Link-colors challenge Jorn Barger Sept 2000 NEW: I've closed the poll and posted the results below. (66 votes) This page is a challenge to web designers to come up with text-colors for visited and unvisited links that look 'tasty' with various light-colored backgrounds. Below are various different backgrounds (chosen quite arbitrarily, with some lighter than I really want). I've 'greeked' them up some sample text, with phony linkcolors generated purely by number based on the green example. The challenge is to make it look nice without interfering with readability. (But also to be somewhat generic, so that it can be widely copied by anyone who wants a similar color pattern.) My theory of visited/unvisited symbolism is that an unvisited link should 'glow' like it's full of something valuable, but when it's been visited it should stop glowing and look more like the plain text.

I use variations on this for most of my Joyce pages [example] The best combo I've come up with is this for a lightgreen background, using 447744 for visited and 229922 for unvisited links. The best combo I've come up with is this for a lightgreen background, using 447744 for visited and 229922 for unvisited links. The best combo I've come up with is this for a lightgreen background, using 447744 for visited and 229922 for unvisited links. The best combo I've come up with is this for a lightgreen background, using 447744 for visited and 229922 for unvisited links. The best combo I've come up with is this for a lightgreen background, using 447744 for visited and 229922 for unvisited links. The best combo I've come up with is this for a lightgreen background, using 447744 for visited and 229922 for unvisited links. The best combo I've come up with is this for a lightgreen background, using 447744 for visited and 229922 for unvisited links. The best combo I've come up with is this for a lightgreen background, using 447744 for visited and 229922 for unvisited links. The best combo I've come up with is this for a lightgreen background, using 447744 for visited and 229922 for unvisited links. 9 I find it hard to read. 30 I can't tell visited from un-. 16 It's not really 'tasty'. 30 It works fine for me.

This background color was supposed to suggest both green (for my Joyce section) and beige (theoretically for my web-design section) because the topic overlapped both: [joyce+web] But my bright/dull theory seems to me to backfire here...? Can you find something tastier for this background than 335511 for visited and 708011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 335511 for visited and 708011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 335511 for visited and 708011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 335511 for visited and 708011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 335511 for visited and 708011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 335511 for visited and 708011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 335511 for visited and 708011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 335511 for visited and 708011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 335511 for visited and 708011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 335511 for visited and 708011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 335511 for visited and 708011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 335511 for visited and 708011 for unvisited links? 24 I find it hard to read. 18 I can't tell visited from un-. 36 It's not really 'tasty'. 9 It works fine for me.

Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? 1 I find it hard to read. 31 I can't tell visited from un-. 21 It's not really 'tasty'. 27 It works fine for me.

Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774444 for visited and 992222 for unvisited links? 1 I find it hard to read. 16 I can't tell visited from un-. 28 It's not really 'tasty'. 36 It works fine for me.

Can you find something tastier for this background than 444477 for visited and 222299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 444477 for visited and 222299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 444477 for visited and 222299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 444477 for visited and 222299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 444477 for visited and 222299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 444477 for visited and 222299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 444477 for visited and 222299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 444477 for visited and 222299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 444477 for visited and 222299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 444477 for visited and 222299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 444477 for visited and 222299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 444477 for visited and 222299 for unvisited links? 6 I find it hard to read. 33 I can't tell visited from un-. 12 It's not really 'tasty'. 31 It works fine for me.

Can you find something tastier for this background than 777744 for visited and 999922 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 777744 for visited and 999922 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 777744 for visited and 999922 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 777744 for visited and 999922 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 777744 for visited and 999922 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 777744 for visited and 999922 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 777744 for visited and 999922 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 777744 for visited and 999922 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 777744 for visited and 999922 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 777744 for visited and 999922 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 777744 for visited and 999922 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 777744 for visited and 999922 for unvisited links? 10 I find it hard to read. 12 I can't tell visited from un-. 27 It's not really 'tasty'. 34 It works fine for me.

This is my old infamous-villains colorscheme Can you find something tastier for this background than 994444 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 994444 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 994444 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 994444 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 994444 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 994444 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 994444 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 994444 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 994444 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 994444 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 994444 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 994444 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? 21 I find it hard to read. 3 I can't tell visited from un-. 39 It's not really 'tasty'. 22 It works fine for me.

