...at least that's what I wish – and apparently – also Paul White, Editor In Chief on Sound On Sound, who voices the same opinion in his June 2014 leader:

"If you're clever enough to create the software in the first place, you should be clever enough to give the user enough control over things like backgrounds and text colours to keep everyone happy."

SOS June leader: A Dark Future
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun14/articles/leader-0614.htm
 
Let's bring back the option of a light Sonar interface! :)

Here is what controls text colours and backgrounds. Customize to your requirements.
http://www.cakewalk.com/D...help=Dialogs2.074.html

That same applies to hardware, home stereos etc. Its incredible that so many (most?) of them have the buttons and knobs  marked so poorly that one can't read them with the basic reading glasses on, and needs additional light.
Sacrificing usability on the altar of design is stupidity, in my books.
 
 

CakeAlexS
Here is what controls text colours and backgrounds. Customize to your requirements.
http://www.cakewalk.com/D...help=Dialogs2.074.html

 
Customizing Control Bar, FX bin, ProChannel or Browser colors is very limited or impossible if you don't use 3rd party utilities.
 
 
 

I'm sure there is room for improvement, but you do have control over brightness and contrast and color for all these attributes:


Window Background
Window text   Text color
Rules in the Tempo view   Vertical lines in the Tempo view used to mark time intervals  
Major Rules   Major lines used to mark larger intervals of time  
Beat Rules   Color of the Beat rule lines  
Grid Rules   Color of the Grid rule lines  
Rules in the Track View   Vertical lines in the Track view used to mark measure intervals  
Values   Color of selected events and tempo changes in the Tempo view  
Drawing   Colors used to show your drawing in the Piano Roll and Tempo views  
Erasing   Color used to show your erasing in the Tempo views  
Lasso select   Color of lasso select highlight  
Markers   Color of markers in time rulers  
Pitch Markers   Color of pitch markers in the Time Ruler  
Loop Markers   Color of loop point markers  
Punch Record Markers   Color of punch recording markers  
Track View Time Ruler Digits   Color of the Time Ruler markings  
Time Ruler Tick Marks   Color of the Time Ruler beat and measure lines  
AudioSnap Pool Lines   The color of the vertical lines in the Track view that show transient locations  
Musical Snap Pool Lines   The color of the vertical lines in the Track view that show Snap to Grid locations (when Add MBT to Pool is enabled)  
Musical Snap Pool Markers   The color of the markers in the Track view time ruler that show Snap to Grid locations (when Add MBT to Pool is enabled)  
Clip Fades   Color for the fade line and fade shading  
Clip Zero Amplitude Lines   Color for the line that marks a silent volume level for a clip  
Snap Offset Markers   Color of the Snap offset markers  
Clip Gain Envelope   Color of the Gain envelopes in clips  
Clip Pan Envelope   Color of the Pan envelopes in clips  
Clip Velocity Envelope   Color of velocity envelopes in clips  
Selected Clip   Color of clips that are currently selected  
Muted MIDI Clip Data   Color of the MIDI data in a muted area of a clip. Also used for the outline of event muted notes in the Piano Roll.  
Folder Clip Background   Color of an area of a folder clip where there is no data  
Folder Clip Text   Color of text label on a folder clip  
Folder Line   Color of the line on the left side of the Track pane connecting a track folder to the tracks that are contained in the folder  
Record Preview Clip Background   The background color in the Clips pane of an armed track  
Recording Waveform Previews   Color of the waveform in a clip during preview while recording  
Bus Waveform Preview   Color of the waveform that a bus’s or synth track’s output generates  
Waveform Preview (>= 0dB)   Color of the waveform in a clip during preview while recording if the amplitude is greater than or equal to 0dB  
Input Quantize Record Preview Background   The background color in the Clips pane of an armed MIDI track when Input Quantize is enabled  
Frozen Track Background   The background color of a frozen track in the Clips pane  
Region FX Clip Background   The background color of a Region FX clip.  
Header   The color of clip headers.  
Header (selected)   The color of selected clip headers.  
Clip Background   The background color of clips.  
Clip Background (selected)   The background color of selected clips.  
Default Waveform   Waveform color of audio clips.  
Default Notes   Note color of MIDI clips.  
Audio Tracks 1, 11, 21...Foreground   Foreground color of all audio tracks that end in the number “1” (1, 11, 21, etc.)  
Audio Tracks 1, 11, 21...Background   Background color of all audio tracks that end in the number “1” (1, 11, 21, etc.)  
Audio Tracks 2, 12, 22...Foreground   Foreground color of all audio tracks that end in the number “2” (2, 12, 22, etc.)  
