Menu redesign and Real dark mode

[Asato Maa]

Hello there!

I want to share my thoughts on the design of some elements of the Cakewalk ?

It would be great to finish in a contrast mode (dark background and white text) for a dark theme the blocks of windows highlighted in red.

Especially cool to make a contrast menu.

They are very different from the overall harmonious design of ALL Cakewalk's dark themes.

In Cubase and Studio One, the same blocks are very harmonious in color.

Colleagues, what do you say?

Lots of screenshots with examples below.
 

Drop-down menu ⏬

All menu blocks and dropdown menu ⏬

 

Plug-ins and synths window header ⏬

All undock windows and scrolling on the right ⏬

 

This and this and this drop-down menu ⏬

And ALL Preferences menu ⏬

Edited February 14, 2022 by Asato Maa

[Starship Krupa]

Maybe you're thinking of something along these lines? You may be happy to know that the Export Audio dialog is one of the most recently renovated features of Cakewalk. It seems to be the direction things are headed. For people who prefer lighter themes, we hope that the menu appearances will be made a Preferences setting:

[User 905133]

For some of us, the varied shades of grey/white/black on top of other varied shades of grey/white/black is a problem.  Thanks for asking. 

[Terry Kelley]

I want the opposite, White background and black text.

[Will.]

The white background with black text hurts the eyes when you're in a dark room with the default dark theme going suddenly in to one of these menu's.  

The white menu is fine for the mercury theme. It's just fitting that the Tungsten theme has Darker Menu's all round. 

 

 

Edited February 21, 2022 by Will_Kaydo

[Mark Morgon-Shaw]

I thought the Sonar 8.5 interface was the best.  It was more compact but easier to read 

I think part of the reason was there's a bit of pseudo 3D depth which looks clearer than the 2D flat interface we have now.  

Edited February 21, 2022 by Mark MoreThan-Shaw

[Terry Kelley]

On 2/19/2022 at 9:35 AM, Will_Kaydo said:

The white background with black text hurts the eyes when you're in a dark room with the default dark theme going suddenly in to one of these menu's.  

The white menu is fine for the mercury theme. It's just fitting that the Tungsten theme has Darker Menu's all round. 

 

 

I used it for years and just turned the monitor down. Worked great and I still have eyes. I do however work in a lit room so the ergonomic contrast ratio isn't really at play as much. I agree some people might not like it.

Edited February 24, 2022 by Terry Kelley

[Will.]

44 minutes ago, Terry Kelley said:

I used it for years and just turned the monitor down. Worked great and I still have eyes. I do however work in a lit room so the ergonomic contrast ratio isn't really at play as much. I agree some people might not like it.

Don't know why I made the old room black, but that's the issue I have. Guess a 4K ultrawide screen doesn't help either.

[Terry Kelley]

On 2/24/2022 at 10:14 AM, Will_Kaydo said:

Don't know why I made the old room black, but that's the issue I have. Guess a 4K ultrawide screen doesn't help either.

Sure, in a black room it would probably be annoying.