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Ogunnowo857

: Are there examples of software that use a dark colour scheme? A client told me they want something with more a design software feel rather than web 2.0 feel, particularly something with a dark

@Ogunnowo857

Posted in: #Color #InterfaceDesign #SoftwareRecommendation

A client told me they want something with more a design software feel rather than web 2.0 feel, particularly something with a dark colour scheme. So now I am looking for some examples to show to him. I do not use many different types of software, so I am just looking for something that looks nice so i can understand what he likes or doesn't like.

The only one I've thought of is the dark colour in Adobe Bridge, but I was wondering if there is other software that tends to be on the dark grey side? Please include a screenshot of the software example.

The most interesting one that I found is Final Cut Pro Server. I would appreciate if you have some other software designs to suggest. I am focusing on the visual, not so much the UI, as it is a matter of taste not functionality.

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11 Comments

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@Alves566

GIMP has themes, and there's quite a few dark ones.

YouTube video explaining the process:

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@Smith574

Ubuntu's unity is a good exemple of well integrated dark color scheme. unity.ubuntu.com/about/

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@Looi7658678

Snowtape for Mac has a dark theme:
www.vemedio.com/products/snowtape
Sorry, can't post image, new user, not enough rep.

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@Merenda852

There's pixelmator, if that counts.

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@Mendez620

Apple Aperture too, as nearly every imaging / photo software, has a dark color GUI.

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@Tiffany317

Try Looking at Theme Forest (http://themeforest.net/)
themeforest.net/theme_previews/148819-javiero-creative-psd-template?index=9
or Adobe Flex has some good Interface
www.cornflex.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/saffron_preview.jpg
or Browse Interface Gallery (http://userinterfacegallery.com)

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@Jamie315

Adobe Lightroom (and many of Adobe's other apps) effectively use a dark color scheme:


More screenshots: www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom/

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@Karen819

Newer versions of Adobe's design apps
Microsoft Expression
Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 (sort of, the default theme is dark / light mix but not black and grays).


I'd also say to do a search for "dark colour scheme" web sites and look at the samples that are out there. The web sites are a lot less overkill than installing a big software package just to look at the color scheme.

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@Odierno310

Sorry mis-understood the question the first time.

New answer: There are quite a few examples of software using a dark theme, most of the ones already mentioned cover photo, video/animation.

But there are other examples too:

Most Autodesk design products use a dark theme by default. For example AutoCAD:



Microsoft office has a dark theme (though its not the default).



And Steam uses a dark theme based on the 'metro' design language



Dark theme's seem to be quite 'in' at the moment, many of these programs have only recieved a dark theme refresh in the last few releases. Personally i find it helps the visual hierarchy of the screen, allowing the main content - photo, video, drawing, ad's - to be more prominant while the UI sort of 'fades to the background'

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