Audio Tracks 2, 12, 22...Background   Background color of all audio tracks that end in the number “2” (2, 12, 22, etc.)  
Audio Tracks 3, 13, 23...Foreground   Foreground color of all audio tracks that end in the number “3” (3, 13, 23, etc.)  
Audio Tracks 3, 13, 23...Background   Background color of all audio tracks that end in the number “3” (3, 13, 23, etc.)  
Audio Tracks 4, 14, 24...Foreground   Foreground color of all audio tracks that end in the number “4” (4, 14, 24, etc.)  
Audio Tracks 4, 14, 24...Background   Background color of all audio tracks that end in the number “4” (4, 14, 24, etc.)  
Audio Tracks 5, 15, 25...Foreground   Foreground color of all audio tracks that end in the number “5” (5, 15, 25, etc.)  
Audio Tracks 5, 15, 25...Background   Background color of all audio tracks that end in the number “5” (5, 15, 25, etc.)  
Audio Tracks 6, 16, 26...Foreground   Foreground color of all audio tracks that end in the number “6” (6, 16, 26, etc.)  
Audio Tracks 6, 16, 26...Background   Background color of all audio tracks that end in the number “6” (6, 16, 26, etc.)  
Audio Tracks 7, 17, 27...Foreground   Foreground color of all audio tracks that end in the number “7” (7, 17, 27, etc.)  
Audio Tracks 7, 17, 27...Background   Background color of all audio tracks that end in the number “7” (7, 17, 27, etc.)  
Audio Tracks 8, 18, 28...Foreground   Foreground color of all audio tracks that end in the number “8” (8, 18, 28, etc.)  
Audio Tracks 8, 18, 28...Background   Background color of all audio tracks that end in the number “8” (8, 18, 28, etc.)  
Audio Tracks 9, 19, 29...Foreground   Foreground color of all audio tracks that end in the number “9” (9, 19, 29, etc.)  
Audio Tracks 9, 19, 29...Background   Background color of all audio tracks that end in the number “9” (9, 19, 29, etc.)  
Audio Tracks 10, 20, 30...Foreground   Foreground color of all audio tracks that end in the number “0” (10, 20, 30, etc.)  
Audio Tracks 10, 20, 30...Background   Background color of all audio tracks that end in the number “0” (10, 20, 30, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 1, 11, 21...Foreground   Foreground color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “1” (1, 11, 21, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 1, 11, 21...Background   Background color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “1” (1, 11, 21, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 2, 12, 22...Foreground   Foreground color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “2” (2, 12, 22, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 2, 12, 22...Background   Background color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “2” (2, 12, 22, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 3, 13, 23...Foreground   Foreground color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “3” (3, 13, 23, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 3, 13, 23...Background   Background color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “3” (3, 13, 23, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 4, 14, 24...Foreground   Foreground color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “4” (4, 14, 24, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 4, 14, 24...Background   Background color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “4” (4, 14, 24, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 5, 15, 25...Foreground   Foreground color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “5” (5, 15, 25, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 5, 15, 25...Background   Background color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “5” (5, 15, 25, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 6, 16, 26...Foreground.   Foreground color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “6” (6, 16, 26, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 6, 16, 26...Background   Background color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “6” (6, 16, 26, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 7, 17, 27...Foreground   Foreground color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “7” (7, 17, 27, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 7, 17, 27...Background   Background color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “7” (7, 17, 27, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 8, 18, 28...Foreground   Foreground color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “8” (8, 18, 28, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 8, 18, 28...Background   Background color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “8” (8, 18, 28, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 9, 19, 29...Foreground   Foreground color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “9” (9, 19, 29, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 9, 19, 29...Background   Background color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “9” (9, 19, 29, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 10, 20, 30...Foreground   Foreground color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “0” (10, 20, 30, etc.)  
