Site Theme Idea

[Death Dark]

   This topic is here for the feedback of the community.

   So, the site theme has managed to stay the same for far too long.  It's fine as-is, but we can do better.  What we have now gives an interesting degree of customization, but only insofaras we allow it to be customized.  After using Opera for a bit, I began to develop new ideas.  The changes would be as follows:

1 - The various site "boxes" (main content, nav, etc) would be changed to semi-transparent boxes of solid colors.  By default a "black" (semi-transparent black) would be active with white text atop.  Via options in the new Theme menu, the user may change the pairs of colors (background vs text.)
Q - The background would likely have to be made up of an image to get the smooth corners that Forte would want.  Thereby the background colors would be "limited" to a basic selection of colors.  Should the user be able to choose the text color, or should a readable text color already be chosen and paired with each background?

2 - The background of the site would be changeable for the user.  In the Themes menu, they will be able to enter a URL of any image they want as a wallpaper and set the alignment and repeat values.  Because the data will be stored as cookies, an image from the user's computer could even  be used as the background, meaning the user will have complete privacy and freedom over the wallpaper.  Additionally, default wallpapers should be available.
Q - Should the banner be changeable?  What should we do about resolutions?

3 - The menus and possibly the navigation handling of the site would likely get shuffled around for more efficiency of navigation.  Additionally, the page layout may change.
Q - What would be the most efficient groupings for navigation?  Should the user be able to handle where the different boxes go?  Or would a number of preset structures work better?

Q - What else should the user be able to change about their layout?  Font?  Page Title?  Should a section for custom code/scripts be added?
Q - Should there be a "theme" file type developed so that users can group their changes and share them with others? 

   My primary computer has died (primarily graphics card) and I'm currently restricted to my Netbook, which is running Ubuntu.  As such, I'm a little out of my element and won't be able to execute these ideas with any speed.  However, we can use this time setback to give the design process enough time to figure out what would be best.

   Your opinions would be appreciated.

[MegaRock35]

1. Let the user choose the color. "Readable" seems to vary from person to person.

2. The banner should be changeable. I know nothing about resolutions, so I can't help you there.

3. Again, leave it up to the user. They can make it whatever's convenient for them.

4. Definitely the font and page title. I can't think of anything else at the moment, though. What would the custom scripts/codes be for?

5. Yes.

I happen to like a lot of customization, but that's just me. I'm flexible on these points.

[Forte]

You know, now that it isn't 2 in the morning and I read this, most of it really sounds badass. Let me go into some detail with some things:

Q - What else should the user be able to change about their layout?  Font?  Page Title?  Should a section for custom code/scripts be added?

Font seems like an ok idea to be able to change, but I don't think the page title is something that should be messed with. It IS how you identify your tabs, after all, and it should be unique to the site. As for custom code/scripts, that sounds really exploitable and probably shouldn't be allowed.

Q - Should there be a "theme" file type developed so that users can group their changes and share them with others? 

Sounds cool.

Q - What would be the most efficient groupings for navigation?  Should the user be able to handle where the different boxes go?  Or would a number of preset structures work better?

Depends heavily on how the user is able to change the location of the boxes, and what kind of script that would take, since we all are probably aware that we occasionally get suspended for "heavy system resource usage" even though we're doing all of jack shit here to actually use up resources. Customization is nice, on all accounts, but we sort of have to consider: who actually visits the main site for long enough to give half of a damn about where the navigation is and how it's laid out? We don't REALLY have that much to show off, and unless we perform a mighty overhaul on the content of the site, the only reason people will visit it is for... well, sprites and comics.

As far as presets go for layout...

-Main-
 +Home
 +Staff
 +About

-Sprites n' Comics-
 +Comics (Make this link unable to be clicked if possible)
    +Comic Series
    +Comic Series
    +Etc.
 +Sprites
    +(Possible sub-menu for the artist? Style?)
 +Backgrounds
    +(Possible sub-menu for artist?)

-Community-
 +Affiliate
 +Forum
 +(External Link to Steam Group?)
 +(Embed Livestream feed into a page here and link to it?)

-Fun Stuff-
 +Downloads
    +Wallpapers
    +Rainmeter skins
    +Cursors
 +Guides
 +Themes (Is this needed now?)

[This section should probably be easily edited in its base code, since more could be added or things could be subtracted from the menu]

2 - The background of the site would be changeable for the user.  In the Themes menu, they will be able to enter a URL of any image they want as a wallpaper and set the alignment and repeat values.  Because the data will be stored as cookies, an image from the user's computer could even  be used as the background, meaning the user will have complete privacy and freedom over the wallpaper.  Additionally, default wallpapers should be available.
Q - Should the banner be changeable?  What should we do about resolutions?

Sounds badass, but I think if the banner is allowed to be changed, it should be from a selection of banners hosted here. It's sort of like the site title in terms of importance, and it really tells people where they're at. Having a wide range of selection would allow it to fit in with pretty much any wallpaper people want to use. Or we could have preset color themes, where a person would pick a color most comparable to their background of choice, and then a set of banners classified in that color would be loaded for random display much like the 4chan-esque themes we have now.

1 - The various site "boxes" (main content, nav, etc) would be changed to semi-transparent boxes of solid colors.  By default a "black" (semi-transparent black) would be active with white text atop.  Via options in the new Theme menu, the user may change the pairs of colors (background vs text.)
Q - The background would likely have to be made up of an image to get the smooth corners that Forte would want.  Thereby the background colors would be "limited" to a basic selection of colors.  Should the user be able to choose the text color, or should a readable text color already be chosen and paired with each background?

When we say default black... what is this implying the site background color to be? Would that make the default box "clear"?. I do like this idea of being able to pair colors by choice. I know how they teach people about colors on computers, but sometimes, that's a bit wrong. (I, for one, hate white backgrounds with black font, it hurts my eyes to stare at it for too long).

