Which background color to use for more readability

From past few days I am just doing small research on usability of websites.

Now I am stuck at one point. okay to make it simpler have a look at these 3 articles -

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124173359782198081.html

and

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/education/10veteran.html

and

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10237212-92.html

First one has black background and second is all white whereas third one has a shade of gray.

Now I just want to know which one looks more readable and the one that holds your concentration more. Please don't consider the font and other design. Just think it to be a white page with some greek written on it and kept on those backgrounds.

Though I know it depends on the resolution too, but take it to be a medium sized resolution screen.

I'll appreciate if you can refer some links here to help me in my research. I'll compile my full research about fonts, color, design etc and will post on DP very soon.

Thanks

PS: At least post which one is more readable and looks good to you out of those three.

 

first one ..

 

Black background helps to read, because it helps to focalize on the main content in my opinion.

 

Hello.

I think that people almost universally agree that black on white is more readable than the inverse. In my case this is true. I don't like "dark" sites, i.e., sites with a dark background colour.

Good luck with your research.

 

First one.
I usually like light grey bgs

 

The first one is better for visitors to read and focus on the key words, main content. As for me, I like black background to make design of blog

 

Well copywriters who get paid big bucks will tell you that black type on white background is the ONLY option.

Bottom line is your opinion and my opinion don't matter. The reader/customer matters.

If you are monetizing the site in any way the real answer is to "test".

Let people vote, not with their opinion, but with their wallets.

 

personally i i must choice one of that design (above), like the light grey background,

but to choice color for your website it's depending to your site type, for example, i prefer using dark design in game site and fancy pink/yellow in girly teen site. but for normal color i prefer using light grey background with white wrapper.

 

My ranking order 1st > 2nd >3rd .

 

white always

 

Well I think we can use any background color, however background color and font color of your website should not be same otherwise google algorithm will consider it as spamming if you keep same color.

 

The US Government has a free book on the usability. Check it out it was written by many experts. All professional designers have read it.

usability DOT GOV

Thanks

 

@subway I didn't know about this. This seems to be very useful stuff for designers.

http://www.usability.gov/pdfs/guidelines.html

And I think as most of the ppl have said here, White page on black background (link 1) is actually seems to be more readable and has a less bounce rate compared to other two colors. Though I am still testing. Thanks!

 

Use white. Save the other colors to highlight important stuff you want to draw attention to.