MIDI Tracks 10, 20, 30...Background   Background color of all MIDI tracks that end in the number “0” (10, 20, 30, etc.)  
Track View Active Outline   Color of the border around the active pane in the Track view: if the Bus pane is active, it displays this color; if the Track pane is active, it displays this color.  
Clips Pane Ellipse   Color of dots which appear where there are no clips in the Clips pane  
Selected Track   Sets the color of any selected tracks  
Track View Track Header Peak Text   Color of the text on the right end of a track’s title bar that displays the peak level that the track’s audio meter measures  
Track View Header Warning Text   Color of the text described above when the track’s level is in danger of clipping  
Peak Marker (< 0 dB)   The color of the Peak Marker when amplitude peaks are less than 0dB  
Peak Marker (>= 0 dB)   The color of the Peak Marker when amplitude peaks are greater than or equal to 0dB  
Peak Marker Text   The color of the text on the Peak Marker  
Vertical Measure Lines   The color of vertical measure lines in the Clips pane  
Vertical Beat Lines   The color of vertical beat lines in the Clips pane  
View Background (odd)   The Clips pane background color for odd-numbered tracks/buses  
View Background (even)   The Clips pane background color for even-numbered tracks/buses  
AudioSnap Marker   Color of active AudioSnap transient markers  
Disabled AudioSnap Marker   Color of disabled AudioSnap transient markers  
Selected AudioSnap Marker   Color of selected AudioSnap transient markers  
Maximum stretched AudioSnap Marker   Color of maximum stretched AudioSnap transient markers  
AudioSnap Pool Member Marker   Color of AudioSnap transient markers that belong to the Pool  
Aim Assist line   Color of vertical line that follows the mouse pointer position when Aim Assist is enabled in the Track view  
Track View Header Track Number   Color of the track number in the track header  
Track View Audio Track Name Background   Color of background of audio track names in Track view  
Track View Audio Track Name Text   Color of text of audio track names in Track view  
Track View MIDI Track Name Background   Color of background of MIDI track names in Track view  
Track View MIDI Track Name Text   Color of text of MIDI track names in Track view  
Track View Synth Track Name Background   Color of background of Synth track names in Track view  
Track View Synth Track Name Text   Color of text of Synth track names in Track view  
Track View Instrument Track Name Background   Color of background of Instrument track names in Track view  
Track View Instrument Track Name Text   Color of text of Instrument track names in Track view  
Track View Bus Name Background   Color of background of Bus names in Track view  
Track View Bus Name Text   Color of text of Bus names in Track view  
Track View Track Folder Name Background   Color of the background for track folders in the folder name field  
Track View Track Folder Name Text   Color of the text for track folders in the folder name field  
Track View Strip Background   Background color outside the control fields in a track  
Track View Control Background   Background color inside the control fields in a track  
Track View Control Text and Values   Color of the text in Track view controls  
Track View Disabled Control Text   Color of disabled controls in a track  
Track View Control Outline   Color of the control outlines  
Track View Control Borders   Color of Track view control’s borders  
Track View Current Control Outline   Color of current Track view control outlines  
Track View Strip Under   Color of empty space in the Track pane  
First controller/surface color choice   Highlight color of any SONAR controls being controlled by the first control surface listed in Edit >Preferences > MIDI - Control Surfaces.  
Second controller/surface color choice   Highlight color of any SONAR controls being controlled by the second control surface listed in Edit >Preferences > MIDI - Control Surfaces.  
Third controller/surface color choice   Highlight color of any SONAR controls being controlled by the third control surface listed in Edit >Preferences > MIDI - Control Surfaces.  
Fourth controller/surface color choice   Highlight color of any SONAR controls being controlled by the fourth control surface listed in Edit >Preferences > MIDI - Control Surfaces.  
Font for controller/surface channel number display   Color of text in control surface channel display  
Track View Trim Control   Sets the color of the background in the trim control field  
Track View Bus Input Pan Control   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Quick Group   Sets the color that appears on controls that are part of a Quick Group  
Track View Track Icons Background   Color of space surrounding Track Icons in Track view  
