[ubuntu-art] Feedback on the current artwork in Edgy

[Corey Burger]

Forwarding this email exchange with Mark. Please CC me as I am no
longer a subscriber.

On 9/10/06, Mark Shuttleworth <mark at canonical.com> wrote:
>
>  Corey Burger wrote:
> I wanted to raise some issues I have seen with the current artwork in
>  Edgy.  I have been speaking with Troy Sobotka and he mentioned that
>  the artwork is largely being driven by you, as  has always been the
>  case. I wanted to raise a few specific points, mostly related to
>  marketing:
>
>  During the Edgy cycle we decided to build a community structure that could
> help with artwork in Ubuntu. Until now, the artwork has been commissioned
> directly from professional artists, with me guiding them and making the
> final selection. I'm still very closely involved, but given the desire that
> we have to build a real community team, I'm treading a little bit carefully.
> I don't particularly like the current state of things, but I think it's good
> that "community art" is landing in Edgy to get widespread review (and
> acclaim or criticism as the case may be).
>
>
>
> 1. The largest complaint, beyond that we are brown (something I don't
>  much care about), is that the current Ubuntu themes are very dark.
>  Much too dark, even.
>
>  I do have a personal preference for darker desktops. This reduces eyestrain
> substantially, and allows documents, icons etc on the desktop to stand out
> much more dramatically. We have a policy of keeping the desktop clean and
> out of the way. Choosing abstract images that do not have a lot of sharp
> contrast has been part of the way we've tried to achieve that.
>
>
>
> 2. Our dapper and earlier login screen is very bright, much in
>  contrast with the rest of the theme. It has become one of the
>  recognizable elements of Ubuntu, as any machine without anybody at it
>  becomes an instant billboard for Ubuntu. Thus the design for the login
>  screen must be considered very carefully, as it no longer truly an
>  artwork exercise.
>
>  Corey, I produced our longstanding GDM login image personally, I do care
> deeply and won't let it get screwed up ;-)
>
>  The login can be a lot lighter than the desktop, because you're never
> really *studying* it. you either see it in a room (bright is good) or, when
> you use it, it disappears very quickly. So, yes, the login needs to be
> bright, bold, very strongly branded, etc. I WILL NOT CHANGE IT unless I
> think the change is an improvement in this regard.
>
>
>
> 3. The new Edgy login screen is very dark and not an iteration on the
>  old screen, which is an issue in my books. I understand what Troy has
>  been saying with palettes, but there is a happy medium. The dappling
>  effect also looks very mottled at a distance and thus not great. I
>  propose we lighten the tone, to some point between the old login and
>  the new one and go back to a more solid tone, without the dappling.
>
>  Read my mails on the list if you want to see what I think.
>
>  The current attempt will not make it through to final. There's some very
> nice concepts that were in the early brainstorming of the community,
> particularly from Troy, and I think those could really enhance the login
> screen. But the current version is a regression.
>
>
>
> 4. The new background is just as dark as before. One of the other
>  shipped backgrounds for dapper was about 2 tones lighter, something
>  which makes the desktop seem much lighter. You can see the effect
>  here:
> http://shots.osdir.com/slideshows/slideshow.php?release=718&slide=14
>  (also, this is one of the few times OSDir has actually changed the
>  desktop background during a screenshto series)
>  I don't advocate we use that exact background, but something in the same
> tone.
>
>  I'm afraid I'm usually offline when reading email on the road, so you might
> want to send that to me in an email.
>
>
>
>
> 5. The splash should reflect these other changes.
>
>  Yes. The Dapper splash is my reference point for Edgy artwork, and so far
> we are not coming particularly close.
>
>  Corey, this mail would be better used if it had been sent to the ubuntu-art
> mailing list! Please consider forwarding your mail and my response there.
>
>  Mark
>