Can we change the default colours for edges and faces?

A forum dedicated to the Draft, Arch and BIM workbenches development.
Forum rules
Be nice to others! Respect the FreeCAD code of conduct!
User avatar
Moult
Posts: 321
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 11:46 am
Contact:

Can we change the default colours for edges and faces?

Post by Moult »

In FreeCAD, If I draw a rectangle, and then draw a line, they are almost the same colour, and are so hard to see. I consider this an accessibility issue? Admittedly upon rotation faces are lit, and therefore it can become easier to see, but still. Also, the preselection colour yellow doesn't have a large enough contrast to make it easy to see against the grey.
2019-05-25-211451_628x408_scrot.png
2019-05-25-211451_628x408_scrot.png (11.09 KiB) Viewed 1888 times
Here is an example in Blender where faces are grey, edges are black, and selected edges are orange. This is a better contrast and is easier to see.
2019-05-25-212929_702x598_scrot.png
2019-05-25-212929_702x598_scrot.png (41.26 KiB) Viewed 1888 times
For web accessibility, when distinguishing between different modes of UI, we have to consider the WCAG guidelines: https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/ - I propose changing the FreeCAD default colours to be more accessible.

As an aside, is there a user setting somewhere to customise the workplane grid colour?

Thoughts?
I also blog about 3D rendering, architecture, software and other on thinkMoult.com. RSS / Atom feed available for your convenience.
chrisb
Veteran
Posts: 53919
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 9:14 am

Re: Can we change the default colours for edges and faces?

Post by chrisb »

Have a look at Preferences->Display->PartColors
A Sketcher Lecture with in-depth information is available in English, auf Deutsch, en français, en español.
vocx
Veteran
Posts: 5197
Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2018 9:18 pm

Re: Can we change the default colours for edges and faces?

Post by vocx »

Moult wrote: Sat May 25, 2019 11:35 am ...

Here is an example in Blender where faces are grey, edges are black, and selected edges are orange. This is a better contrast and is easier to see.
...
I don't know if carlopav or Yorik made recent changes, but it was exactly like you say. For a very long time the default edges were black and faces were gray. This changed fairly recently, I think.
Always add the important information to your posts if you need help. Also see Tutorials and Video tutorials.
To support the documentation effort, and code development, your donation is appreciated: liberapay.com/FreeCAD.
User avatar
Moult
Posts: 321
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 11:46 am
Contact:

Re: Can we change the default colours for edges and faces?

Post by Moult »

chrisb wrote: Sat May 25, 2019 2:13 pm Have a look at Preferences->Display->PartColors
I'm referring to the defaults, yes, it should be user customisable.

Oddly enough my settings there are grey faces and black edges, so I wonder why my lines are also grey. Can somebody confirm this behaviour?
I also blog about 3D rendering, architecture, software and other on thinkMoult.com. RSS / Atom feed available for your convenience.
chrisb
Veteran
Posts: 53919
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 9:14 am

Re: Can we change the default colours for edges and faces?

Post by chrisb »

Which version do you use? Please attach your FreeCAD infos.
A Sketcher Lecture with in-depth information is available in English, auf Deutsch, en français, en español.
User avatar
Moult
Posts: 321
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 11:46 am
Contact:

Re: Can we change the default colours for edges and faces?

Post by Moult »

chrisb wrote: Sat May 25, 2019 10:34 pm Which version do you use? Please attach your FreeCAD infos.

Code: Select all

OS: Gentoo/Linux
Word size of OS: 64-bit
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.19.16830 (Git)
Build type: Unknown
Branch: master
Hash: a0497f42fd4f8a00e459660527e96b7aee9ca6bb
Python version: 3.6.5
Qt version: 5.11.3
Coin version: 4.0.0a
OCC version: 7.3.0
Locale: English/UnitedStates (en_US)
To clarify, here are my settings which are unchanged from default:
2019-05-26-083608_631x329_scrot.png
2019-05-26-083608_631x329_scrot.png (44.29 KiB) Viewed 1830 times
Yet here is what an extruded rectangle and a draft line looks like:
2019-05-26-083558_456x254_scrot.png
2019-05-26-083558_456x254_scrot.png (6.48 KiB) Viewed 1830 times
I also blog about 3D rendering, architecture, software and other on thinkMoult.com. RSS / Atom feed available for your convenience.
chrisb
Veteran
Posts: 53919
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 9:14 am

Re: Can we change the default colours for edges and faces?

Post by chrisb »

Please switch to Draft workbench and check Preferences->Draft->Visual settings. There is another line color setting.
A Sketcher Lecture with in-depth information is available in English, auf Deutsch, en français, en español.
User avatar
Moult
Posts: 321
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 11:46 am
Contact:

Re: Can we change the default colours for edges and faces?

Post by Moult »

Thanks- that's the setting that changes it. So in conclusion:

1. Shouldn't we change the default so that edges and draft lines are the same?
2. I recommend changing lines to black so that it has a higher contrast
3. Can the default preselection colour also change to have a better contrast? See below WCAG check.
4. The preselection colour is affected by scene lighting. When it is set to yellow at certain angles it is very hard to see. In Blender, it is also affected by scene lighting but the colour is always very clear to see. See below example.

Thoughts?
2019-05-26-091842_508x564_scrot.png
2019-05-26-091842_508x564_scrot.png (37.5 KiB) Viewed 1820 times
2019-05-26-092702_391x338_scrot.png
2019-05-26-092702_391x338_scrot.png (23.14 KiB) Viewed 1820 times
I also blog about 3D rendering, architecture, software and other on thinkMoult.com. RSS / Atom feed available for your convenience.
chrisb
Veteran
Posts: 53919
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 9:14 am

Re: Can we change the default colours for edges and faces?

Post by chrisb »

I wonder how you got these default colors, perhaps a user.cfg is installed instead of created? I have never changed anything concerning line color and edges are always black - Draft or not.

Can you please
- quit FreeCAD
- move your ~/.FreeCAD/user.cfg to another name
- restart FreeCAD
- check if the colours have changed?
- restore user.cfg

If you haven't configured something you want to keep, you can simply use the Reset button in the preferences.

OS: macOS 10.13
Word size of OS: 64-bit
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.19.16790 (Git)
Build type: Release
Branch: master
Hash: 15f440525e59c3caf89f847a490981abf5a45f8f
Python version: 3.7.3
Qt version: 5.6.2
Coin version: 4.0.0a
OCC version: 7.3.0
Locale: English/UnitedStates (en_US)
A Sketcher Lecture with in-depth information is available in English, auf Deutsch, en français, en español.
User avatar
Moult
Posts: 321
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 11:46 am
Contact:

Re: Can we change the default colours for edges and faces?

Post by Moult »

Thanks for helping debug chrisb. Deleting user.cfg indeed does restore the black lines.

I found that it is the BIM Workbench's start up wizard (the one which sets default values) which causes the white lines. Here are the exact steps:

1. Move ~/.FreeCAD/user.cfg elsewhere
2. Start FreeCAD. Switch to BIM workbench but when the startup wizard pops up, press "Cancel". Do NOT press "OK".
3. Start drawing, everything will be black lines. This is good.
4. Close FreeCAD.
5. Start FreeCAD again, switch to BIM workbench. Go to Manage->BIM Setup. On the startup wizard, this time, press "OK".
6. Close FreeCAD.
7. Start FreeCAD again. Now your lines will be white.

Can anybody else reproduce this? If so, I can look for a fix?
I also blog about 3D rendering, architecture, software and other on thinkMoult.com. RSS / Atom feed available for your convenience.
Post Reply