Signal-desktop: [Feature Request] Add back old Dark mode "Dark (Android)"

[h1dden-da3m0n]

- [x] I have searched open and closed issues for duplicates

Description

As of version 1.15.0 the Dark Mode got updated and looks awful, especially on windows (can’t talk about Linux or mac).

I do understand that from a design point of view it seemed a “good” choice to be more in line with the OS Design and to change the Dark Mode to the Systems default Dark Mode. But the Dark Mode featured in Windows is just disgusting and unusable for some people due to that.

Concluding this feature request is not to request reverting to the old Dark Mode Design, but adding back the option to use the "Dark (Android)" design as an alternative to the "native" Dark & Light Mode.

Thanks for considering!

Feature Request

Please add (back) an option to use the "Dark (Android)" theme

Platform info

Signal version: 1.15.0
Operating System: Windows 10
Linked device version: n/a

[badanka]

I'm sorry, but I'm curious what you've "unified" the theme with? I have nothing as jarring as Signal on my desktop at the moment (Windows 10). Windows' dark theme doesn't combine black background with light grey scrollbars and light teal text bubbles. So now it doesn't sit well with either Windows or Android. Does iOS even have a dark mode?
Win10/Android comparison

[WestleyArgentum]

Please please please do this, v1.15.0 is so disappointing on osx now. The colors have a profound effect on usability.

[h1dden-da3m0n]

@badanka
Okay what I tried to refer to is what the windows 10 "dark" theme (Settings>personalisation>colours>choose default app mode) looks like, which then renders your windows settings (and I assume, as I don’t use any, some windows store apps) in "dark" mode.
Since the "new" dark mode in signal shows some resemblance (despite the not darkened scroll bars) I simply concluded that they tried to unify the dark mode with the native OS dark mode

btw. I’m not surprised that it isn’t 1:1 the same with the dark mode windows allows you to turn on (as it actually darkens the scroll bars), but since this would be the first iteration of the "new" dark mode it was expected to have some hiccups xP

As far as you comment on the actual in chat bubbles I do not have any explanation for that

[badanka]

@h1dden-da3m0n
Sorry, my intention was for my question to be directed to the developers, not you personally. I see how it could be interpreted differently though. I'm on board with what you said, even if I think it's not even remotely close to resembling Windows' dark theme.

[scottnonnenberg-signal]

I'm closing this, because it seems like there are two issues, already reported separately, being tracked here:

1. There are no per-conversation colors if you've paired Signal Desktop with Signal iOS https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Desktop/issues/2590
2. The scrollbars are too bright when using the dark theme: https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Desktop/issues/2592

[h1dden-da3m0n]

@scottnonnenberg-signal
I would disagree with your assumption that #2590 or #2592
have anything to do with this FEATURE REQUEST as they are related to issues with the "NEW" Dark theme, this request though was for re-adding the old "Dark (Android) / Android (Dark)" theme as a third theme option.
May I ask you to re-evaluate your decision to close this one, please?

Or, should this request actually be connected to the two other issues, would you be so kind to elaborate on how as the old Dark theme was nothing like the new one and superior to this new one (in my opinion)

[scottnonnenberg-signal]

@h1dden-da3m0n I appreciate your intensity on this. :0) We have a designer working on the app now, who spearheaded this change in the UI. We won't revert entirely to the old theme, but we may make changes if you have more specific feedback. Let's enter new bugs for each of those.

[h1dden-da3m0n]

@scottnonnenberg-signal
Thanks for your quick reply, sure I would love to give more feedback ;-).
But one more thing, I stated clearly that I was NOT requesting to revert the Design or the layout, all I really requested was a colour theme for your new UI layout that resembles the old Dark Theme, as the colours use in that simply seemed smoother and reminded me of the Darcula theme that the JetBrains Products offer (very NICE dark theme).

Some Quick Feedback

to the current colour theme, I have to say it is just too abrupt in colour transition, just like the windows "Dark Theme", it is too harsh on the eyes (for my taste).
In comparison your old dark theme was rather smooth not too abrupt and like I already said reminded me of the Darcula Theme for JetBrains Products, but it also represented the actual Dark Theme used in the android app which made the use very seamless
I sadly don’t really have time for more or more elaborate feedback, so I hope it kind of explains the situation.

Final Point

I DO NOT want you to scrap your new approach, I appreciate your new layout, but I do despite the new colour transition and use.
If it were possible to offer another COLOUR THEM similar to the old Dark Theme you would make me and most likely other ppl happy (or even better allow the community to add colour themes?)

Thanks again for your grate work with Signal and keep it up ;-)

[scottnonnenberg-signal]

@h1dden-da3m0n We're likely going to keep the current set of two themes, one light and one dark. And in a coming Android update you'll notice that the Android app will look very similar to this. They're on an incremental rollout plan, and Signal Desktop had to go out all at once.

So this is the theme you're comparing to, then? https://draculatheme.com/jetbrains/ I can send that along to our designer.

[h1dden-da3m0n]

@scottnonnenberg-signal
yeah similar to that (that screenshot seems to use some odd colour for the editor background :-?), anyway this is a screenshot on their website: screenshot
or some more on the inteliJ page itself: https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/
if your designer could use some of this as inspiration would be AWESOME

anyway, thank you for your time and dedication to try and work something out xD and thanks for that head up on the next app update

[silvrsurfr7]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who loves the UI changes but abhors the now lack of color on the desktop app in dark mode.
Sounds like its related to the fact that iOS doesn't have color options yet. Previous colors were using the Android types. I really want those colors back...