[Feature request]: Improve colour of monochrome icon to blend in better

[Wikiwix]

Version

• I'm using version 1.20.0

Existing requests

• I've checked Existing requests

Advanced Preferences

• I've checked Advanced Preferences

What operating system are you using?

Windows

Operating System Version

Windows 11 25H2

Problem description

The monochrome icon's filled portion does not align with Windows 11's system icon colours:

Inverted Monochrome

Stretchly #8C8C8C and Windows 11 system icons #FFFFFF
This difference is very plainly visible:

(UN-Inverted) Monochrome

Stretchly #000000 and Windows 11 system icons #191919
This difference is quite subtle:

Possible solution

Adapt the icon colour (at least for inverted monochrome) to the Windows 11 system icon colour

Alternative solutions

N/A

Additional information

We discussed this in #1703, apparently KDE Plasma would also profit (at least for the inverted monochrome variant).

Code of Conduct

• I agree to follow this project's Code of Conduct

[hovancik]

@Wikiwix are you able to try locally?

I went with pure white and black as that's what will fit the most of OS, I think

[hovancik]

Merged the change, we can improve later as well, if needed.

[Wikiwix]

Sorry for taking so long with a response. I actually tested it on Monday, I just did not come around answering yet:
Icon matches much better. Based on glancing over it the slight colour difference on Windows 11's light theme does not stand out much. The remaining small "difference" to system icons is mostly coming from them working with lines instead of a full "area".

Thanks for the improvement!

---

Having tested all the variants again: I am still no fan of the new number icons :(.
Not sure how much that just comes down to taste though.

[hovancik]

@Wikiwix can you show what you don't like? TBH I am no designer, everything could be improved :)

[Wikiwix]

@hovancik My dislike is primarily towards the monochrome variant (don't have an opinion on the coloured one). And I guess the main points are:

• It is not actually monochrome, but greyscale
• The font is too thin: For the small size I think the weight should be bigger. On Windows 11 this is especially visible since the system icons and text have thicker strokes
  

I am not attached to the icons we introduced in #1502, but I at least prefer them over the current monochrome style 🤷.

[hovancik]

Yeah, I used greyscale for icon so that it is visible. Not sure how to do that with monochrome. Maybe icon could be some thin outline or something.

[Wikiwix]

Yeah, I used greyscale for icon so that it is visible. Not sure how to do that with monochrome. Maybe icon could be some thin outline or something.

Hmm, not sure, perhaps.

I played around in an Paint.NET a little and came to this design (font Noto Medium, size 32x32px):

What do you think?

[hovancik]

we have also "progress" version, like this:

and I think ideally we keep it visually the same, so I was considering something like this:

but not sure how it would look like in reality - think lines usually look gray: