Forum design

[falkor]

Hey Falk,

What's the majority vote on board profiles? I use prosilver and always think that a fixed width of 850 plus a nice full width banner would look better. You can even have random images on the banner if you want.

Eg like php's forum

http://www.phpbb.com/community/index.php

[Race Track]

An example...



Sorry about the res, i forgot to uncheck the reduce quality box.

[falkor]

hiya RT

the plain truth is that people quickly settle down with what a forum gives them as default

if the forum gives them prosilver on joining, then 95% will stick with prosilver until the day the forum falls off a cliff

if the forum had given them problack, subsilver2 or any other vaguely ok looking template, 95% would still be using that for as long as they are interested in staying

it is more the content, info and camaraderie that matters

you can see that from the styles break down on the index page

when these forums began in 2008 all members went to prosilver and last year the default was switched to subSilver2 which all new members were then given

over 95% of members have not changed style from either of those

I am not moaning about that - it's just a fact, people see what they are given and "get used to it" - why should they change?

[Race Track]

I'm not saying they should change, what i am saying is why can't they be tidy'd up a bit? You can fix the width on both prosilver and subsilver and replace the logo image, title and site description with a background banner containing all three.

Happy to assist in the coding and provide guidance on what to do.

[falkor]

why do you want to fix the width RT?

anybody who has a computer screen less than the fixed width would then see horizontal scrollbars and only a percentage of the site's width makes no sense to me

You can fix the width on both prosilver and subsilver

sure but maybe there is a reason that they don't come like that off the supply chain

replace the logo image, title and site description with a background banner containing all three

ok who else would like to see this?

I would like to hear what other members say. From where I'm standing right now, I am willing to add more forum banners to subsilver2/ prosilver to give you a change from the old ones (if you have new ones) but really I can't see the need for much more

[xHx]

Its all a bit too techie language for me.

[falkor]

hiya XHX

RT is proposing that his changing wide banner (which is pretty slick as you can see above) replaces the little logo and wording at the top of the site, it would work actually but do we want it?
while at first glance I would say YEAH looks fabulous, what this means is that this wide changing banner is at the top of the site every time you go to a new topic, profile - anything

it changes relentlessly the whole time, not as you change /negotiate areas through the site but in real time and all the time

well I am open to further views on it, do you think it would be good?

personally I would welcome more logos from members

we need 10 - 20 new images of each of the below

around 888 x 240 footer - prosilver/ subSilver2

around 250 x 100 header - prosilver/ subSilver2

[xHx]

Hmm....well more pretty pictures might be nice but if i go around taking pictures of HATOs then they may apply for a restraining order

Could we not have more pretty pictures on the main areas of the forum and then just the standard bits in threads etc? is that even technically possible? haha.

xx

[falkor]

Could we not have more pretty pictures on the main areas of the forum and then just the standard bits in threads

ummmm sorry please explain that?

the "main areas" ? where?

[xHx]

Board index pages and the briefing room page etc etc. Could have them in the threads too i suppose.

[Race Track]

Whoa, whoa, whoa...

Just to clarify,

The images wouldn't change as per my example - that was just a quick way of showing 4 different image types. Only when the site loads would you see AN image, and then a different image next time you visit. I could have just loaded 4 images one under each other - but it was quicker the way i did it.

The fixed width is supposedly easier on the eyes. Don't ask me why - just what i have learnt. It would also have to be fixed to look sleek with the image banner.

Go here and see an example

http://www.phpbb.com/community/index.php

The image doesn't change as you watch it, it only changes after a period of time when you revisit the site.

[falkor]

who is convinced by RT's fixed width argument? can you reply on here please?

I am not

in regard to the new "RT images" that are 850 wide and could replace the current logo, title and description .........we have a choice

we can replace the existing logo, title and description for ALL

OR

we can replace the existing logo, title and description for just guests, logged in members would see the existing set up

I am thinking this might be a good improvement IF RT can supply the 4 he has done plus another 4 maybe the adjustment would be good for ALL rather than just guests, anybody have views? PLEASE REPLY ON HERE WITH YOUR OPINION

RT are you talking prosilver or subSilver2 (and please don't say both)

[Race Track]

Actually just prosilver

"IF"? "IF"!

Just say when

[Nighthawk]

Sounds good to me!

[slabber]

Looks good to me as well, if it makes the site look more appealing, not that I'm saying it isn't!!, it will show any visitors to the site more of what we do.