Thanks for that link @PsykX. Let's hope some people wake up reading it.
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2012-08-14 10:39:23

Yes, please make Pixelmator UI lighter, like the darkest level of customisation in Photoshop CS6
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2012-08-27 18:12:44

I registered just for this! Please change the UI to something like Photoshop or any other graphics software. Grey background with black icons etc. They truly are a strain for the eye. Customizable or selectable UI theme would be nice. The black UI might look cooler for a second and might sell more due to it's eye candyness, but those who really use the software for what it is do seem to like a lighter and more clearer UI.
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2012-08-27 20:00:16

I have been using Pixelmator everyday for years and never had an issue with the dark UI. I actually love it.
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2012-08-31 05:45:59

...and if you add the option so that the user can apply the color and style of the theme (light grey,dark grey,black)
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2012-08-31 15:39:14

I've got 20/20 vision, 35 year old with a 27'' iMac and the ONLY reason I keep going back to photoshop after just 30 seconds with Pixelmator is the black interface. The contrast is so bad it gives me headaches. PLEASE allow us to use a light grey!
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2012-08-31 15:43:49

I just read that you can right click on the canvas and change the UI background color. Its still not a perfect solution for me - but perhaps it will let me go forward.
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2012-09-05 21:59:55

I would like as well to vote for this.

Please give us a theme more in line with the Mac OSX user interface guidelines.
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2012-09-06 03:21:06

Yeah, want this too. Choose between a "black" and "white" version.
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2012-09-06 15:55:04

Yep, it would be extremely cool to make an option for white interface.

Quite good project, but unfortunately this too-way-contrasty interface lowers the usability by considerable amount.
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2012-09-07 14:39:15

I was just about to post the same thing. The black interface on this forum is really hard to read. Please change it!
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2012-09-14 10:34:20

In the recent weeks I find myself preferring Gimp (which now has native interface and much better look than before on OS X) over Pixelmator just because it has white interface.
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2012-09-18 15:03:18

I purchased Pixelmator when V1.64 in January 2011 as I wanted an alternative the Photoshop, which is getting bloated. It's sad to say I've only used it once, for 5 minutes, because of the interface. Not only is the black background hard on the eyes, but having a grey colour picker and text/font tool is distracting and frustrating.

I'm sure the Pixelmator devs are hard at work implementing new features and tools, fixing bugs, etc., but please fix your UI or at least give us the option to make it grey like the system colours.

I hate to say it, but I won't be upgrading to any future paid releases unless the UI is fixed. Sorry guys, I just can't use your product.
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2012-09-18 17:37:11

I'm going to get burned at the stake here, but I really like the black interface. It sets Pixelmator apart and looks good from an aesthetic standpoint. Everything is perfectly clear and visible to my eyes, except at the lowest brightness setting. Then it's only 80% readable, which is still plenty for me. I personally do not want an option to change the main interface color.
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2012-09-26 15:02:04

I love the black. couldn't disagree more.
so instead, how about we change the request to be more like:
give us the option to change the color scheme of the app (like all adobe products, and even blender have the option for)
so that some people can have white, others black, some red, blue, dark, light, etc.
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2012-09-27 18:37:01

Please, Please Please! Do something with the black interface. Just downloaded it and love the program but can't deal with the BLACK! Will not purchase. I thought my search was over but I can't deal with the black. Here is a great color pallet. Easy on the eyes.


Image
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2012-10-02 20:39:22

I am a legally blind guy and I have used and tested many, many pixel and vector apps for 30 yrs. I really struggle with your UI. I want to buy and enjoy using your app but my eyes and brain have to work harder to deal with your UI. Please, please, please allow us the option to change the black to some range of grey, thank you! Have compassion for us who don't have perfect vision but who know art well.
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2012-10-10 01:58:39

Meh. Don't listen to this one please. While I might go for a more 80-85% dark instead of black, I really dig the dark interface. Just like Photoshop CS6 came out with and Lightroom has always been - dark. Better to view an image with darker surroundings than light ones.

Great UI. It's ok to not listen to Apple all the time. ;)