Track View Volume Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Track View Pan Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Track View MIDI Chorus Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Track View MIDI Reverb Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Track View Mute Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Surround Angle Envelope   Color of automation envelope for surround angle  
Surround Focus Envelope   Color of automation envelope for surround focus  
Surround LFE Send Control/Envelope   Color of automation envelope for LFE send control  
Surround Width Envelope   Color of automation envelope for surround width  
Front/Rear Balance Envelope   Color of automation envelope for surround front/rear balance  
Track View Bus Send Level 1, 9 Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Track View Bus Send Level 2, 10 Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Track View Bus Send Level 3, 11 Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Track View Bus Send 4, 12 Level Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Track View Bus Send Level 5, 13 Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Track View Bus Send Level 6, 14 Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Track View Bus Send Level 7, 15 Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Track View Bus Send Level 8, 16 Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Track View Bus Send Pan 1, 9 Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Track View Bus Send Pan 2, 10 Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Track View Bus Send Pan 3, 11 Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Track View Bus Send Pan 4, 12 Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Track View Bus Send Pan 5, 13 Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Track View Bus Send Pan 6, 14 Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Track View Bus Send Pan 7, 15 Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Track View Bus Send Pan 8, 16 Control / Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Angle 1, 9 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Angle 2, 10 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Angle 3, 11 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Angle 4, 12 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Angle 5, 13 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Angle 6, 14 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Angle 7, 15 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Angle 8, 16 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Focus1, 9 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Focus 2, 10 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Focus 3, 11 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Focus 4, 12 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Focus 5, 13 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Focus 6, 14 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Focus 7, 15 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Focus 8, 16 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send LFE 1, 9 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send LFE 2, 10 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send LFE 3, 11 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send LFE 4, 12 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send LFE 5, 13 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send LFE 6, 14 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send LFE 7, 15 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send LFE 8, 16 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Width 1, 9 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Width 2, 10 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Width 3, 11 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Width 4, 12 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Width 5, 13 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Width 6, 14 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Width 7, 15 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Width 8, 16 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Front/Rear Balance 1, 9 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Front/Rear Balance 2, 10 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Front/Rear Balance 3, 11 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Front/Rear Balance 4, 12 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Front/Rear Balance 5, 13 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Front/Rear Balance 6, 14 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Front/Rear Balance 7, 15 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Bus Send Front/Rear Balance 8, 16 Envelope   Sets the color of this parameter’s automation envelope  
Event List Note Events   Color of note events in the Event List view  
Event List KeyAft Events   Color of key aftertouch events in the Event List view  
Event List Control Events   Color of controller events in the Event List view  
Event List Patch Events   Color of patch events in the Event List view  
Event List ChanAft Events   Color of channel aftertouch events in the Event List view  
