who here has kept the default white background colour scheme? I sure haven't, having changed it back to black with yellow (and orange visted) links about 20 secs after I first saw the default scheme in the galleries Wasn't this supposed to have a 2 month trial and there was to be a decision one way or another about this? goes fishing with all the worms he now has

Heh. I hate it too. Changed it instantly also. I suspect it's a way of getting people to join Rendo, you can't change your color profile unless you get a membership, right? Course, it probably scares off more people than it attracts... ;)

I hate black backgrounds. It's the cliche of newbies. Hard to read the white or colored fonts that glare from the screen, and newbies always make the font tiny. If they go back to black (and so many people like the stereotype, I imagine they will to please them), I'll return to the less eye straining light colors. No, not everyone is into black as a background.

Oh, God!!!! Will an Admin PLEASE and INSTANTLY kill this thread?!?!?!?

Just glad to be a newbie :)

LOL I didn't change it back to black. I made the background just slightly more beige as I remember and darkened the text. I really don't remember what I did. But I really like it now.

Here's the breakdown since the color change: Members are currently using a total of 422 different colors for their backgrounds. 2174 have chosen black (hex value 000000). There have been an additional 2861 members that have chosen one of another 420 colors being utilized. The most being 88 members that have chosen hex value 333333. The remainder are using the default color. Out of the total unique users that have logged on since the changes were implemented, 7.5% have actually chosen something other than the default background color. Tommy

I set my color to white- I like to be able to read the forums and studies have shown that dark text on a light background is easist to read. But, a dark background is best for displaying images. {Out of the total unique users that have logged on since the changes were implemented, 7.5% have actually chosen something other than the default background color.} An interesting statistic: does this mean that 7.5% of people changed their background or that 7.5% of the people actually found the page that allows them to change the color? And, finally, this change is here to stay. As with most things, complaining only serves as a way to vent. They won't be changing back to the old colors. If you don't like it, tough... it's not your site, after all.

"But, a dark background is best for displaying images" - well, if true, why not keep that setup for the galleries? But I'm sorry, I shouldn'ta said anything, it's not my site after all and now I'm just complaining.

that's all...

We wanted to take a couple of months and see what people seemed to prefer- which colors they selected. Majority of the members have kept the default colors. Only 7% of members have changed their background and out of that group 422 backgrounds have been selected. tammy

Reason why the majority have kept the default is because our gallery uploads need to look good on the background and changing that just defeats the purpose. Since visitors will see the default, we need to see it to and plan for it. Doesn't mean we like it. Personally, I like the forum white, but not sure about the gallery white. Maybe its ok, many galleries are white. I thought black drew out the colors better. I do truly lothe the brown though. Its like soooooooo uninspirational. Put a yellow / gold gradient with some maroon and teal or whatever, but spice it up a bit and get me going so I feel like rendering instead of feeling like its time to go .... ok, I'll stop now.

{Majority of the members have kept the default colors} And how many of that "majority" even know how to change the colors? Expecially now that the link is buried in a page in a listing in a drop-down box? How about this: Has anyone actually done a study of the psychological impact of colors? DAZ using colors that are conducive to "shopping" and "buying". What kind of mood does "brown" inspire? Yes, people can change the colors, but what about visitors who come to the site and are turned off by the dull, muddy color scheme? But, this would be doing a "usability study" and lord knows we don't want to make the place easy for users. Then again, these arguments were raised months ago when the site was first changed. It won't be changed back, so I guess I'll stop now also.

More than 66,000 unique members have logged on since the change. 7.5% of those have altered their background color. As to how many actually know where to update their colors - that would be hard to determine. But I would imagine that anyone that cares what the colors are to the point that they wish to change them would have enough gumption to ask the admins, mods, or other members how to alter their colors if they don't remember that feature upon sign up. Tommy

Good point! What percentage of users altered their colors under the "old" look? Comparable?

