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A-U Revival: layout & coding
http://arwen-undomiel.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=21131		 Page 28 of 29
Author:  Anameleth [ July 4th, 2011, 5:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A-U Revival: layout & coding
I'm sorry I've been MIA the past week.

First of all, the new layout is beautiful, Arwen! :) So lovely to see a chance on the front page. Now, I know I said I didn't really like the "welcome to AU" text, but right now I feel a bit like there's something missing between the header and the news updates. It might just be that I'm not used to the way it looks right now, but I think maybe we need something there. I'm actually in favor of something like the introduction text we used to have. It's great for new members to get a bit of a welcome, you know? :)

I'll be updating the Overview thread with new things. I'm sorry it's so bad, btw. I just haven't had the energy to go through every single thread to collect info on what's been done. I try to keep up with the most recent changes, though :P

@Larael: If you would write a brief summary/explanation about the Hobbit, that would be great. Also, I don't know how you guys have been doing the bios, but if I understand JF's idea about how they ought to look in the end correctly, they should end up great. So any work you feel comfortable doing on those, is great too!

@Eä: I know how you feel about not being able to help with coding. I feel kinda useless. But you are most definitely not. You're like the Supreme Overviewer, doing all of mine and Haldir's work for us :P It's great though!

@Telpeath: I know it's no fun when it feels like people are angry and think you're taking over everything, but ultimately we need to get things done and if that is the only way, I say do it. Of course we should all try to stay friends (the revival really isn't something people should feel the need to fall out over), if it gets in the way of things moving forward, that's no good either.

Okay I think that's it. I'll go update the Overview thread now :teehee:

EDIT: @Arwen: I started going through the pages to look for blue, and I realized the text in the bios are still blue. I don't know if this is something that needs to be fixed later, but I thought I'd let you know just in case.

EDIT2: Also, in the Elvish section, the color coding doesn't work since you've changed the color scheme. Pronunciation and English translation are the same color ;)
Author:  Johnny's Fan [ July 5th, 2011, 11:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A-U Revival: layout & coding
OK, as a I said I would do, here is the prototype of one of the bios. If you want to have the original PJ bio open at the same time so you can see the difference and hopefully understand my problem a bit easier.

http://www.arwen-undomiel.com/PJ.html

^ This is the new version. As you can see some of the basic info has now been removed (myself and Larael decided we didn't need it anymore). I have also made the image a LOT smaller (300x300) so the basic info wouldn't be dwarfed by a huge image. BUT as you can see there is still a very gap which I really don't like between the basic stuff and the fun facts.

I sort of knew before I added the image that that would happen, and I was thinking that we didn't need the image, but it sets the page off I think? Anyway, so if you look further down as well as there being more fun facts there are also new categories that myself and Larael thought would be interesting to have. BUT my problem is still that big gap.

I could make the image even smaller but it would have to be longer than it is tall to suit the text and I don't think a small image would really look neat and tidy. I did think of having a big PJ inspirational quote there, but as I was about the google a big inspirational quote I thought about the other crew/cast bios that would not have a big inspirational quote to go there.

Then I thought about maybe moving "current projects" up there, but some crew/cast members have loads in the pipeline, so the chances are the text would go well below the image, and also Basic Info>>Current Projects>>Fun Facts?

The same problem if we use "notable projects" as some people's credits are never ending.

So what do you think? First of all, are the new sections OK? Do we need them? Do they add more to the bio? And lastly, what about the BBG (big black gap), does it matter that it's there? Should maybe a row of 3-4 mini images be placed there to fill up the space?

Thoughts peeps. :-)
Author:  Telpeath [ July 6th, 2011, 1:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A-U Revival: layout & coding
@JF: I think the changes you made are really great. It looks much cleaner and more refined - something I am really for. I appreciate the sections and, truthfully, I think that is all you need. Chances are if you are a Lord of the Rings Fan, you know something about PJ. Besides, I don't really care to know what his favorite color is or stuff like that.

The BBG is distracting to say the least. I think what could work there, if everything was to line up, was your recommendation of 3-4 small images (equally spaced). They wouldn't need to be clickable, just visual.

