- font formatting of "Child Boards" distracts somehow from the normal forum heading
Child boards shouldn't be displayed with black color. maybe with the same color the the forum heading are displayed are. Or just make the normal forum headings also black.
- I also miss a link to the stats page
what do you mean?
The new theme is great :D.
That stats need to come back though
Quote from: klumy on February 04, 2006, 03:48:46 AM
- font formatting of "Child Boards" distracts somehow from the normal forum heading
Child boards shouldn't be displayed with black color. maybe with the same color the the forum heading are displayed are. Or just make the normal forum headings also black.
I agree that $txt['parent_boards'] in bold styling attracts a bit too much attention. Personally, I prefer to just change it from bold to italic.
Another issue: the active tab of the memberlist template doesn't show up correctly.
another thing
the button for collapsing / expanding forums are sometimes on the right and sometimes on the left site.
it would be better if the buttons are all on the right or all on the left site
Yeah its gr8. but as said before, very blurry!
Blurry?
Gecko's rendering engines scrolls down "layer per layer" which causes a page to "blur".
You'll have to talk to the guys and galls at Mozilla for that one...
Site is very clean and the navigation is simple. thanks simple machines!
Quote from: Tim on February 04, 2006, 11:16:47 AM
Gecko's rendering engines scrolls down "layer per layer" which causes a page to "blur".
You'll have to talk to the guys and galls at Mozilla for that one...
Why is this one theme on this one site, the only one I've ever had act blurry/choppy/unsmooth when scrolling in firefox? it will be hard to convince the folks at firefox there is a problem with the rendering engine on one site out of billions of web pages.
I love SMF and this theme is sweet! but there is something in the theme on this site causing this! it honestly sucks that this effects so few people that it can be dismissed or pushed off on something else, but every thing has new directions!!
Quote from: Tim on February 04, 2006, 11:16:47 AM
Gecko's rendering engines scrolls down "layer per layer" which causes a page to "blur".
You'll have to talk to the guys and galls at Mozilla for that one...
Interesting :-\
My scroll looks better on FF than it does on IE. Probably related to PC speed as well
Does it scroll smoother now?
Very nice, but is it possible to add an option next to the search thing, for Entire Site or Site Forum like before :D
It is there?
Quote from: Tim on February 05, 2006, 05:37:51 AM
Does it scroll smoother now?
Yes, a lot better, well done :)
The new theme looks great. But it would be good to have the 'Home', 'Help', 'Logout', etc. links available to those who prefer to surf with 'Load Images' disabled.
Using Firefox 1.5.0.1 FWIW.
There aren't any images in that menu?
In fact there are: the backgrounds of the tabs. If those are hidden, the text becomes unreadable.
Could you give those tabs a background color as well as an image to ensure that it looks OK? (I'm not too hot on CSS!)
Tim, I would just like to make a designer's comment on this site.
Generally, when you design a site you like to have a certain kind of colour throughout the site. This usually consists of two colors. Two colors are always better than one, because it simply enhances the contrast and makes the site (or any design) more alive than other designs.
On this site, I primarily see two colors used, being light blue and orange. However, the default theme for the forum does not seem to have this contrast. It's all in the same shade of blue, which makes it seem a little "dull".
Fixing this simply means including some more of the orange color in the overal design/CSS sheet. For example, you could decide to change the link color to orange. This would mean two improvements; it would add contrast
and it would make all links easier to recognize (accessibility for people with bad vision would increase).
As for the choice of colour, I'm not entirely joyous about choosing the color orange. Every colour has a certain set of emotions attached to it. Some resources about this will tell you that orange for example has the association of cheap/inexpensive. It also has the association of being fun, which is positive.
Other colours, such as green, red and purple give off very different feelings.
Some resources are:
- http://www.joehallock.com/edu/COM498/associations.html
- http://www.aboutlogodesign.com/logo-design-color-psychology.htm
You can find plenty more searching with google.
I leave it up to you what you do with this information.
Oh wait, the links are there, but yes, the color blends to the background.
