johnmatula

dino Yep, happy to help!

First, I followed these steps: I created a new test user on my Mac, opened Orion (keeping in mind that the “standard” tab layout is the default setting), and… the dimmed tab bar was already visible.

If it helps, I also attached two samples of my Orion process:

• orion_a_newwin.txt: I open a new Orion window.

  • Pre-condition: Orion app is running with zero browser windows open.
  • Action: I open one new browser window.
  • End: Sample ends with one browser window open with issue visible.

• orion_b_prefs.txt: I toggle between tab layout Preferences—from default-selected Standard, to Compact, to explicitly-selected Standard.

  • Pre-condition: One Orion browser window open (with issue visible, for me) and Orion Tabs preference pane is open.
  • Action: I focused the preference pane where “standard” was selected by default. I click “compact,” which changes the tab bar’s layout. I then immediately click “standard,” which changes the tab bar’s layout again.
  • End: Sample ends with one Orion browser window showing expected, undimmed tab bar.

Any other info I can send?

nnyms I’d agree that this might be two separate-but-related issues. @Leirk’s original issue about all tabs being too dim seems to make dimmed suspended tabs that @nnyms reported even dimmer.

Screenshot attached, hopefully showing both cases in one window.

johnmatula Looks like I dup’d this bug: https://orionfeedback.org/d/7603-diminished-tab-bar-visibility

When opening a new window, the appearance of the tab bar in “Standard” layout is very dark. This is present in macOS light and dark system appearances, though it especially affects the low contrast of colors in dark mode. A workaround exists to bring back expected behavior.

To replicate issue:

1. Open a new Orion browser window with Standard tab layout already selected.
2. Open a couple new tabs in the same window.
3. Observe the tab bar—its appearance will be very dark. (You can flip between macOS light mode and dark mode at this point to see the issue both ways.)

To replicate workaround/compare incorrect and correct:

4. With the first example window still open, open tab settings at Orion ‣ Preferences… ‣ Tabs.
5. Choose “Compact” layout, then switch back to “Standard” layout—the first example window’s tab bar will now be displayed in its correct, brighter appearance.
6. Open a second new window—only this second window will be very dark, while the first window retains the expected appearance.

Extra details:

• The same behavior appears when using either a keyboard shortcut (⌘N) or a “File ‣ New Window” command. This also occurs in private windows, both ways.
• I have View ‣ Always Show Tab Bar enabled when only one tab is present in a window.
• The URL is irrelevant—this looks like a browser chrome issue.
• I disabled all extensions and made a new profile to test this.

Attachments:
In the video, the left is incorrect and the right is correct. I also attached static images for comparison.

The tab bar should have the correct appearance when opening a new window. No workaround should be necessary to restore the expected appearance.

0.99.127.2-beta

Catalina (10.15)