first web layout

[madkat]

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/4325/layout2ti0.png


Heres my first layout, isnt really anything special but i made the logo myself and i think im quite happy being the end result. Feel free to criticise anything and also some tips or additional things to addon would be nice

thanks

EDIT: just noticed, this should have been put in the showrooms and progress?

[Bub]

Moved to Showroom and WIP.
I personally like that design alot! I've been wanting one similar for a personal site for a while now.

[madkat]

thanks

i've just updated it with another http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/5043/layout2qh3.png

added another column to the right and removed the stripes from the header as i thought it clashed with the logo lol. I guess its finished now with the except of a few tweaks i need to do

[chuggs]

Nice work. I like the design of the logo, but I'm wondering if there's a way to make it work better with your header font. I'm just not sure which way to take it -- blur the font some, or sharpen the logo? Maybe there's a medium between the two extremes that will work well for you. I think I see what you mean by the stripes of the original header clashing with the logo, but I'm a nut for depth in art. Without the stripes or something to replace them, your depth is gone. One last comment -- you misspelled "tutorial" as "turotial" in the lowercase text of your header. Honestly, I'm not trying to nit-pick the work to death. I hope I'm not coming across that way, because I do like it and I'm interested in seeing what else you come up with.

[tamlin]

I have to agree with chuggs: it looks better with the stripes. The only thing I don't like is the blurry logo. Blurring works well in some contexts, but I don't think it works well with logos.

[casmoedesigns]

Not bad, looks like its coming into its own. Keep us updated.

[notjustgraphics]

I think the use of a serif font for your menu headings could be changed... Serif font's on websites make the site look visually busy...

Serif's are typically used to improve readability in high density printed text, but they render poorly on websites, and have no necessity in menu headings...

I'd try something simplex like Arial, Tahoma, or even Verdana...

I prefer the stripes... a lot. The three column layout is nice and well balanced, but i think the search box should be left aligned with the left margin of the right column... It's throwing the balance off a bit.

The previous / next nav at the bottom of the centre column is off centre a bit... it is noticeable because of the centred footer text at the bottom...

Switching the header from Google Ads to Sponsors was probably a good idea... much of the revenue genereated by Google Ads is 'accidental' clicking... making them too obvious might reduce there effectiveness in this regard, and therefor your revenue.

OH... and now i see you've changed the serif font in the headers so ignore the first part of this post... lol

Design wise, i like it.. it's clean simple and lightweight. I would, however, make the background for the menu headers the same color as the last row of pixels on the gradient in the header... just for continuity

The height of the left column and right column are slightly different... typically, one would expect them to be the same height

And one last thing, I would personally add a green bar or reverse cap to the bottom of the site to visually define and close off the site.

Nice work all around....

Mike.

[madkat]

thanks for your feedback guys, i'll take what you've said onboard and brush up on it today then hopefully produce my final piece later tonight

Thanks anyway for your comments, i appreciate it

EDIT: http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/6357/layout23ln3.png < - - final layout, changed the font type & typo in the header, took out the blur on the logo, added some glow to the logo, re-added the stripes to the header, aligned the search box centrally on the right column and added a green footer.

What do you think? Personally i think it looks much better, i added some glow to the logo as i though it just looked a tad too plain with only the drop shadow and i quite like it too.

[unleash]

I like it,
I agree its an improvement, I would love to see the site working....

[chuggs]

Nicely done. When will it be operational?

[tamlin]

Excellent - it looks really clean and professional.

[madkat]

thanks Tamlin

i'm busy coding it now so hopefully it will be fully finished by tonight if not tomorrow.. the layut of course

edit: index.png - - - Just a little taster as to what it looks like online, links & rollover works but relay back to the same page for now, still need to sort out the header, middle, footer and active links. Code needs cleaned up a bit too which i will done once everything else is completed. I've been at this for so long im beginning to forget the basics

And one last thing, looks a bit bare so i was maybe thinking of adding a gradient behind it maybe 1/3 of the way down or even a wallpaper of some sort not sure though, any ideas?

[Bub]

I'm really liking this one. I think the gradient is an Ok idea, but I also think the site will look less bare when you have content added.

[notjustgraphics]

I agree with Bub...

Without content, any layout will look 'bare'...

go to Lorem Ipsum - All the facts - Lipsum generator and generate your self some temporary content!

It's really looking good...

Mike.

[madkat]

ok final layout, fully coded in CSS and nothing to add except a couple of things but thats it!
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