I've kept mine grey. I like it. When it was black, I kept that too. Because I like black. Ahhhh. If only life could be that simple for everyone. ~:)

And how many of those 93% with the default background color can't alter their member profile because they refuse to answer the now required marketing questions? I'm sure I'm not the only one. ;)

rcook, nice to see you. That one got by me. But now that I think back, you're right.

Dialyn sez: "It's [the dark background is] the cliche of newbies." LOL! I've been online since I got my very first addy in 1989 ending in .mil, when everyone got their files via FTP, and USENET (via pine on a SLIP connect) was just about it for fora-style communications. The WWW was just a wet dream at CERN back then, let alone "e-commerce" and "communities." ...and I get called a newbie for preferring a dark background? You know? I thought the "yer choice sux 'cause it's fer newbs!" argument died eons ago, Miss D. ;) Lookit, folks - it's all about personal preference... My only kick against the default is that it's too high-contrast for a site that purports to be dedicated to art. I'd spoken my peace on it, posted an alternate color combination that would actually blend in better, and left it at that. You want it all white? go for it. all-dark is cool too... just make the damned thing contrast-coordinated by default for Hell's sake. "And how many of those 93% with the default background color can't alter their member profile because they refuse to answer the now required marketing questions?" ( /me goes to check... ) well I'll be damned. Shows how long it's been since I'd done that... Gee, what's next, Tam? Pop-up ads and doubleclick data-mining cookies? groan /P

We turned off the requirements for the profile until a couple of weeks ago and this was announced in the thread for people wanting to change their colors. So it has been off until a couple of weeks ago. thanks tammy

I don't like the brown. I have nothing against the rest of the color scheme, particularly in how it relates to the brown. I went to my profile and looked at the options, and there was no obvious way to change the brown, so I went away again. I didn't ask because I'm naturally lazy or something, and it was never that important, but since the subject has come up... How DO you change the brown?

{{{{We turned off the requirements for the profile until a couple of weeks ago and this was announced in the thread for people wanting to change their colors. So it has been off until a couple of weeks ago.}}}} Tammy, why is it necessary to force filling out marketing information on members at all? Shouldn't that be voluntary information at the very least? Perhaps if you want people to wish to fill it out, offering an incentive to do so would be an idea to think on, since right now they have nothing to gain, and everything potentially to lose, by becoming part of a marketing database of information to be sold to others. As far as notices saying it was turned off, or it in fact being turned off, I did not in fact notice it when I tried to change my color scheme. I still faced the same marketing questionairre that had been there demanding to be filled out if I even so much as wanted a newsletter (needed to update my email address, and could not do that to get the newsletter unless I submitted a ton of personal marketing info..) So since it is stuff people are not happy answering, why enforce the answering, and instead just make it voluntary like most sites?

Mine is on the default

I had no idea that being a poser pro admin carried such weight. I wanna be a poser pros admin so I can tell other sites how to run their business!

"I had no idea that being a poser pro admin carried such weight. I wanna be a poser pros admin so I can tell other sites how to run their business!" Grow up

Geez, "Mister Obvious", couldn't state your opinions openly, could you? Well, at least one thing has been constant all this time - there will always be people who too cowardly to state their opinions openly. /P

We DO NOT SELL member information. I want to make that clear for Renderosity and Bondware. Liz, I don't know what to tell you. We did disable the signup in order for those members who wanted to update their colors could without feeling that it was a tactic by us to get people to update their profiles. We just recently turned this back on a couple of weeks ago. This is a free site and we plan on keeping it that way. The only thing we ask for is information about the member. This gives us an idea of what members like and where we should focus some attention. We also use this aggregate data to sell advertising - banners and newsletters sponsors on our site. But never is individual data given out about our members and we never provide member emails. This is stated in our TOS. Hope that helps take care of the confusion. We all probably manage our sites a little differently from one another and there is nothing wrong with that...probably gives a nice change for members surfing. tammy

Let's keep this thread to the topic and not start attacking one another. thanks tammy

