Creating the appearance of a white sheet of paper on a computer screen

I appreciate all the comments provided earlier. Looking back, I realize I should have been more thorough in my explanation. Hopefully, the updated version will make things clearer.

On a broad level, my goal is to create a digital screen background that resembles the appearance of paper. The reason behind this is that I find pure white (#FFFFF) too harsh. After examining some hardcover books from my collection and observing the Kindle screen background, I noted that none of them are bright white either.

Therefore, I am seeking advice on how to achieve an off-white paper look on the screen. My intention is not to make the background flashy or attention-grabbing (I've come across samples resembling handmade paper with colored threads woven in, which is not what I want). Rather, I prefer it to be subtle and understated.

Would a single RGB value suffice, or would I need a repeated swatch? If RGB is sufficient, which combinations work best? Are there any websites or blogs where this topic has been discussed?

An endless repeatable pattern that can serve as a background image is also acceptable.

I experimented with various color wheels to determine an RGB value, and I came up with rgb(252, 245, 216) == #FCF5D8. However, I believe there might be room for improvement. You can visualize the color by inputting the RGB value here:

Answer №1

The importance of texture cannot be overlooked.

Answer №2

To enhance the appearance of the body, I recommend applying a texture...

body {
  background-image: url(texture-file.png);
  background-color: main color from the texture;
}

You can search for various 'paper textures' on Google to find inspiration.

Answer №3

Creating designs that look consistent across different devices can be quite challenging due to varying color outputs. What appears as a subtle yellow tint on one screen may appear completely different on another, causing confusion in the final result. It's always a good idea to keep user options open depending on the purpose of the design (personal use, website, application).

For a more eye-friendly design, consider the foreground color as well. In my experience building a web application, I have found that using shades of blue like navy blue or royal blue for text instead of black can have a more soothing effect on the eyes.

Answer №4

My collection of hardcover books is unique because they are all printed on recycled materials, giving them a distinct color profile of rgb(22, 44, 22).

The appearance of the books varies depending on whether they are old or new editions.

Furthermore, if you desire a more realistic paper-like aesthetic, it is recommended to use an image rather than a solid color due to the imperfections inherent in actual paper.

Answer №5

Research has demonstrated that staring at black on white can tire our eyes out more quickly. Personally, I prefer subtle off-white colors most of the time. While black on white provides the highest contrast, black on yellow is actually considered the most readable. Think about legal pads and school buses as examples.

Discussing the "color" of a printed page or a kindle is not logical in the same way we think about monitor color because they are reflective surfaces that simply reflect the color that shines on them. Paper "brightness" is determined by how much light reflects off its surface. Paper with extremely high brightness may reflect up to 98% or 99% of light.

With the new css3 guidelines, using hsl colors is now possible. This allows you to select 1-2 hues and adjust the saturation and luminance values for a consistent color scheme. Check out the specs here. Once you have chosen a color, consider using low saturation and high luminance for your background. This makes things much simpler than constantly reconfiguring RGB values. Just don't ask me about browser compatibility :-)

Answer №6

Here are some color names along with their hexadecimal and decimal RGB values. Many of them resemble the hue of aged paper. The shade referred to as "da Vinci's background" is inspired by the sepia tones found in a painting on paper.

  • fcf2d7 = 252,242,215 (da Vinci's background)
  • f4f2e8 = 244,242,232
  • ece9d8 = 236,233,216
  • faf0e6 = 250,240,230
  • ffda95 = 255,218,149
  • f5efdf = 245,239,223
  • antiquewhite = faebd7 = 250,235,215
  • beige = f5f5dc = 245,245,220
  • blanchedalmond = ffebcd = 255,235,205
  • cornsilk = fff8dc = 255,248,220
  • floralwhite = fffaf0 = 255,250,240
  • lightyellow = ffffe0 = 255,255,224
  • linen = faf0e6 = 250,240,230
  • moccasin = ffe4b5 = 255,228,181
  • navajowhite = ffdead = 255,222,173
  • oldlace = fdf5e6 = 253,245,230
  • papayawhip = ffefd5 = 255,239,213
  • seashell = fff5ee = 255,245,238
  • wheat = f5deb3 = 245,222,179

Answer №7

My preference for not using pure white (#FFFFF) is due to its brightness level. Upon examining the hardcover books in my collection, I noticed that none of them have a bright white hue. The Kindle screen background also does not feature a bright white color.

The perceived brightness of white is influenced by the intensity of the light source. The difference between black and white lies in the amount of light hitting the surface. Consider a movie screen - it appears white when unlit, but when illuminated by a projector, some areas become black where there is no light. This change alters our perception of color on the screen.

Therefore, the variation between the paper color of a book and the white on a screen is driven by the lighting conditions. If you increase the illumination on your book, it will appear brighter as well.

Have you thought about adjusting the brightness of your monitor? Personally, I opt to reduce the brightness on my screen. I fail to comprehend why individuals select programs with black backgrounds or grey text on black - this method only complicates the task of reducing screen brightness. Most monitors have a simple button for achieving the same effect without any hassle.

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