(A hover will faintly show that color.)
May be able to simulate by loading w/ no images, and then doing a CTL-A.
WOW, yes it's alot better! what was it?
Quote from: kadhumia_flo on February 05, 2006, 07:07:04 AM
Very nice, but is it possible to add an option next to the search thing, for Entire Site or Site Forum like before :D
or a search tab with a hidden div with the options! just so it's not bulky but provides options. I have a search plug-in for firefox but I didn't want to submit it my self "let the devteam do it" but I sent it to the member taking a vacation :D I will go ahead and submit it to http://mycroft.mozdev.org/ and post the link here!
Quote from: Burpee on February 05, 2006, 04:31:12 PM
As for the choice of colour, I'm not entirely joyous about choosing the color orange. Every colour has a certain set of emotions attached to it. Some resources about this will tell you that orange for example has the association of cheap/inexpensive. It also has the association of being fun, which is positive.
Unfortunatly you don't have to be joyous about those choices as there is an overwhelming majority that seems to disagree with you. The colors in the logo and throughout the site are:
- Blue:
- authority
- dignity
- security
- faithfulness
- reliable
- Orange:
- fun
- cheeriness
- cheap
- warm exuberance
- faithfulness
- Yellow:
- positively
- sunshine
- warm exuberance
- faithfulness
I ask you which of these items that you have pointed me to are not applicable to Simple Machines software?
And I assure you I'm not done yet...
I'm also not too keen on all of these claims, for one because the associations of colors differ from culture to culture. A lot of science has gone into the design of the site. Wether it's technology, usability and accessability. All of these are just as important, if not more, as picking the "right" colors...
I like the color scheme!
Here is the Simple Machines Search (http://mycroft.mozdev.org/download.html?name=SMFGoogle&submitform=Search) Plug-in for FireFox!
or if any one wan't here is an install script for the plug-in
<script type="text/javascript">
<!--
function addEngine(name,ext,cat,type)
{
if ((typeof window.sidebar == "object") && (typeof window.sidebar.addSearchEngine == "function")) {
window.sidebar.addSearchEngine(
"http://mycroft.mozdev.org/install.php/" + type + "/" + name + ".src",
"http://mycroft.mozdev.org/install.php/" + type + "/" + name + "."+ ext, name, cat );
} else {
alert("You will need a Mozilla based browser to install a search plugin.");
}
}
//-->
</script>
This site works with search plugins<br>
<a href="javascript:addEngine('SMFGoogle','gif','Web Tools','7473')">
<img src="http://mycroft.mozdev.org/images/getplugbtn1.gif" width="88" height="31" title="Install the 'Simple Machines Search' search plugin." alt="Install the 'Simple Machines Search' search plugin.">
</a>
Quote from: Tim on February 05, 2006, 05:32:33 PM
I ask you which of these items that you have pointed me to are not applicable to Simple Machines software?
And I assure you I'm not done yet...
I'm also not too keen on all of these claims, for one because the associations of colors differ from culture to culture. A lot of science has gone into the design of the site. Wether it's technology, usability and accessability. All of these are just as important, if not more, as picking the "right" colors...
I think about colors in a different way.
To promote a product (which I do believe is why the site was redesigned) you need to increase the percepted value of the product, by as many means possible, which includes the use of colors in the best way possible. I can see that a lot of hard effort and thought was put into the design of this site. However, I simply do not agree with the thoughts behind this theme.
Simple Machines has always been praised for it´s technology. When designing a site for a technological product, you need to think of values that will promote something technological.
Orange is a color that always decreases the value of any product that needs to be acknowledged as being a high-tech.
As you can see in almost all technical appliances such as Palms, Computers, Gaming consoles, etc etc, the color orange is avoided. Darker colors, such as gray, black and blue are much more associated with quality. Another example to show you what the feeling is I am referring to, is Owdy´s Blue Jeans (http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=41883.0) theme. It relies heavily on those two colors. Try imagining that same theme, with a white background and instead of the blue only orange colors. It would give off an entirely different feeling.
