Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (Full Version)

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bethsinwa2 -> Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/6/2006 13:51:48)

Hi Guys,

The header of my website looks horribly goofy. I have been trying to come up with a header that looks a little sharper.

I want to replace the current header/homepage
www.gillianclissold.com

with this new design
www.gillianclissold.com/temp2

Do you all agree that this is a better design?

Thanks



anderskorte -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/6/2006 15:02:24)

The banner is still a little pixelated (the G letter). The background noise gives it some texture, though.

So, I'd say get rid of the pixels and you'll be fine. Also the gray background on the main contents is all pixels and the navigation background is fuzzy.

I don't think you need all those borders.

The 3D effect on the corner icon is a bit 90s.

I'd also give the “Gillian Clissold” title more space from the icon to match the margin between the bottom left horse image and the navigation bar.

The title text is a little confusing, too, you should separate “Quarternote Farm” from it so that anyone doesn't read “Gquarternote Farm”. I guess you see what I mean.

Yes, the version 2 is better, but the top left corner icon was better in the previous one. It's a good design, only a few tiny flaws and you're there.



bethsinwa2 -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/7/2006 9:27:21)

Can Anderskorte and/or anyone else explain why whenever I use PaintShop Pro to make text for a website, like the letter 'G' in the header, it looks pixelated?

Thanks!



anderskorte -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/7/2006 9:39:25)

I don't know about Paint Shop Pro, but in Photoshop I'm using, you get options for text anti-aliasing. Without Photoshop's wonderful typography features I probably wouldn't be here right now, but delivering mail or something (ok, only joking). I have the options for none, crips, strong and smooth anti-aliasing for text.

But could it be that you have too few colors in the GIF image? You need at least, say, 10 colors for a good anti-aliasing. But if your image is something like 2-color black and white, anti-aliasing doesn't work.



jaybee -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/7/2006 9:49:33)

OK problem 1

<title>ILLIAN CLISSOLD</title>

Problem 2.

The pixellation depends on your save settings, what resolution you're using and transparency. I assume you're starting with a white background and then making the final image transparent.

When you do new image, set the background to transparent immediately. Make sure you're only using the background colour to write the text, the foreground colour, click on the circle with the bar through it to turn the colour off or set the line width to zero on the top toolbar for text.

Try this one and see how clean it is.

[image]local://upfiles/9075/5F563BCF19C6444EBA8385C429DF30CB.gif[/image]



jaybee -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/7/2006 9:57:15)

Screenshot

[image]local://upfiles/9075/5B2782B3C55C48319704F24F04E2B26E.gif[/image]



anderskorte -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/7/2006 10:03:59)

quote:

ORIGINAL: jaybee

[image]local://upfiles/9075/5F563BCF19C6444EBA8385C429DF30CB.gif[/image]

With all the respect, but the font on the websites was Georgia, this is a different font.



bethsinwa2 -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/7/2006 10:40:00)

Thank you Jaybee and Anderskorte!!

Jaybee,

Please can I follow up to make sure I understand what you are saying about PSP?

1. When I click on the icon for New Page the New Image dialogue box shows a check in the transparent box and the color box has a circle with the line through it. And the dialogue box says "raster background". The new image has a grey-and-white checkered default background.

2. You say to save it immediately as transparent, do you mean save it immediately as a .gif and go through the "Save As Options"/ optimizer option and make sure "transparency" is chosen? I'm assuming this is what you mean? After I do this the background is black.

Is this right?


Thankyou!!!!



jaybee -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/7/2006 12:16:18)

1. Yes

2. File>Export>Gif Optimiser


[image]local://upfiles/9075/C0D8882CD3DC40AC8A6379DB5CD3E999.gif[/image]



jaybee -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/7/2006 12:20:19)

quote:

ORIGINAL: anderskorte

quote:

ORIGINAL: jaybee

[image]local://upfiles/9075/5F563BCF19C6444EBA8385C429DF30CB.gif[/image]

With all the respect, but the font on the websites was Georgia, this is a different font.
It was an example. The Georgia G comes out the same.



tgodshall2 -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/10/2006 10:50:04)

I think I would lose the choppy gradient and perhaps add some depth to those letters with some mild shadows.

I also think having an image or 2 in the header would help. You might not want to hear it, but a restart might not be a bad choice. THat green gradient is hard to look at.

Heres something I threw together in Photoshop. Perhaps it will help give you some idea of what I mean.

Troy

[image]local://upfiles/10365/E03D610746A44F83BA21A7FACC6EAD1A.jpg[/image]



jaybee -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/10/2006 12:21:47)

quote:

Heres something I threw together in Photoshop
[:D]
That's really nice. What are your charges for throwing stuff together? In case I need to know. For future reference that is.



jaybee -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/10/2006 12:24:05)

Actually Beth, one thing that throws up. Why the treble clef? I assume it's something to do with dressage but is it really needed?



tgodshall2 -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/10/2006 13:01:56)

Hi Jaybee,
completely depends on time. At times, it can take forever just tracking down the proper images for a design and other times, 2 seconds.

That took about 5 minutes and hopefully gives beth some ideas.



bethsinwa2 -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/11/2006 17:55:52)

tgodshall2,

that is BEAUTIFUL!!! You must be a professional graphics artist.



tgodshall2 -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/11/2006 19:35:58)

thanks.. I hope it helps.

Yes, I have been designing websites/templates for it seems like forever about now..LOL



anderskorte -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/12/2006 9:33:35)

Yes, the tgodshall2's banner is beautiful. Nice use of the concept of dynamic flowing lines, it instantly stands out as out of ordinary and looks good.

Copperplate doesn't go too well with the capitals of Georgia, but that's just me being picky.



bethsinwa2 -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/13/2006 9:07:47)

Hi Jaybee,

If you are referring to the treble clef in the logo -

I tried to make the logo a copy of the sign they have in front of their farm (which is a horse jumping over a note w/ a treble clef). And I am a total beginner at PaintShop Pro.

Are you saying that it shouldn't be part of the logo? Its not related to dressage, its related to the title of the farm, "Quarternote". Do you think its over the top?

Thanks for your input!



womble -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/13/2006 10:06:35)

I think if it's part of the farm's "identity" then it's quite valid to have it as part of the site's logo.



jaybee -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/13/2006 10:39:04)

No you go with it, if they use it then that's fine. I just wondered what it was there for but of course Quarternote makes sense.



Minix -> RE: Attempting (again) to Make HomePage Less Goofy Looking (8/13/2006 11:02:41)

I agree with point of view that the current banner color/gradient is too "choppy" and somewhat distracting to the eye. You should consider a remake with a more complimentary color. Is the background the "official" color for the company or something you came up with?

The treble/horse is appropriate if that is the sign/logo that they use on the front of the farm and should be displayed prominently in the banner - if it is the official logo. (do you have a photo of that signage?) If its what welcomes visitors to the farm, it should welcome visitors to the web site.

Nice site.



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