Great job JF *huggles*
Author:  Anameleth [ July 6th, 2011, 2:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A-U Revival: layout & coding
It looks great, JF :) I actually don't mind the BBG. It gives a bit of breathing room, rather than everything being cramped together.
I'm not sure I'm loving the name "fun facts" though, what with there being so many of them. When I think of fun facts, it's more life 3-5 things in addition to the main bio. So maybe just rename it "facts"?
Author:  Harthad [ July 6th, 2011, 9:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A-U Revival: layout & coding
I agree with Telpeath about the 3-4 images to fill up the BBG. And also with Anameleth about renaming the 'fun facts' just 'facts'. Also, another idea. Maybe we could set up a quiz that could rotate each week that could include info about one specific person? One week it could be Elijah Wood, and then the following week it could be Ian McKellan. And then at the end of the month the news people could announce the winners who got the most questions correct. :)
Author:  Johnny's Fan [ July 6th, 2011, 10:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A-U Revival: layout & coding
Thanks for all the opinions guys! :D

I will try out the image thing - it can't hurt to try and then we'll see if we like it or not. If it doesn't work I could try and make the image a little bit shorter so the gap won't be so big, but there will still be the breathing space but not too much. :lol:

Yes, I agree with fun facts.... our facts are quite comprehensive now so fun seems a bit... wrong. :P How about trivia instead?

Thanks again for the ideas/suggestions. :-)
Author:  Anameleth [ July 6th, 2011, 2:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A-U Revival: layout & coding
Trivia is a good word :)
Author:  Johnny's Fan [ July 6th, 2011, 2:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A-U Revival: layout & coding
I thought so. :yes:

And I also tried to have a go at doing something about a welcoming image. I know this looks too blurry (it was actually much too big when I tried it, so I made it smaller by just resizing *lazy bum way* hence why it's blurred) but I was thinking maybe something very simple and not too fancy, like the one we did have? I'm not even sure about any decoratiion underneath (note: I tried the same effect on the decoration and the text and it just clashed, so that's why the leafy things are just one colour).

http://www.arwen-undomiel.com/testing11.html
Author:  Anameleth [ July 6th, 2011, 3:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A-U Revival: layout & coding
I like it :) It's another one of those places where a bit of breathing room is a good thing :teehee:
Author:  Eä [ July 6th, 2011, 3:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A-U Revival: layout & coding
^Looks really good. I like it. :)

Though, I'd still wave my flag for the bit of welcome text.. to introduce a quite comphrensive site to a newcomer.. briefly explaining a couple of areas and maybe the forum and the donation option.
Author:  Johnny's Fan [ July 6th, 2011, 3:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A-U Revival: layout & coding
Yep, I know about the text, I just wanted people to agree on the graphic first. :-)

EDIT: I have made the graphic less blurry and have aligned the forum button to be nearer the top. Would anyone like to have a stab at writing the welcome text?
Author:  Eä [ July 6th, 2011, 4:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A-U Revival: layout & coding
^Oh okay.. I wasn't sure whether democracy had overruled it, since I didn't see so many outbursts of joy when I mentioned it last time. :P

I think you guys who have spent more time working on the content ought to write the text.. You know what stuff you want to flaunt so that would only be fair. :)
Author:  Anameleth [ July 6th, 2011, 4:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A-U Revival: layout & coding
^What Eä said :)
Author:  Arwen the webmaster [ July 6th, 2011, 4:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A-U Revival: layout & coding
It looks really pretty in IE, but in Chrome the welcome graphic wants to center itself and is weirdly overlapping with the Forum graphic. Instead of this:

Code:
<center>
 <img src=/AU1.jpg></center>
<td valign="top" width="450">


...I would try putting the graphic as a part of the table cell, like this:

Code:
<td valign="top" width="450">
<center>
 <img src=/AU1.jpg></center>


Yaaaay for cross-browser compatibility :-P

The sample bio for PJ looks great :-D My only suggestion would be some spacing between each bullet for the Trivia...right now it's a bit overwhelming seeing that much text and knowing where one bullet point ends and another one begins.
Author:  Johnny's Fan [ July 6th, 2011, 5:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A-U Revival: layout & coding
Ah, good thing you're here Arwen. I would have completely forgot to check non-IE browsers. I will add them asap.

And you're right about the crowded look, it needs more room between each fact.

About the welcome text.... well whoever wants to write it is welcome to, as I don't think I'll be doing it. So if anyone wants to have a go, coders, non-coders whoever, I'm sure it will be great. :-)We all know what we love about A-U and what it can offer people, so it doesn't matter who writes it really. :D
Author:  Telpeath [ July 6th, 2011, 7:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A-U Revival: layout & coding
Arwen, is right, the alignment is a little off.

Another way you can solve the problem is by writing the following code:

Code:
.welcometext{
    text-align: center;
    margin: 0px auto;
}


This is in case you change the theme (such as sizing, etc.), you wont have to worry whether or not the alignment will be off. Inline styling can be tricky, especially down the road when you want to change things (even simple widening of the website). Whether you use this or not is up to you, but I recommend it. :happy:
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