Black background with white text. Any chance of a penalty?

Aldo · #1 (**permalink**) 07-14-2005, 03:58 AM

Hi all,
I'm putting a site together that would suit a black background with white text, is there any chance that the search engines would penalise me for something like that?

I know it is unlikely, but I have to ask just in case the Google algorithm may be smart enough to think that white text on a black background could mean it may possibly be a tacky site which is not much use to the search engine user or if it maybe dumb enough to think I am hiding text just because the text is white?

Thanks,
Al

modernsavage · #2 (**permalink**) 07-14-2005, 07:16 AM

My site has always had a black background with white text and links and it ranks well for most terms and number 1 for some.

KeithO · #3 (**permalink**) 07-14-2005, 08:13 AM

you'll be fine. google doesn't care if the site has poor layout or horrid graphics. they look at the content and links.

**brian.mark** · #4 (**permalink**) 07-14-2005, 11:50 AM

Google doesn't even care if you have black text on a black background in most cases. They may discount that text, but the rest of their algo tells them if the page is relevant or not.

Brian.

cspelts · #5 (**permalink**) 07-14-2005, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aldo

could mean it may possibly be a tacky site which is not much use to the search engine user

What a fun idea! Someone could create a search engine that filters out sites with huge text and over a certain number of animated gifs...

TrafficProducer · #6 (**permalink**) 07-14-2005, 03:52 PM

Yes!!! BUT can users with less than perfect eyesight read you text?

Yes!!! BUT can users with less than perfect eyesight read you text?

Their are guildlines, laws about this:-

http://www.bosslinks.com/cgi-bin/bos...name=Chapter+1

http://www.bosslinks.com/cgi-bin/bos...name=Chapter+1

TrafficProducer · #7 (**permalink**) 07-14-2005, 04:03 PM

[quote="modernsavage"]Freeware[quote]

Modernsavage Private message

Hello!

Computer Portal, Post your details if you wish.

http://www.acomputerportal.com/submi...terportal.html

greeneagle · #8 (**permalink**) 07-14-2005, 05:06 PM

The SE's have a tolerance range for each color designation.

It doesn't have to be an exact match to be "hidden".

Black and White is max contrast either way!

No problema!

Ken

dburdon · #9 (**permalink**) 07-14-2005, 05:51 PM

Although reverse type is much loved by creatives it is not liked by potential customers.

Weedy Lady · #10 (**permalink**) 07-14-2005, 06:48 PM

"What a fun idea! Someone could create a search engine that filters out sites with huge text and over a certain number of animated gifs..."

HEY -- go easy on those of us who have greeting card sites where large text and animated gifs are the very essence of the web site.

For people who have "normal" business sites, too much large text and too many animated graphics will drive away people all by themselves -- just like the black background with white text will --

A site needs to be user friendly. If it isn't designed with the target audience in mind it won't matter what the search engine placement is. Sites for teenagers are great in white on black. Sites for people 40 and over suck in white on black.

Just the way it is.

cspelts · #11 (**permalink**) 07-14-2005, 07:27 PM

Weedy, your site is very tasteful compared to what I was thinking of - but it was really just a joke anyway. I actually like animated gifs, if they are done in the right way. And if I had a site targeting tweens, I suppose I'd go with a lot of them!

Weedy Lady · #12 (**permalink**) 07-14-2005, 07:51 PM

Thank you for the compliment.

It is a real balancing act between what I enjoy, expressing my own sense of humor, and what the folks "out there" want. My target audience does not include folks who want grossness, insults and dirty jokes.

And if it all comes off OK, a large amount of credit goes to the folks here at WPW who have been so incredibly helpful each time I've posted requests for reviews and help with problems.

vukodlak · #13 (**permalink**) 07-15-2005, 12:46 AM

How does a SE know if your background is black when you use a black IMAGE as a background on black text?

**brian.mark** · #14 (**permalink**) 07-15-2005, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vukodlak

How does a SE know if your background is black when you use a black IMAGE as a background on black text?

I don't know if they're actually doing it, but it'd be simple enough to pull the dominant color out of a graphics file. If they're not already doing it, I'm sure it's on the map for a future improvement.

Brian.

TrafficProducer · #15 (**permalink**) 07-16-2005, 03:03 AM

Legal Update Text colours

Is your site legal? In August 2000, legal history was made in Australia, when the official olympics website was successfully sued by a blind user who found the site inaccessible (see Maguire v SOCOG). That should never have happened if the developer had shown due care and professional competence. More cases are in the pipeline around the world, and the numbers seem likely to grow rapidly as precedents are set.

http://valet.htmlhelp.com/legal.html

Also, do you want users to be able to Print content, this gets it seen and free advertising.

Well who's paying for all that black ink!!!

OK! print out colours could be changed but will users bother doing this.

If you don't want users to Print use soon Java Script to stop them.

KeithO · #16 (**permalink**) 07-18-2005, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrafficProducer

Legal Update Text colours

Is your site legal? In August 2000, legal history was made in Australia, when the official olympics website was successfully sued by a blind user who found the site inaccessible (see Maguire v SOCOG). That should never have happened if the developer had shown due care and professional competence. More cases are in the pipeline around the world, and the numbers seem likely to grow rapidly as precedents are set.

http://valet.htmlhelp.com/legal.html

Also, do you want users to be able to Print content, this gets it seen and free advertising.

Well who's paying for all that black ink!!!

OK! print out colours could be changed but will users bother doing this.

If you don't want users to Print use soon Java Script to stop them.

I had never heard about this. Reading it just pisses me off. A blind person not being able to access information, in my book, does not justify $20,000 in damages. If he had been hit by a bus, incurred medical expenses, and lost time at work, then that would justify $20,000 in damages.

cspelts · #17 (**permalink**) 07-18-2005, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrafficProducer

Well who's paying for all that black ink!!!

I've created sites before with a black background and white text, and the pages printed with black text and no background. The images look a little funky, but the text prints fine!

greeneagle · #18 (**permalink**) 07-18-2005, 03:33 PM

Most sites don't print well anyway.

IMO - The cleanest way to provide printable data is to provide it in a printer friendly pdf format, if you have info on your site that someone may actually want to print.

Ken

Aldo · #19 (**permalink**) 07-19-2005, 03:35 AM

I agree with TrafficProducer and Weedy Lady, I always try to think about who will be visiting my site and if my design will be a problem and get in the way of them enjoying the experience.

The site I am building is a digital camera site and it looks so good with an almost black background I am finding it hard to force myself to do it any other way.

Thanks modernsavage you have given me a reason to follow my instincts and go for it, I will let you know how I get on.

Let me take this opportunity to say thanks to everyone for all your help.

Al