System color scheme turned to brown with version v310.251002.0

[abalfoort]

• [x ] This is not a feature request (existing functionality does not work, not missing functionality).
  I will request features on forum or via support.
• [x ] I've searched and did not find a similar issue.

Describe the bug
Since Tuta Mail v309.250918.1 the system color scheme has changed to all kinds of brown. You can change the color scheme, but the system color scheme does not use the system colors.

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Build tutanota-desktop from source
2. start tutanota-desktop
3. Colors have changed

Expected behavior
Use the system color scheme as do the other applications (see screenshot).

Screenshots
Desktop - System color scheme v310.251002.0/v310.251008.0

Desktop - System color scheme v309.250918.1

Android - System color scheme v309.250918.1

Desktop (please complete the following information):

• OS: Debian 13 (Trixie)
• Desktop Environment, if applicable (on Linux):
  KDE Plasma Version: 6.3.6
  KDE Frameworks Version: 6.13.0
  Qt Version: 6.8.2
  Kernel Version: 6.12.48+deb13-amd64 (64-bit)
  Graphics Platform: Wayland

Additional context
I package tutanota-desktop for SolydXK. You can download the deb file here if you are interested: https://repository.solydxk.com/pool/upstream/t/tutanota/

[paw-hub]

Hey, thanks for your issue!

Actually, Tuta Mail has never used the system colors. At best, it will detect that you are using a dark or light theme and use one of two built-in themes: "Light" (light red) or "Dark" (dark red).

For example, Breeze may show the light theme, and Breeze Dark may display the dark theme.

[abalfoort]

I'm afraid that is not true. I had some time to install some previous versions. I've added a screenshot of v309.250918.1 in the OP and I've added a screenshot of the same version on Android as well. You can see that the later versions do use a totally different color scheme.

So, I still think that this is a bug or at least a style change that breaks the style of previous versions which I think is inconsistent and should be reverted.

[paw-hub]

I think you misunderstand what I said: I meant that Tuta Mail's themes have always used a fixed set of hardcoded colors that were completely independent of the system's themes.

For example, on v309.250918.1 if your system theme had zero usage of dark gray or red in its color scheme whatsoever, Tuta Mail will still look gray/red. It never picked any colors from your system theme. It only cared about whether or not it is a dark or light theme.

Of course, most dark themes are visually similar to the older gray/red theme (since most dark themes, like the one you use, also use various shades of dark gray). As such, it looks a bit more uniform.

[abalfoort]

Alright. So, this is by design. I still think this change needs to be reconsidered. My issue is not only about esthetics (you might call it red, I'd call it different shades of poo), but with my old(er) eyes, it is getting harder to read because of the lack of sufficient contrast.

The Dark Blue theme is okay-ish, but still contrast is not high enough. Perhaps adding the old theme or a black theme with white text could be a solution for us visually impaired.

[charlag]

Could you give examples of places where the contrast is lacking?

[abalfoort]

Contrast between text and background are worst in the System theme (I use dark themes because they usually have more contrast and it is less straining on the eyes).

It is particularly bad in the menu and selected message header:

With the Dark Blue theme it is a bit better, but still has low contrast:

I would like to see better contrast between background and text in all themes, or at least have a theme with high contrast.

[thinkpad4]

I was coming here to tell them to change the color themes back but seeing this make me realize they screwed up and better change it back now

[MasterInQuestion]

    Light theme so fainted out.
    And Dark theme be red-eyed monster's view.
    Alas so Material 3rd-rate?

[abalfoort]

Well, better to get some nuance back into the discussion.

There is a difference between the desktop and the Android version which to me seems inconsistent.

Not only do I find the color scheme use inconsistent between the desktop version of Tuta Mail and the Android versions. I also find this inconsistent between the desktop version and all other desktop applications I use: they all follow the system color scheme, except Tuta Mail.

[MasterInQuestion]

= New theme of overall less contrast actually impairing usability =

    Background white turned grayish, fonts red also turned grayish.
    Now everything turned less distinguishable:
    Impairing readability overall.

    Update theme colors to Material 3
    https://github.com/tutao/tutanota/issues/9385

[abalfoort]

You are absolutely right. I feel stupid not to have considered that argument as well: lower contrast impairs readability.