site rebuild - please compare and criticize (Full Version)

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classics -> site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/24/2004 19:00:13)

ok i finally launched v.2 of my car club site.. please keep in mind it is designed for IE at 1024 x 768 ..im wasnt extremely worried about cross browser compatibility, though it shouldn't be a problem (nothin too special in this)

anyways tell me what you think between the old and the new

old: http://www.classicsandrods.com/v1/main.htm

new: http://www.classicsandrods.com

im open for comments / suggestions so please feel free.



jaybee -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/25/2004 6:24:55)

The plates as buttons are good. Well done.

Don't like the header though. It's too washed out compared to the strength of the rest of the page.



markhawker -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/25/2004 9:27:24)

Hi, I agree with jaybee. Another thing, try putting all of your stylesheet information in an external file as well as your JavaScript code. Just neatens up your code.

Just a minor thing, is the header the only place where you use Flash? It's just you could make that as a GIF and then users without the Flash Plugin wouldn't get a message asking them to download it. I know it's only going to be a small market but saves a bit of hassle for such a minor element of your site.

Just a code thing, try use either ALL CAPS for tags, or all lower-case, you seem to have a bit of a mixture. Just adds to the professionalism if someone looks at your code.

I do like the site though, well done,

Mark



jaybee -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/25/2004 11:05:12)

Just looked at it in Firefox, NN, Opera and Mozilla and you have a problem. The menu is all over the place.



classics -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/25/2004 21:03:35)

hey thanks for the suggestions, ill play with some things as soon as i get a chance... so the plates fit in ok? the flash will probably go, i just wanted the crisp lettering..

mainly, is it an improvement from the plain black site? i had compliments on it and liked how clean it was, but wanted to add some design/color..

anything else? [:D]



jaybee -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/26/2004 6:34:29)

Put some padding in round the text. It hits the sides and would look better with some space around it.

Drop the text down a bit so that the NEWS logo is away from the header.

When it's all crammed in like that I'm always looking for a scroll bar to make sure I'm not missing anything that's gone off the page.



markhawker -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/26/2004 7:51:51)

How about changing the hover colour of the links? They're just a bit plain at the minute, maybe a red or something? Just looking at the number plate images, the roll-overs have square edges whereas the normal state buttons have rounded edges, so when you put your mouse over them it doesn't quite look right. Do you see where I mean? Mark



jaybee -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/26/2004 8:04:11)

Yes I see it but it's not a problem. If you want to get rid then you'll need to edit the graphics.

Try doing the hovers in a paler or deeper yellow or for shock value blue.



classics -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/26/2004 20:48:59)

ive actually considered removing the plates and doing something else instead, more standard button.. would be much easier to edit in the future (as well as now) and doing red ones for the active page would be simplified as well.. will probably just search for a font that fits in good.

ill lower the titles, and am still messing with a header.. thanks guys

as for the padding, which text are you reffering to ? what browser are you using? IE at 1024 x 768 has plenty of space around the body

hows the header on this: http://www.classicsandrods.com/test.html
any better? the cars would be different on different pages (like the old site) or should i stick with the current style and just make the objects more clear?



jaybee -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/27/2004 5:25:31)

The header is better but it still doesn't have the inpact of the rest of the page. It's still too grey.

I'm using Firefox but it looks the same in Netscape, Opera and Mozilla. Try putting a DTD in.

http://www.w3.org/QA/2002/04/valid-dtd-list.html



markhawker -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/27/2004 8:34:50)

I agree with jaybee, the header still looks a bit washed out. To me the NEWS header attracts my attention more than your actual header!

I'd maybe not use as many car images, maybe just one (a front view or at a diagonal) with CAR and tag-line in a nice rounded SS font aligned to either the right or left of the whole image. Probably have to go with a white font. Check out www.dafont.com for some nice fonts.

Mark



classics -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/28/2004 2:04:50)

thanks a ton mark and jay.. im working diligently on this with the little spare time i have.

i spent tonight trying a new header style.. kinda simple with just one car view and then the logo but it may work.. please view http://www.classicsandrods.com/test

and yes i will be switching the flash to gif as soon as i can. i'll check for some fonts, though this one is used in the clubs official logo.. ill try some things

but for now the concern is the header. i agree with how washed out the current one seems, so i tried that different layout i mentioned above one the various pages at http://www.classicsandrods.com/test but just for giggles i also tried to brighten up the current header to see if it made it any more crisp or clear.. that ones at http://www.classicsandrods.com/test.html .. what ya think?

also after i get the design ironed out ill take care of my coding )



markhawker -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/28/2004 5:26:15)

Hi, I think whatever you do you're going to have to put a stroked outline on the text so it stands out from the back image. I like the one car idea, maybe though, make it a bit bigger so you can't see the full car, repeat with a similar car facing the other way on the other side with your logo in the middle? Just a thought!

Or, have a big car image aligned to the left, with your logo aligned to the right? Have to try both of those out and see if they improve anything!

Mark



jaybee -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/28/2004 6:44:08)

I have now come to a conclusion...... it's the grey background that's the problem. I don't think it's going to matter what you put on it.