As I commented on this design way before it was even actively used on these boards, I don´t like the banner. I don´t like it because it makes me think it's cheap. I would have greatly preferred the use of photographic images like was the case in the old design.
Every single designer has to be able to take a distance from what he or she has made, to allow input from the outside to come in. Don´t block it, welcome it. If you don´t, you will never excel. You ignored me the first time, it could have made a humongous difference if we had this discussion before it was implemented.
This turned out more as a rant than it was supposed to... But hey, this is how I feel about it.
Personally I like the new layout/theme its easy on the eye & good for stealth browsing during work time.
You can allways go to your profile and try one of the other themes available tho all are similar, with the exception of Comic Theme Now where an earth did that one come from >:(
That theme was made to show the power of SMF theme system.
Quote from: Burpee on February 06, 2006, 07:57:44 AM
To promote a product (which I do believe is why the site was redesigned) you need to increase the percepted value of the product, by as many means possible, which includes the use of colors in the best way possible. However, I simply do not agree with the thoughts behind this theme.
As you can see from the list which you have given to me yourself all the colors in the logo represent what we want to represent. The colors in combination with the simple background represent all that we want to communicate. And once more you do not need to agree or disagree. An overwhelming majority does not agree with what you said...
Quote from: Burpee on February 06, 2006, 07:57:44 AMEvery single designer has to be able to take a distance from what he or she has made, to allow input from the outside to come in. Don´t block it, welcome it. If you don´t, you will never excel. You ignored me the first time, it could have made a humongous difference if we had this discussion before it was implemented.
I'm glad that you have excelled with such great designs like your current site, and that you were able to remain such a simple person without any ego problems what so ever. It could have made a humongous difference for you. Once again, an overwhelming majority has given a great deal of positive comments or positive feedback. However what you have given so far is "listen to me or you will fail". Decisions were made and design is a far less exact science then you hold it to be.
This is my last reply to this topic by the way, I don't debate arrogance...
I think you guys overdone (outcome) yourselves this time.
Home page is brilliant.
Nothing more nothing less to say
Quote from: fugi on February 07, 2006, 03:10:42 PM
I think you guys overdone (outcome) yourselves this time.
Home page is brilliant.
Nothing more nothing less to say
Yeah, that's it! I can't believe the changes to the old design. It's all wonderful :)
Congratulations for the new look.
I am wondering if changing the fonts to a bit larger would be better. It' s OK with Mozilla but, although just a bit larger would suit my taste better but in MSIE they are too small with smallest (my preferred selection) and too large in medium.
It seems that the size selected is in a critical size change point for MSIE. One or two pixels larger might cure this. The same can happen for Mozilla with different sizes.
Also there is a different size relation with the two browsers i.e. when viewing a board's contents the Subject, Started by, Replies, Views fields show considerably smaller than Last post when smaller fonts is selected in MSIΕ and bigger with medium. There is a noticeable "jump" in size in these fields.
What about the "Posts and Topics" <td> ?
Its width is not the same in every board and its really annoying... :-\
I had a question...
If I wanted my home page to match the new forum theme, how would I go about that? Is there a template or something available or would I have to muddle through myself?
I really like the clean look and I would like it to match my forum :)
well done, much better. :)
thanks. 8)
Quote from: perplexed on February 09, 2006, 10:22:56 AM
I had a question...
If I wanted my home page to match the new forum theme, how would I go about that? Is there a template or something available or would I have to muddle through myself?
I really like the clean look and I would like it to match my forum :)
this is the SMF rc2 default theme. (mostly)
This theme is great, but I'd prefer different buttons for "reply", "notify", etc., similar to the previous theme version.
Whys it say SMF © 2001-2005, Lewis Media when it should be SMF © 2001-2006, Lewis Media i think?
Because the latest release happend in 2005....
Tim, would you please see my post above ;)
Cant we correct it?
What's that?
