Micro Mart Forum / Messages To The Editor / Micro Mart Forums / Writing Into The Magazine / Bleeding Text / Latest Posts

RE: Bleeding Text

compaq — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 19:17:31 GMT

moan moan.............. you dont like things the way they are dont read it.

we spend £1.99 a week for that we get a great magazine and we also get this forum provided free no matter if you buy the magazine or not.

Simon puts a lot of time and effort in to the magazine so cut him and the rest of the micromart team some slack.

its not fair

RE: Bleeding Text

TheEditor — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 12:49:05 GMT

Thanks for the comments.

Sadly, Michelle didn't make the move to London with Micro Mart in July, so is no longer on the full time staff. She's promised me some freelance features though, so hopefully we'll have her back in the magazine again soon.

Simon

RE: Bleeding Text

Docarooney — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 23:42:25 GMT

Simon
I for one can understand the problems you have had. I think you all are doing a brilliant job to bring us the best computer mag on the market today. I used to buy PC Answers every month since it started and only bought MM occasionally as it seemed then to be more specialised. However, since I became more experienced with computers, I find that MM actually gives me twice as much in 4 chunks than PC Answers gave me in one. I love you all but especially Michelle :kiss:(where has she gone and where is the weekly update of happenings at MM Towers?) so be upstanding and take the applause for a job well done! :D

RE: Bleeding Text

fastdog29 — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 05:47:13 GMT

no problem this week,but where is wit of the week?

RE: Bleeding Text

TheEditor — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 21:08:23 GMT

Just a quick update: we've been going through issue 919 and trying a few new things on the boxouts. It's the issue on sale 14th September, and would appreciate any feedback.

Simon

RE: Bleeding Text

oldphart — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 01:36:49 GMT

Enough said, I think. In the fullness of time, I am sure that Simon will address the problem.

PS, Simon, the address for the mug is ...........;)

RE: Bleeding Text

rickonnye — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 00:28:09 GMT

I would like to thank Simon for his honest and forthright comments on this thread. I would like to thank all the other contributors.

For myself I really like Micromart very much (in fact so much I have taken out a subscription). Anyway its refreshing in this day and age to comment on something like this on an open forum and get an answer from the Editor himself. Yes there have been problems with the printing and the font sizes and I think it was good to debate the problem.........and I am sure Simon and his colleagues are sorting it out.

It does make an enormous difference if the print can be read easily and even more important that are views are listened to by people who actually produce the product.

So thanks again Simon and fellow posters for your comments and suggestions regarding this matter.

Rickon

RE: Bleeding Text

Tippon — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 00:03:42 GMT

Sorry, but I have to admit I was a bit disappointed with this week's issue. The complaints about difficult to read colour combinations seem to crop up fairly regularly, but they turn up again in the mag every so often. In this week's issue, for example, I can barely read the side panels on Ask Jason (p128 & 129), and the background colour looks 'wrong' (sorry, can't think of a way to describe it, it makes my eyes tired quite quickly). Things like this crop up throughout the mag, but for me this is the worst example.

However - on p68 in the MP3 accessories article, there is a boxout titled 'Merchandising'. This is white text on a black background and it's slightly clearer to read than the rest of the page. I think this is because it's black rather than dark grey.

I know this seems like I'm just moaning, but I'm not. I love the mag and it's the only one I buy, but if I can't read the pages there's not much point. Simon, we all know you guys and girls have had a lot to do involving the changeover and the move, but you have to understand that when several readers post on the forums and tell you they're having trouble reading the mag, then the same difficulties are still cropping up some months later, it can feel like we're being ignored.

(Just for the record, I know this is not the case as I am a regular on the forums and have seen you personally respond to readers problems, but just wanted to give my feedback).

RE: Bleeding Text

Unicross — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 09:30:51 GMT

After the massive upheaval the mag has had over the past few months, I think its an achievement in itself for the magazine to have still kept up its high quality and being oput every week as promised. A wwekly magazine must be four times as much work as your monthly glossy.

I for one have seen great changes in the magazine with more and more great articles and I believe the new staff can build on the magazines successes.

RE: Bleeding Text

johnbarry — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 08:48:48 GMT

[quote][b]oldphart (04/09/2006)[/b][hr]Well,

*PS - Simon, was that ok? Do I get a new MM Mug now?[/quote]

Are MM mugs back on now?

In that case Simon, I have seen the mag go from strength to strength, from B&W to colour and no doubt problems were to be expected with the new format. I have seen threads on oppinions (sought of the new mag (before ownership changed) and I am sure in time these changes will be sorted.

Keep up the good work Simon and don't forget my MM Mug, I am still after a replacement.

RE: Bleeding Text

oldphart — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 02:03:28 GMT

Well, I am one of the mag's many critics, but I think there are certain points to be made here:

1 The mag is under new ownership

2 Simon is commuting to an unknown land, from Brum, known as "LAWNDARN", so has problems with that.

3 He is honest with us about his many problems (mag wise)

So, why don't you cut the man some slack? The mag used to be pretty carp, before Simon, a few years back. Simon has pushed and dragged it up to the level it is at now. If you want improvements, post your ideas. I am sure he takes them onboard.

*PS - Simon, was that ok? Do I get a new MM Mug now?

*('In' joke for mods, people, sorry, Simon):P

RE: Bleeding Text

WORMSS — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 01:45:59 GMT

Well Mr Editor/Designers..
i have perfect eyesight and nothing effects me. except maybe a finger poked in the eye. and i have had no problems with reading any artical..

RE: Bleeding Text

wasbit — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 01:40:02 GMT

A bit late but I have to agree with the original poster.

