diff --git a/website/utils.py b/website/utils.py
index c7fe2f697fc..39e30bad07d 100644
--- a/website/utils.py
+++ b/website/utils.py
@@ -309,10 +309,6 @@ def url_for_website(url):
 		return url
 		
 def get_hex_shade(color, percent):
-	# switch dark and light shades
-	if int(color, 16) > int("808080", 16):
-		percent = -percent
-		
 	# stronger diff for darker shades
 	if int(color, 16) < int("333333", 16):
 		percent = percent * 2
@@ -329,4 +325,11 @@ def get_hex_shade(color, percent):
 		return h
 		
 	r, g, b = color[0:2], color[2:4], color[4:6]
-	return p(r) + p(g) + p(b)
\ No newline at end of file
+	
+	# switch dark and light shades		
+	if float(int(r, 16) + int(g, 16) + int(b, 16)) / 3 < 8:
+		percent = -percent
+	
+	return p(r) + p(g) + p(b)
+	
+	
\ No newline at end of file