'This is a free site and we plan on keeping it that way. The only thing we ask for is information about the member. This gives us an idea of what members like and where we should focus some attention. We also use this aggregate data to sell advertising - banners and newsletters sponsors on our site. But never is individual data given out about our members and we never provide member emails. This is stated in our TOS.' erm sorry.. my information is private and unless I'm given good reason, is not disclosed. the above is not good reason. looks like I won't be updating my profile anytime in the future don't it? Kai

Er, what the heck is so objectionable about renderosity saying "we have 66000 regular viewers, 54% are male, and 43% are female, and 3% have declined to indicate, of those 66000 34% are between the ages of 17-24... and so forth. That's what was said is happening with the data. No body is going to know which of those datapoints is you, so why do you care? Your "personal" data is NOT being distributed, just aggregate statistics, and frankly that's all anyone cares about. Advertisers use those figures to aim their advertisements. Marketers don't care about you, only about large classifiable groups of people. They don't WANT your personal data, even if Renderosity was giving it out, which it isn't. Good Grief!

The more you give, the more people want...

{{{{{We also use this aggregate data to sell advertising - banners and newsletters sponsors on our site. But never is individual data given out about our members and we never provide member emails. This is stated in our TOS. We all probably manage our sites a little differently from one another and there is nothing wrong with that...probably gives a nice change for members surfing. - TammyMC}}}} Yep, differences are good, and I am an appreciator of diversity Tammy :) That our sites are run differently is probably a good thing for all in the community. I guess, at least to my own personal way of thinking, collecting aggregate data to the extent it is collected in the profile now (lots and lots of questions), and then selling it to companies as a part of a marketing thingy is still selling though. I never assumed you would actually sell individual persons emails and info, and I am relieved to hear you are not :) But selling information is still selling information. Maybe if it said somewhere in the profile, "This information is being compiled and extrapolated into data to be sold to corporations for marketing purposes, so that we can offset the price of providing and keeping services free on Renderosity." it would not only "ring more true" to folks, but then they might actually voluntarily fill this survey out if they feel charitable about such things. I guess what sort of gets me though is the forcing it on folks, for even so much as trying to update an email address in one's profile. I CAN understand trying to make a site survive financially and doing all one can to create ways for a site to make ends meet... but it is an intellectual level of understanding, since collecting in depth aggregate data is not something I personally have a taste for anymore than I have a personal yen to be a butcher, or janitor, or plumber. Just differences in how we achieve goals is all I guess. As for you Mister Obvious, yep, you could not have picked a better name ;) It is "obvious" you are a clone, someone hiding in the shadows wishing to attack me personally, but not having quite enough courage to come out with your real name to do so. At least I come in here with my "real name" every single time I come here, to say whatever I have to say, and do not hide in the shadows in a clone.

Need to clarify. We don't sell information to advertisers or marketers. We sell banner ads, newletters sponsors, and sponsorships. We may not provide the company with any aggregrate data other than the page views, number of members, etc (just basic overall information). Most companies are only interested in how many people are interested in their product/s...so if Alias for Maya asked how many members have an interest in Maya - that would be the only aggregate information we share. So we are selective with this information. When signing up with us, you are stating that you have read and understand the TOS. These areas are communicated in the TOS. When we make changes to the TOS, we announce in the Forum News, although we have not made TOS changes regarding this area since the first revision I assisted with many years ago. Under our Privacy statement those 2 areas are communicated. Renderosity maintains a database of member/user information to facilitate the community's operations for members, users and administrators. The following discloses our information collection, use and dissemination practices.

• E-mail Addresses: Member e-mail addresses are stored in a database for use in distributing member selected newsletters. This information is not shared except in cooperation with appropriate authorities in the case of violations of our Zero Tolerance Conduct.
• Aggregate Data: Renderosity collects, and uses aggregate data for the purpose of soliciting advertisers. This data includes page views, ad impressions, click throughs, total membership and total number of subscribers. No personal information is shared with this statistical data. The overall main use of the profile information is for us to understand what members have an interest in. This has been very helpful for both us and the members (i hope that members view it this way). We make community decisions on this information. I would say not to view it as being forced but as assisting with the information that builds the site. Again, I don't think we ask for detailed information just interests. tammy

I'll rather suffer with these ugly colors than give you one bit of information more about me... If I don't tell other sites that sell data, why on earth should I treat you differently? I couldn't gives a rat's behind about your revenues if it means invading my privacy.