(https://www.simplemachines.org/community/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg70.imageshack.us%2Fimg70%2F1678%2Fadsz1oe.jpg&hash=684164053bd0c2cdcc9b0a4a3ddaef3010394103)
The widths are changing.. How can we correct it?
Quote from: Elmacik on February 11, 2006, 05:48:05 PM
The widths are changing.. How can we correct it?
what browser are you using? ...ok I see it in IE6. FF displays it right.
Opera
I can't force browsers to interpret the widths correctly. Has anyone run into a fix?
LOL I am not talking about it. I am talking about compatibility.
While I like the colors, graphics and font choices/sizes, the fixed width content (seemingly designed for 1024 across or higher) seems a bit... amaturish and typical of the 'CSS layout and XHTML validation at all costs' philosophy.
Designing fixed width (and the corresponding monster borders on higher resolutions or left/right scrollbars at lower res) Kinda defeats the whole purpose of HTML in my mind... Which is pretty much why I tell the people who call table layout a 'hack' to go {censored} themselves.
Pain in the ass at 800x600 since you end up having to scroll sideways; and at 1280 I've got two inch margins left and right... that sucks.
Quote from: deathshadow on February 12, 2006, 05:10:46 PM
and at 1280 I've got two inch margins left and right... that sucks.
No that doesnt... its still nice
Tim solution for the IE bug.
http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=64755.msg447540#msg447540
another suggestion:
each subcategory of the SMF Info Center should be collapsable!!
If you allow me some comments about the design of the new theme,
I think that in one word I could described as non-natural (OK it's 2 words :P )
I don't know if it's only my impression, but it brings me to mind virtual worlds,
so another word would be perhaps unreal, or distant.
Furthermore I could characterized also melancholic?
IMO SMFone is more friendly, warmer than this one.
I'm reffering to SMFone cos it's also a blue-based theme.
I don't know if I make myself clear, it's difficult to express an image with words (remeber that one picture is 1,000 words ;) )
Interesting comments Fugi.
The feeling of this design being non-natural/unreal/distant, is it caused by the banner up top?
To me it feels a bit unnatural as well. The rays are a symbol for the sun and the Simple Machines logo looks like something of a windmill. If you look at it like that, it suddenly becomes a very surreal image of a landscape.
SMFone is indeed a bit friendlier. SMFone has a lot more rounded curves, and subtle color variations, which makes the design a bit less present and allows more room to focus on the content. The new theme has more square shapes and only very few rounded corners, which makes it appear less 'elegant' than the SMFone theme.
On the opposite of that, a more square appearance can also give an aura of power to a site. So, in that aspect, the current forms are fairly correct.
I think that overall, the new theme has the right forms and shapes to represent the Simple Machines Community.
The latest version 1.0.6 link is leading to 1.0.5 topic
Quote from: Burpee on February 23, 2006, 03:01:25 PM
Interesting comments Fugi.
The feeling of this design being non-natural/unreal/distant, is it caused by the banner up top?
To me it feels a bit unnatural as well. The rays are a symbol for the sun and the Simple Machines logo looks like something of a windmill. If you look at it like that, it suddenly becomes a very surreal image of a landscape.
SMFone is indeed a bit friendlier. SMFone has a lot more rounded curves, and subtle color variations, which makes the design a bit less present and allows more room to focus on the content. The new theme has more square shapes and only very few rounded corners, which makes it appear less 'elegant' than the SMFone theme.
On the opposite of that, a more square appearance can also give an aura of power to a site. So, in that aspect, the current forms are fairly correct.
I think that overall, the new theme has the right forms and shapes to represent the Simple Machines Community.
I decided to write these comments after asking many users of my forum, which has SMFone blue as default theme, to compare it with the new SMF theme and decide if they want to switch to this new theme (BTW does the new SMF theme have a name? )
Almost all of my users expressed a negative oppinion about switching. So, this strenghed my oppionion and decided to express it here.
IMO i think that the colors should have been more saturated. This would give a more the impression of more warm colors. Why don't you try it? I could try it also, but I really don't have so much time now :(
The name of the NDT is "Core".