I picked up Dragon #333 today, the first issue of Dragon I've bought in a long time, although I have a subscription that starts with issue #334.
I have one comment about the presentation: I find it very difficult to read text printed on non-solid backgrounds, such as in the "Fraz-Urb'luu," "Noble Born," "Relics of Faerun," and "Visions of Fear."
I agree and I would like to see them go away. Black-on-white only, please.
I agree about those backgrounds, though I think black-on-white only is a bit extreme.
The textured backgrounds really annoy me. Unless the article really grabs my attention, I don't read any article that has a textured background. It's just not worth the eye strain and headache.
Part of the problem is that the backgrounds have just so much texture to them, and it's not fuzzed out nearly enough. You know how when you sign up on a lot of websites now, you need to type in a series of letters or numbers that appears in a distorted image with lots of lines and dots and crap in the background so that computers can't read it? You know how annoying some of those are? Well, that's what's being done to the articles when they've got those backgrounds. It may be pretty but it's a pain in the ass to read, so I just don't bother.
...You know how when you sign up on a lot of websites now, you need to type in a series of letters or numbers that appears in a distorted image with lots of lines and dots and crap in the background so that computers can't read it? You know how annoying some of those are? Well, that's what's being done to the articles when they've got those backgrounds...
You know, I haven't tried OCR scanning in a page with the offending backgrounds. I wonder if it's a subtle way to keep the issues from being scanned in...though I can't think of why (it's way too early for me to be posting, really. Gotta rustle me up some coffee!) Anyone?
And, for the record, I vote for more black text on white pages with legible fonts.
- Chris Shadowens
"You know, I haven't tried OCR scanning in a page with the offending backgrounds. I wonder if it's a subtle way to keep the issues from being scanned in...though I can't think of why (it's way too early for me to be posting, really. Gotta rustle me up some coffee!) Anyone?"
If so, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't work. If it was an anti-piracy tactic, it would probably also be applied throughout the magazine, not just in the occasional feature.
I think it's just a poor layout choice.
"You know, I haven't tried OCR scanning in a page with the offending backgrounds. I wonder if it's a subtle way to keep the issues from being scanned in...though I can't think of why (it's way too early for me to be posting, really. Gotta rustle me up some coffee!) Anyone?"
If so, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't work. If it was an anti-piracy tactic, it would probably also be applied throughout the magazine, not just in the occasional feature.
I think it's just a poor layout choice.
You know, the more I re-read my post (and realize I wrote it before applying my recommended daily dosage of coffee) I think I was briefly thinking of the old software days when game makers would put out a book made with non-photo blue ink that contained passwords needed to play the game. I think I was thinking that if one wanted to photocopy one the goofy-background pages of Dragon it'd photocopy poorly thus eliminating passing pirated stuff...like that happens.
I hereby retract my clearly ridiculous notion and will do my best to caffeinate myself before hitting the messageboards.
PS: Less gaudy backgrounds and illegible fonts, more plain backgrounds and crisp, black text. My 2cp.
- Chris Shadowens