We used to be regulars at our local cinema, but in the end we got fed up with complaining about the film being out of focus every time the reel changed and we stopped going. So did a lot of other people and it wasn't long before it closed.

I doubt that will happen to MM, but it has crossed my mind that I'm not getting the enjoyment that I should for my hard earned money.

I have been sorting through back issues and cutting out articles to store away for future reference. At the moment I have got as far as the beginning of June this year and I don't recall having any problems with legibility until issue 904, pages 96-99, Michael Fereday's shareware article. This is white print on a dark blue background and it takes a conscious effort to concentrate whilst reading it.

It seems that different background colours affect different people. For me it seems to be white on grey but even worse is when there is a picture or watermark underneath the print.

Thank you Simon.

RE: Bleeding Text

TheEditor — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 22:01:51 GMT

I think saying that we've been ignoring this is extremely harsh and a little unfair, not least because we've debated this issue several times on this forum. I do, however, accept many of the points made in this thread, and so I'll go through what's happened, and what we're doing about it.

Over the past three weeks, we've had some particularly strong problems, as we've switched over to new printers. Those problems are now being resolved, but they've nonetheless not helped.

As I've said on these forums before, we have been looking into this, and we have made changes, often off the back of suggestions made here. We were in the midst of reviewing the design body font and some of the colour choices when the ownership of the magazine changed, and for the best part of two months, I've not had a full time designer on the magazine, instead having to rely on freelance staff to cope with the transition. I think they've done a great job, personally, in extremely difficult circumstances. The reality is though that I've been working through around 100 pages of editorial with people primarily not based in the office. Thus, just getting the magazine out has been a small miracle in itself. I only, I should add, point this out in the spirit of openness and honesty: I always accept that readers of MM should not have to worry about what goes on behind the scenes.

However, the main point nonetheless remains that there are readability problems in one or two areas of the magazine. From tomorrow, I now have a full time, in-house design team in place, and it's one of their immediate priorities to look at some fixes that stay within the style of the magazine. Changes are afoot, and I apologise to all those who have had trouble reading elements of the magazine over the past issues.

Simon

PS There's never any instance I feel where the MM team can be accused of treating readers with 'contempt'. Is contempt coming onto the forum and debating the issue, then making changes off the back of some of the suggestions raised?

RE: Bleeding Text

logicman — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 20:24:58 GMT

I have to agree with the niggles/comments here.
On balance, though, as a reader with poor eyesight I find that
the overall legibility has definitely improved.

The articles, as always, are well written and highly informative.
The best just got better!
Well done MM.

RE: Bleeding Text

Dwynnehugh — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 16:07:07 GMT

Unfortunately this is not a new phenomenon with MM, many threads have been written about it before. Much has been promised, some has been delivered in relation to colours of texts and backgrounds. However, it seems that periodically someone tries again and it still doesn't work.

Not all MM readers have eyes like an eagle, some have glasses, some have difficulty with colour blindness or just cant read small yellow text on an orange background etc. etc.

I'm sorry to say but I do feel that the MM staff are treating readers with a degree of contempt when they continue to do this.

I'll probably now be slated for saying this, but sorry, it needs saying. If text can't be read then why print it? It must be realised that what appears on screens isn't what turns up on paper.

It's well known to MM staff they just decide to ignore it.

RE: Bleeding Text

rickonnye — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 09:06:53 GMT

Yes I know what you mean, sometimes one or a few pages is faded and cannot be read. I think this must be a printing problem and the type of paper doesn't help. I think the type of paper may have changed (not sure really), although it does seem more porous now.

Rickon

RE: Bleeding Text

Just Jon — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 17:04:05 GMT

I don't mind the difficult to read text, unless a copy that has been printed wrong or gone through the press with a crease in (I get this quite often).

I have creases in a few copies of MM now, if I pull it apart, there is a white zigzag line down the page about 2mm wide, the left of the page is ok, its only the right hand side that suffers and is blurred to hell (like taking your glasses off!). This week it was the wit of the week column, not to worry, I found out that the 'joke' was a reprint (scraping the barrel?!) after scrutinising the page!

In severe cases though, I'm looking at a full page (and overleaf) of blurry madness:crazy:

RE: Bleeding Text

rickonnye — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 16:49:22 GMT

Yes I think the paper is the problem, but if the font size was increased slightly I think it would be ok.

RE: Bleeding Text

Spedley — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 15:52:07 GMT

I've noticed that, however it is cheap paper and it's to be expected. Simply using a bold font would drastically improve readability whilst keeping the look.

What does annoy me is that articles (reviews) are sometimes spread accross two pages, i.e. one review it the top half and 1 review on the bottom half. It may look good on your Apple-Mac's screen but when you fold it 'back on itself' to read it - like most people do in an armchair, on a train, in a waiting room etc - it makes it difficult to read because you have to keep flipping over and back again.

RE: Bleeding Text

rickonnye — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 13:46:21 GMT

Yes I really enjoy Micromart, its just the small text and colour combinations I find difficult.

RE: Bleeding Text

rosetyler — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 09:14:37 GMT

yes I noticed that this week some of the panels are hard to read.

Bleeding Text

rickonnye — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 23:35:20 GMT

Hi,

Just like to say that I really enjoyed/am enjoying this weeks Micromart. And it was my first on subscription...thanks.

Anyway my only little moan is about some of the small text in panels, i.e. white on black, white on red........the small text this week seems to have bled into the background making it quite unreadable. Is it a different paper this week. If you could just make the text size slightly bigger and dont use those two combinations all will be brilliant.

Thanks for listening

Rickon