New Banner and Basis

NikonErik · 12-22-2007

I have been trying to redesign my homepage for like the last 8 months. You know how it is: "I'll get to it soon!" Time has a way of getting slippery . . .

Anyway, I thought I'd bounce this design idea off of the BioRust community.

What do you think of this, and what ideas do you think of to continue as a suitable web page?

**tamlin** · 12-22-2007

Hey Erik,
The banner looks pretty good, but there doesn't seem to be much cohesion between the images - it just looks like a random set of photos have been juxtaposed. I would consider either or both of the following:

Tone the individual small photos to even out the colour differences between them, or rearrange them so that the dominant colour in each photo compliments its neighbours.
Use some gradient layer masks to blend the edges of each image with its neighbours, rather than having the somewhat abrupt hard straight edges - this hopefully will help the viewer's eye to flow along the row of images more easily.

Just a couple of ideas to consider.

*unleash* · 12-22-2007

I agree with Tamlin,
great concept, but it needs some work

I think the toning is your best friend, as a gradient would eventually spoil the image.

Then maybe you could make a frame around the banner, to keep it a bit more together....

PS:just an idea, if you make the images dynamicly selected out of a list....that would be pretty cool uh?

NikonErik · 12-22-2007

Thanks I was thinking about the cohesion thing, but I didn't know if it was what I should do, or if it was something I was going to obsess about, if I let myself. I like to err on the side of sanity!

Unleash: I'm not sure what you mean.

**tamlin** · 12-22-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by NikonErik

Unleash: I'm not sure what you mean.

I think what he means is that you could have a list of, say, 30 images and then set up your banner to display 10 images at random from the list, so each time someone visits the page (or refreshes it) they see a different selection of images in the banner.

NikonErik · 12-22-2007

Um . . . okay . . . how?

(This is why I joined BioRust, actually. So I could learn new tricks.)

**tamlin** · 12-22-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by NikonErik

Um . . . okay . . . how?

Well, I'm no expert (one of those will hopefully be along shortly to help you out), but you could do it by using a bit of JavaScript - something along the lines of this: The JavaScript Source: Image Effects: Random Image Script
I suspect you could probably do the same sort of thing with Flash, too - although again, I'm no expert.

NikonErik · 12-22-2007

I bought the flash, dreamweaver and the rest of the CS3 Adobe stuff, but I should have spent my money on getting trained on it!!!

kokopedal · 12-22-2007

Welcome to my world.........

*unleash* · 12-23-2007

Hey Erik,

I have Flash myself and what I meant is that you make an XML document containing the internet adresses of lets say 20 images. Than you tell flash to load 5 of them into your banner. I know how to do the most of it in AS 2.0, but I have no clue how this should be done in AS 3.0.

Therefore, I like to help you out...but you'll have to use AS 2.0, as I can't make sense of 3.0 yet

I have some scripts that load in images from an XML file, and rescale them. It needs some tweaking and changing for this purpose but if you're interested, tell me and I'll show you what I mean...

Hope you could make sense of my words

mattcash · 01-08-2008

yes, that chap is right. the images dont link well together. maybe get rid of the boxed format and straight edges. ???? have a think

mattcash · 01-08-2008

nikon is right. an animation would be good. use ulead gif animator.

NikonErik · 01-08-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by unleash

Hey Erik,

I have Flash myself and what I meant is that you make an XML document containing the internet adresses of lets say 20 images. Than you tell flash to load 5 of them into your banner. I know how to do the most of it in AS 2.0, but I have no clue how this should be done in AS 3.0.

Therefore, I like to help you out...but you'll have to use AS 2.0, as I can't make sense of 3.0 yet

I have some scripts that load in images from an XML file, and rescale them. It needs some tweaking and changing for this purpose but if you're interested, tell me and I'll show you what I mean...

Hope you could make sense of my words

I would really appreciate the help, of course. First, you mention Flash, then you mention AS 2.0 and 3.0 . . . what are those?

About the collection of images that I used in the above banner. If I am trying show the diversity of the work I do, then how do I make them "blend" together, as you guys put it?

**tamlin** · 01-08-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by NikonErik

I would really appreciate the help, of course. First, you mention Flash, then you mention AS 2.0 and 3.0 . . . what are those?

AS = ActionScript. It's the code that makes Flash do stuff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NikonErik

About the collection of images that I used in the above banner. If I am trying show the diversity of the work I do, then how do I make them "blend" together, as you guys put it?

Gradient fades from one image to the next? Just an idea.

*unleash* · 01-10-2008

Well I guess you're question about AS is already answered

It indeed means actionscript, its like any other coding language....The thing is that
AS2 was desigend for "simple" coding(no OS like thing:P) the AS3 is based on a different way of coding and can therfore code much more/ difficult. So AS2 is great for programming if you're not planning on getting into it, and spedning much money on learning the code. AS3 is great if you are a web developer, and want to code as much you can....

Im not at my home PC right now, so I can't show you some examples. But you might want to start making a XML-file. I don't know if you ever did it, or know how to. so I will give the basics...

XML can be made using just notepad, its used to organize files, to create a list of links to all the file you use....like a list of short cuts. The basic structure is as following,

Quote:

I open up a node(image), and then declare the sub nodes(link, description). this is to make the loading and displaying it easier. If necessary I will PM you a rar file with some examples....

PS: you have to save the notepad file as an .xml, so select "all types" when saving, and name it like "namehere.xml"...