Abrupt color change near scroll bar is distracting

I think the sharp color change on the right frame border near the scroll bar
should be removed, because it distracts from the scroll bar and thus is
visually tiring.

Outside the vertical scroll bar on the right of every window, Vista Aero
displays a narrow frame that includes a sharp change of color about a
quarter-way down the window. That color change doesn't convey any
information -- it is purely decorative -- but it creates visual clutter in
the area of the scroll bar. The scroll bar is important -- it tells the
length of the document and where one is within the document. Differentiating
between clutter and useful information takes work and thus unnecessary
clutter should be eliminated.

On the other hand, is there some functional benefit provided by that color
change that I haven't recognized yet?

(I'd illustrate that with a screenshot but I don't think this forum supports
that -- too bad, it'd make it easier to talk about UI features.)

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http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/com....vista.general

I found a screenshot illustrating what I mean:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:W...a_Explorer.png

Notice the scroll-bar-like window frame border at the right side of the
image referenced above. At first glance, you'd be forgiven for thinking
there is a scroll bar in that image, with only a quarter of the document
displayed. But in that image, the contents fits the window so there is no
scroll bar. If there were a vertical scroll bar, it's information would be
in competition with the frame -- unnecessary competition, since I suspect the
abrupt color change is purely decorative.

In no way would I interpret that as a scroll bar. To each his own I guess.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

"Baffin" <> wrote in message
news:9FB751FC-AF69-47C8-9398-...
>I found a screenshot illustrating what I mean:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:W...a_Explorer.png
>
> Notice the scroll-bar-like window frame border at the right side of the
> image referenced above. At first glance, you'd be forgiven for thinking
> there is a scroll bar in that image, with only a quarter of the document
> displayed. But in that image, the contents fits the window so there is no
> scroll bar. If there were a vertical scroll bar, it's information would
> be
> in competition with the frame -- unnecessary competition, since I suspect
> the
> abrupt color change is purely decorative.

--
Ian

"Baffin" <> wrote in message
news:A11A269E-4292-45BC-B781-...
>I think the sharp color change on the right frame border near the scroll
>bar
> should be removed, because it distracts from the scroll bar and thus is
> visually tiring.
>
> Outside the vertical scroll bar on the right of every window, Vista Aero
> displays a narrow frame that includes a sharp change of color about a
> quarter-way down the window. That color change doesn't convey any
> information -- it is purely decorative -- but it creates visual clutter in
> the area of the scroll bar. The scroll bar is important -- it tells the
> length of the document and where one is within the document.
> Differentiating
> between clutter and useful information takes work and thus unnecessary
> clutter should be eliminated.
>
> On the other hand, is there some functional benefit provided by that color
> change that I haven't recognized yet?
>
> (I'd illustrate that with a screenshot but I don't think this forum
> supports
> that -- too bad, it'd make it easier to talk about UI features.)
>
> ----------------
> This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
> suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
> Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow
> this
> link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
> click "I Agree" in the message pane.
>
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/com....vista.general
>


In what windows? You did not say which window you had open, because it dooes
not happen on anything I have ever opened.

Sorry Richard, I agree with Baffin. I looks like a scroll bar to me - I keep
looking for the scroll arrows.

"Richard Urban" <> wrote in message
news:...
> In no way would I interpret that as a scroll bar. To each his own I guess.
>
> --
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard Urban
> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
> (For email, remove the obvious from my address)
>
> "Baffin" <> wrote in message
> news:9FB751FC-AF69-47C8-9398-...
>>I found a screenshot illustrating what I mean:
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:W...a_Explorer.png
>>
>> Notice the scroll-bar-like window frame border at the right side of the
>> image referenced above. At first glance, you'd be forgiven for thinking
>> there is a scroll bar in that image, with only a quarter of the document
>> displayed. But in that image, the contents fits the window so there is
>> no
>> scroll bar. If there were a vertical scroll bar, it's information would
>> be
>> in competition with the frame -- unnecessary competition, since I suspect
>> the
>> abrupt color change is purely decorative.
>

Baffin wrote:
> I think the sharp color change on the right frame border near the
> scroll bar should be removed, because it distracts from the scroll
> bar and thus is visually tiring.
>snip<
==========================

Maybe these article will offer some ideas:

Windows Vista
Change the colors on your computer
http://tinyurl.com/2fl8db

--

John Inzer
MS Picture It! -
Digital Image MVP

Digital Image
Highlights and FAQs
http://tinyurl.com/aczzp

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

On Sun, 29 Jul 2007 06:20:01 -0700, Baffin
<> wrote:

>I found a screenshot illustrating what I mean:
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:W...a_Explorer.png
>
>Notice the scroll-bar-like window frame border at the right side of the
>image referenced above. At first glance, you'd be forgiven for thinking
>there is a scroll bar in that image, with only a quarter of the document
>displayed. But in that image, the contents fits the window so there is no
>scroll bar. If there were a vertical scroll bar, it's information would be
>in competition with the frame -- unnecessary competition, since I suspect the
>abrupt color change is purely decorative.

It is suppose to be decorative. You can change it by right clicking on
your desktop, personalize, Window color and appearances and play with
the color intensity slider or try some other color or just uncheck
transparency. If you still like transparency try the frost selection
is has the least color effect. I change mine every few weeks just
because you can. Supposedly Microsoft invested both a lot of money and
time developing this feature with their goal being to make the chrome
more appealing and less harsh. Some people like it, others think they
messed up. I'm neutral.

I got more important things to worry about. ;-)

A scroll bar is 4 times the width of the window border and has up and down
arrows. In no way do I see, even remotely similar, as a scroll bar.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

"Ed Forsythe" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Sorry Richard, I agree with Baffin. I looks like a scroll bar to me - I
> keep looking for the scroll arrows.
>
> "Richard Urban" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> In no way would I interpret that as a scroll bar. To each his own I
>> guess.
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Richard Urban
>> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
>> (For email, remove the obvious from my address)
>>
>> "Baffin" <> wrote in message
>> news:9FB751FC-AF69-47C8-9398-...
>>>I found a screenshot illustrating what I mean:
>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:W...a_Explorer.png
>>>
>>> Notice the scroll-bar-like window frame border at the right side of the
>>> image referenced above. At first glance, you'd be forgiven for thinking
>>> there is a scroll bar in that image, with only a quarter of the document
>>> displayed. But in that image, the contents fits the window so there is
>>> no
>>> scroll bar. If there were a vertical scroll bar, it's information would
>>> be
>>> in competition with the frame -- unnecessary competition, since I
>>> suspect the
>>> abrupt color change is purely decorative.
>>
>
>