Overall, this holds promise and I like the idea. I'll be sure to help with it as much as I can, and given my areas of ability, that's probably just with images. As an added thought, how possible is it to have a recent forum activity section on the home page? I know we've pretty much been over this before, but I just had to bring it up again. I know that'll take a little bit of messing around with the database and how to pull from that, etc etc.

[Death Dark]

I happen to like a lot of customization, but that's just me. I'm flexible on these points.

A lot of customization can also end up being a problem.  I've noted your opinions, but Forte's points have trumped some of them.

Q - What else should the user be able to change about their layout?  Font?  Page Title?  Should a section for custom code/scripts be added?

Font seems like an ok idea to be able to change, but I don't think the page title is something that should be messed with. It IS how you identify your tabs, after all, and it should be unique to the site. As for custom code/scripts, that sounds really exploitable and probably shouldn't be allowed.

Not all of the recommendations I put out were meant to make it through.  I just put them out there to see how overboard you wanted to go.

Q - What would be the most efficient groupings for navigation?  Should the user be able to handle where the different boxes go?  Or would a number of preset structures work better?

Depends heavily on how the user is able to change the location of the boxes, and what kind of script that would take, since we all are probably aware that we occasionally get suspended for "heavy system resource usage" even though we're doing all of jack shit here to actually use up resources. Customization is nice, on all accounts, but we sort of have to consider: who actually visits the main site for long enough to give half of a damn about where the navigation is and how it's laid out? We don't REALLY have that much to show off, and unless we perform a mighty overhaul on the content of the site, the only reason people will visit it is for... well, sprites and comics.

As far as presets go for layout...

Themes will be needed to edit your theme.  The layout idea wasn't talking about the menus in the Nav; those should be static.  I was simply talking about left, right, or top nav menus, the exact locations of the banners, etc.

Additionally, controlling the precise pixel-by-pixel locations may be a bit too much.  After giving it some thought, it'd be very simple to give preset page layouts.  (Thanks, CSS!)

2 - The background of the site would be changeable for the user.  In the Themes menu, they will be able to enter a URL of any image they want as a wallpaper and set the alignment and repeat values.  Because the data will be stored as cookies, an image from the user's computer could even  be used as the background, meaning the user will have complete privacy and freedom over the wallpaper.  Additionally, default wallpapers should be available.
Q - Should the banner be changeable?  What should we do about resolutions?

Sounds badass, but I think if the banner is allowed to be changed, it should be from a selection of banners hosted here. It's sort of like the site title in terms of importance, and it really tells people where they're at. Having a wide range of selection would allow it to fit in with pretty much any wallpaper people want to use. Or we could have preset color themes, where a person would pick a color most comparable to their background of choice, and then a set of banners classified in that color would be loaded for random display much like the 4chan-esque themes we have now.

Or we can have a checkbox list and create a slideshow or shuffled compilation of all banners that they choose.

1 - The various site "boxes" (main content, nav, etc) would be changed to semi-transparent boxes of solid colors.  By default a "black" (semi-transparent black) would be active with white text atop.  Via options in the new Theme menu, the user may change the pairs of colors (background vs text.)
Q - The background would likely have to be made up of an image to get the smooth corners that Forte would want.  Thereby the background colors would be "limited" to a basic selection of colors.  Should the user be able to choose the text color, or should a readable text color already be chosen and paired with each background?

When we say default black... what is this implying the site background color to be? Would that make the default box "clear"?. I do like this idea of being able to pair colors by choice. I know how they teach people about colors on computers, but sometimes, that's a bit wrong. (I, for one, hate white backgrounds with black font, it hurts my eyes to stare at it for too long).

The background of the site would be a gray.  On the lighter side.  That way, when the black "overlaps" it, it'll be rather dark.

Overall, this holds promise and I like the idea. I'll be sure to help with it as much as I can, and given my areas of ability, that's probably just with images. As an added thought, how possible is it to have a recent forum activity section on the home page? I know we've pretty much been over this before, but I just had to bring it up again. I know that'll take a little bit of messing around with the database and how to pull from that, etc etc.

There should already be a query in the forums somewhere for it.  If you look at the bottom of the main page, there's a "recent posts" button.  You may should look into that.

[MegaRock35]

I've noted your opinions, but Forte's points have trumped some of them.

That's fine. You two know way more about how this works than I do. And you're the one who has to implement, so...

[Forte]

man I don't know a thing

[Death Dark]

http://fortescomics.net/preview/

What do you think?

[Forte]

Looks modern and artsy. I'm ok with that being one of the new styles.

[Death Dark]

That's the primary style I was considering, actually.  Obviously, there's a great deal of work yet to be done.

[lern]

too much transparency, too confusing and harder to read.

[Death Dark]

An opacity adjustment would be useful.  I'll add that into the customization.

I also added menus now.  They work, but don't lead anywhere yet.  Should I implement sub-menus in the same fashion?

It'd be cool to have a box to the left of the content giving the forum details we have up on the nav right now.  It seems too blank right now.

[Clockwork Pyrite]

Yeah I think the preview is hard to read.

That's just me though.

[Death Dark]

It seems to vary a bit, probably highly dependent on the angle of your screen.  I used 64 opacity to match the tiled background, but now I see that wasn't the best choice for reading.  I think I'll give options for 64, 128, 192 and 255 for each module background.  Of course, an option to turn them off (0 opacity) will be available.

[c0mp1337]

i got this on google translator:
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed can help you save time, money, and Hawaii. To take a trivial example, want to hear from you. No products to list in this category will be sent to the item below. There is no product, you are going to electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged.

[Clockwork Pyrite]

c0mp that kind of thing probably belongs in spam simulator