You can't argue with the paranoid. The information Rendo holds is secretly piped to the CIA, didn't you know that?

Some people are just clueless, and cluelessness leads to paranoia, and paranoia leads to reading comprehension problems. In nice short words, this is how it works. (And I'm not even an admin, I'm just a non clueless user.) Renerosity needs money to run. They don't want to ask us to pay, so they have to get money from somewhere else. They do it by asking people to pay them to put up banner ads. The people running the banner ads have to decide if they are worth paying for. They ask renderosity, "why should we pay you money instead of industry magazine x" Renderosity replies "we have 66000 users, 23000 of which have expressed an interest in your product line, and our ads get clicked on x many times ..." And the person hopefully says, "okay that sounds like a good deal, I'll send you a check and the jpgs for x amount of banner space/time." Now picture the situation where renderosity does not collect any data. "We have approximately 66000 users some of which would logically be interested in your product line," lacks the impact of the earlier statement, don't you think? Taking a few seconds to fill in the marketting form is the price you pay for the free services Renderosity offers. Refusing to fill in the form, just makes it harder for Renderosity to continue to provide those services. Filling in the form will not damage you in any way. Nothing on that form is dangerous or will give blackmailers a "handle" on you. Your email address is not handed out to spammers, and renderosity has repeatedly declared that they do not sell the information. I do not understand why people refuse to help out in this way, and then go around acting as if they are taking the moral high ground.

actually my objections are based on the sheer amount of data ppl want to collect on me. I get a pizza, I'm asked to fill out a 'customer satisfaction form', I get a form from the council, they want to know all my finances. the power company want to know what I use in my home, 'to better provide for' etc. I'm just rebelling about yet another place that wants info on me.. like there's already not a few thousand others that want that as well..

Kaibach, I can empathize with you there. I completely understand. Moving to a world of information. I have often thought that it would be cool to have a place online where you provide the information in one spot and provide that link to anyone and everyone that asks for it. Would be less typing of the same basic stuff. But I guess that information would get out to everyone .... but seems it would make it easier. lavender is so correct with her post. that's how it works. tammy

Well, I'm not worried about it anyway since I lied on the form. (evil grin) Kate (who tends to fill those things out by just checking off the little boxes at random)

GASP!! You LIED??...{I thought I was the only one :D}

so thats where the Patagonion Tree Shrew came from on the survey.....

There is not much we can do if members choose not to answer the questions truthfully other than acknowledge that some of this happens so the answers are not 100% correct. That is true with any survey. tammy

Snicker Just kidding here Tammy, I answered 'em all right and truthfully.;)

Well the I had to answer one wrong on the latest community survey. It was the one, "Renderosity is better than, same as, stinks in comparison to other online artists communities?", and there was no button for, "er, actually, this is the only only artists community I participate in, so I wouldn't know." I did jump around to a bunch of others right after buying Poser, but if I'm going to be a member of something I want to be a MEMBER, and I guess I just liked Renderosity best of the three or four I breezed through at the time. Of course, that was before the mud brown borders. >;)

Huh? I must have gotten in my color scheme before that question popped up...I never saw that one...'hehe' lucky me ;)

This was the community survey, not the marketing survey. There's a link to it off the main page, and if you fill it out you get a free item.

Oh! Kewlies, will check it out :)

Well Im getting here late as usual but......... "I had no idea that being a poser pro admin carried such weight. I wanna be a poser pros admin so I can tell other sites how to run their business! " Mehndi was a member of this site long before she owned her own, and I dont think going out on your own and starting a site precludes you from being a vocal member of THIS site. That should be OBVIOUS!