Keep the granite spacer
Make the background plain black then stick the yellow car on and see what it looks like.



markhawker -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/28/2004 6:58:28)

True jaybee, just another thing, I'd make the navigation on the left's background go right to the footer. You've set a height for it as far as I'm aware. From a design-eye I'd like it to fill the whole left-hand side.

Mark



classics -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/28/2004 19:48:27)

ok cool

heres what i came up with this time.

straight black header, fixed logo - http://www.classicsandrods.com/test/test2.html

enlarged single car (final would not be all pixelized, this was just to try) - http://www.classicsandrods.com/test/join.html

and of course the other option is still http://www.classicsandrods.com/test.html

you guys rock btw, thnx again, im really sharpening my experimentation skills [8D]



markhawker -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/29/2004 6:56:32)

I'm liking http://www.classicsandrods.com/test/test2.html it has a good choice of font colour and styles, maybe just clean up the flame images and you're well on your way. Maybe though, I'd still like to see 'Southern Nevada,' 'lassics,' 'nd,' and 'ods' in white with no stroked outline. Otherwise I think you're onto a winner!

quote:

ORIGINAL: classics

you guys rock btw

Thanks [:D] it's what we're here for.

Mark



classics -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/29/2004 23:20:42)

thats what i was liking too, yeah it is kind of moking the old site but hey, it looks good.

heres the logo with the white taglines and no stroke..
i did what i could on the flames too if you notice any difference.

hell ill post both for easier comparison..

[image]http://www.classicsandrods.com/test/time1.jpg[/image]

now white lettering, no stroke, adjusted flames...

[image]http://www.classicsandrods.com/test/whitetagff.jpg[/image]

and just for fun heres that only with a black stroke

[image]http://www.classicsandrods.com/test/whitetagffbs.jpg[/image]



markhawker -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/30/2004 6:11:57)

I prefer the bottom one, the word 'lassics' looks really effective. I'd keep the same font for the other text too! You should look for a font that has an assortment of flames in. That way it'd remove the white lines, try www.dafont.com as they have quite a good assortment of fonts. Mark



jaybee -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/30/2004 7:35:45)

Agree with Mark on all points.

Much, much, much better.



classics -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/30/2004 17:01:19)

great i think were nearing a more finished product here..

is this clean enough? [8D]

[image]local://upfiles/11786/29D59B05702744F7971B4BA46253804B.jpg[/image]

heres the reworked one

[image]http://www.classicsandrods.com/test/logofinal.jpg[/image]

and heres what the "final" product would be like...

http://www.classicsandrods.com/test/test2.html

hmm how come in netscape it looks more pixelized?



markhawker -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/30/2004 18:04:08)

I'm being picky here, but maybe have Southern Nevada in yellow? No stroke or shadow. I'm really impressed with the change, hope you are too. You're very close to a finished header, well done.



classics -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/30/2004 18:22:05)

cool i wanted to play with that, see what turned up...and i'm very pleased with whats come out of this.. thanks for your guys guys..

this is actualy the link color in the page (a little darker yellow) so that might help it fit in

[image]http://www.classicsandrods.com/test/logofinalyel.jpg[/image]

and the page..
http://www.classicsandrods.com/test/test3.html



markhawker -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/30/2004 18:27:32)

GREAT! Much much much better, well done! On another note, you know jaybee? Well, she's not a guy... but if you meant 'guy' as a colloquialism for 'lady' then that's fine [:D]



classics -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/30/2004 18:29:20)

of course of course!~ definate colloquialism [8D]

though i am fairly new here, but you 'guys' have made it a great experience



markhawker -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/30/2004 18:35:36)

Don't worry, I did the exact same thing a few weeks ago [;)] I'm sure she won't mind, she's nice like that! Well done though, I bet you've picked up a lot, your designs have definitely improved.

Congratulations on coming to OutFront too,

Mark



classics -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (6/30/2004 19:12:44)

heh thanks a lot..

i hate to keep this dragging on.. and i hope to be done with this thread soon.. but i just have a couple things to finish up.
One thing that came up was highlighted the current page on the menu. I think i may do something as simple as adding a small line under the current page on the menu.. but not sure. Just for fun, heres test4.. instead of just having the current page using the effect (which is light, hard to see) how bout this? The effect is lost for the current page but it's more noticeable by using the modern plate style for our state. (the blue ones are from the 70's)



d a v e -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (7/1/2004 3:33:31)

that looks good!!

btw your nice new logo would be smaller and clearer as a gif



jaybee -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (7/1/2004 6:13:46)

BIG improvement, well done. I think the adage is stick to 3 colours. Less is more etc. etc. etc.

By the by

Anyone have any idea where you change the quote on the left under your name? I want to put

I'm trying..... I'm really trying AND I'M FEMALE!!!! [:D]



Giomanach -> RE: site rebuild - please compare and criticize (7/1/2004 6:27:12)

You can't lol, it's disappeared from the edit profile bit[;)]

I know you're a woman, who else does? lol



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