I changed infamous-villains to a browner visited-color: Can you find something tastier for this background than 605008 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 605008 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 605008 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 605008 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 605008 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 605008 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 605008 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 605008 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 605008 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 605008 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 605008 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 605008 for visited and FF0011 for unvisited links? 19 I find it hard to read. 3 I can't tell visited from un-. 36 It's not really 'tasty'. 22 It works fine for me.

Suggested by Paul Victor Novarese Can you find something tastier for this background than 666633 for visited and 333300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 666633 for visited and 333300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 666633 for visited and 333300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 666633 for visited and 333300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 666633 for visited and 333300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 666633 for visited and 333300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 666633 for visited and 333300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 666633 for visited and 333300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 666633 for visited and 333300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 666633 for visited and 333300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 666633 for visited and 333300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 666633 for visited and 333300 for unvisited links? 3 I find it hard to read. 56 I can't tell visited from un-. 12 It's not really 'tasty'. 13 It works fine for me.

Suggested by Paul Victor Novarese Can you find something tastier for this background than 993300 for visited and 663300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 993300 for visited and 663300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 993300 for visited and 663300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 993300 for visited and 663300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 993300 for visited and 663300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 993300 for visited and 663300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 993300 for visited and 663300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 993300 for visited and 663300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 993300 for visited and 663300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 993300 for visited and 663300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 993300 for visited and 663300 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 993300 for visited and 663300 for unvisited links? 19 I find it hard to read. 21 I can't tell visited from un-. 15 It's not really 'tasty'. 28 It works fine for me.

Can you find something tastier for this background than 774477 for visited and 992299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774477 for visited and 992299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774477 for visited and 992299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774477 for visited and 992299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774477 for visited and 992299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774477 for visited and 992299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774477 for visited and 992299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774477 for visited and 992299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774477 for visited and 992299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774477 for visited and 992299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774477 for visited and 992299 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 774477 for visited and 992299 for unvisited links? 7 I find it hard to read. 21 I can't tell visited from un-. 22 It's not really 'tasty'. 33 It works fine for me.

Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? 7 I find it hard to read. 21 I can't tell visited from un-. 16 It's not really 'tasty'. 39 It works fine for me.

Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 447777 for visited and 229999 for unvisited links? 57 I find it hard to read. 6 I can't tell visited from un-. 12 It's not really 'tasty'. 10 It works fine for me.

Suggested by Paul Victor Novarese (uses darker version of defaults) Can you find something tastier for this background than 660066 for visited and 000066 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 660066 for visited and 000066 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 660066 for visited and 000066 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 660066 for visited and 000066 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 660066 for visited and 000066 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 660066 for visited and 000066 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 660066 for visited and 000066 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 660066 for visited and 000066 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 660066 for visited and 000066 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 660066 for visited and 000066 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 660066 for visited and 000066 for unvisited links? Can you find something tastier for this background than 660066 for visited and 000066 for unvisited links? 4 I find it hard to read. 21 I can't tell visited from un-. 22 It's not really 'tasty'. 37 It works fine for me.

Web-design pages:
main : academia : info-design : adding value : resource-pages : lessons-learned : best-worst : plugging leaks

Special topics:
surfing-skills : url-hacking : open content : semantics : pagelength : linktext : startpages : bookmarklets : weblogging : colors : autobiographical pages : thumbnail-graphics : web-video : timeline of hypertext

Anti-XML/W3C/etc:
structure-myth : page-parsing : firstcut-parser : html-history : semantic web

Design prototypes:
topical portal : dense-content faq : annotated lit : random-access lit-summary : poetry sampler : gossipy history : author-resources : hyperlinked-timeline : horizontal-timeslice : web-dossier

Website-resource pages:
RobotWisdom.com : Altavista.com : 1911encyclopedia.com : Google.com : IMDb.com : Perseus.org : Salon.com : Yahoo.com

Older stuff:
design-lab : design-checklist : HyperTerrorist : design-theory : design cog-sci

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