Website background colour?

[Box Brownie]

I know this has been asked a few times and a while back more thought "white" was better over "black"..............but what about now?

I have favoured black to make the images standout but using something like 18% grey would be perhaps softer on the viewer and still make the imagery look OK.

Just to complicate matters ~ if black or grey should there be a thin white border around them or conversely if white what about a thin black border???

Broadly speaking subject matter may affect the choice but what about if displaying in separate galleries wildlife, landscape, built environment, aviation.....................would the same background colour suit all universally?

Current/what do you use insights very welcome

 

[Peteaud]

I use white as to me it looks much cleaner.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

18% grey would give best representation to your images if that's the focus of your website. Incidentally this is what I use.

 

[brman]

..........
Broadly speaking subject matter may affect the choice but what about if displaying in separate galleries wildlife, landscape, built environment, aviation.....................would the same background colour suit all universally?

Current/what do you use insights very welcome

I'd agree with this. Ideally the background should match the subject. If you can't (eg need a fixed background for all pics) then I'd go with black or dark gray. As to borders I have only used them if the image merges into the background. Again though if it is all or nothing I would use them.
but then I am no expert.....

edit: btw I think Flickr have got it right - a dark gray.

 

[shreds]

A lot of it is also personal preference.

Are you building it yourself or using templates? Try looking at photo sites such as Photium to get an idea of how things might work.

As said above, I prefer dark grey, but sometimes surprising combinations can work.

 

[boliston]

I find white looks the cleanest, and preferably borderless photos

 

[asaspasas6]

Personally I prefer white background, as website looks cleanest (especially when using minimalistic design it works really well). However i saw some portfolio (gallery style) websites where black background was used and it looked not too bad either.

 

[Box Brownie]

I use white as to me it looks much cleaner.

I have seen various sites and the white does add crispness to the likes of social photography i.e. wedding, portrait and baby imagery.

18% grey would give best representation to your images if that's the focus of your website. Incidentally this is what I use.

Ah! yes a mid grey is neutral on the eye and I see you use a thin white border around all the images.

I'd agree with this. Ideally the background should match the subject. If you can't (eg need a fixed background for all pics) then I'd go with black or dark gray. As to borders I have only used them if the image merges into the background. Again though if it is all or nothing I would use them.
but then I am no expert.....

edit: btw I think Flickr have got it right - a dark gray.

I have looked at Flickr so often I have forgotten what the BG colour is?

A lot of it is also personal preference.

Are you building it yourself or using templates? Try looking at photo sites such as Photium to get an idea of how things might work.

As said above, I prefer dark grey, but sometimes surprising combinations can work.

My site is a Photium one and I have left it black for a long where it has been very much WIP but as I plan to add progressively more images and redefine my galleries I was intending to make aBG colour change.

I find white looks the cleanest, and preferably borderless photos

Personally I prefer white background, as website looks cleanest (especially when using minimalistic design it works really well). However i saw some portfolio (gallery style) websites where black background was used and it looked not too bad either.

Thanks for the feedback.


I am leaning towards an 18% grey "type" BG though the black does/did make them stand out. White I fear will not be quite right(?) plus I need to check the Photium settings to see if there is one for adding a border automatically as I have no wish to add extra steps to my PP just to add borders to the web display versions.

 

[Box Brownie]

Talking of Flickr and indeed 500px the gallery opens as pale BG but when clicked through to view the single image it with a primarily black BG 'lightbox'..................best of both worlds???

 

[dejongj]

I use both. Ordinarily and the grid is on a white background, much more pleasing to the eye for reading text. However when clicking on an image to enlarge the light box opens and it is on a grey/black background with the rest faded out.