Event List Wheel Events   Color of pitch wheel events in the Event List view  
Event List Sysx Events   Color of System Exclusive events in the Event List view  
Event List Special Events   Color of other, special events in the Event List view  
Note that is on   Color of currently playing notes  
Events   Color of selected events in the Piano Roll view  
Navigator Background   Color of background in Navigator pane and view  
Navigator Track Rectangle   Color of the Navigator pane triangle that shows what the part of the Clips pane is currently displayed  
PRV Drag Contents   The color that a MIDI event becomes while you’re dragging the event  
Snap to Scale Excluded Rows   Color of pitch rows in Piano Roll view (or Inline PRV) that become unavailable when Snap to Scale is enabled.  
Continuous Event 1   The color of the first type of continuous event entered into the Piano Roll or Inline Piano Roll view  
Continuous Event 2   The color of the second type of continuous event entered into the Piano Roll or Inline Piano Roll view  
Continuous Event 3   The color of the third type of continuous event entered into the Piano Roll or Inline Piano Roll view  
Continuous Event 4   The color of the fourth type of continuous event entered into the Piano Roll or Inline Piano Roll view  
Continuous Event 5   The color of the fifth type of continuous event entered into the Piano Roll or Inline Piano Roll view  
Continuous Event 6   The color of the sixth type of continuous event entered into the Piano Roll or Inline Piano Roll view  
Continuous Event 7   The color of the seventh type of continuous event entered into the Piano Roll or Inline Piano Roll view  
Continuous Event 8   The color of the eighth type of continuous event entered into the Piano Roll or Inline Piano Roll view  
VU Lo level   Sets the color of the lower portion of a non-segmented meter.  
VU Hi level   Sets the color of the higher portion of a non-segmented meter.  
VU Tick Marks   Sets the color of the numbers and calibration lines of a non-segmented meter.  
Console Segmented VU Tick Marks   Color of tick marks in segmented meters in the Console view  
Enable/Disable Toggles   Sets the color of the enable/disable check box on effects and other objects that have an on/off switch  
Console FX Bin Text   Color of text in Console View’s FX bin  
Console View Control Text and Values   Color of text on Console View’s controls  
Console View Slider Background   Color of border area of Console view fields controlled by sliders  
Console View Strip Background   Color of empty space in Console view  
Console Audio Track Name Text   Color of text of audio track names in Console view  
Console MIDI Track Name Text   Color of text of MIDI track names in Console view  
Console Synth Track Name Background   Color of background of Synth track names in Console view  
Console Synth Track Name Text   Color of text of Synth track names in Console view  
Console Instrument Track Name Text   Color of text of Instrument track names in Console view  
Console Bus Name Text   Color of text of Bus names in Console view  
Console Main Output Name Text   Color of text of Main Output names in Console view  
Console View Strip Label Text   Color of meter peak values in the Console view  
Console EQ Plot Grid   Color of grid lines in per-channel EQ plot in Console view  
Console EQ Plot Graph   Color of EQ curve in Console view’s per-channel EQ plot  
Synth Rack Text   Color of text in the Synth Rack  
Dialog Box Banner Text   Color of the headings that separate different parts of a dialog box page  
Dialog Box Banner Background   Color of the background behind a dialog banner heading  
Track View Header Time Display   Color of time display above track strips in the Track view  
Ghosted clip background   Color of clips when editing automation envelopes.

My gripe is devices intended for live use that are designed to look cool rather than to be visible on a dimly-lit stage. Sure, black is the official color of rock 'n roll, but does everything have to be black?

bitflipper
My gripe is devices intended for live use that are designed to look cool rather than to be visible on a dimly-lit stage. Sure, black is the official color of rock 'n roll, but does everything have to be black?

'It's the wild colour scheme that freaks me out,' said Zaphod, whose love affair with the ship had lasted almost three minutes into the flight.
'Every time you try and operate these weird black controls that are labeled in black on a black background, a little black light lights up in black to let you know you've done it.'
Zaphod Beeblebrox, The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe
douglas adams

bitflipper
My gripe is devices intended for live use that are designed to look cool rather than to be visible on a dimly-lit stage. Sure, black is the official color of rock 'n roll, but does everything have to be black?

I have consulted Spinal Tap. Not all blacks are the same.

form is easier to sell than function

I am a member of the Macular Degeneration generation....
 
When is white going to be the new black?