Suggestions on Webmaster Key re-design

[SensoVision]

This was made in Paint Shop Pro. I asked Dark Coder to do a Webmaster Key logo as an example. Stand by for the result....

Here it is ....

thanks, for new logo I'll plan to redesign forums in future, don't sure if I'll use this your image for logo but I'll probably try it as a banner on some networks if you don't mind?

[Andy]

No problem. Use it as you like.  

[Queen Bee]

Personally, I like the way Webmaster Key is right now, but I guess change is inevitable

I should know that better than most people... I've redesigned my site about 6 times in the last 2 years, and I still want to redesign it even right now. Blah, it never ends... I want peace, people, peace...

If you were going to go for a new logo, I would go for something less squared off. You can see an example of what I mean here:
http://www.teamphotoshop.com/forum/vbforum/index.php?s=

Okay, man, this is off-topic now.

[Andy]

Maybe time to wrap-up this thread.

Just discovered ctrl+F5 in IE6 clears the darned cash. My F5 key is almost worn out!

The team photoshop page seems to be spoiled by the standard banner at the top of the page.  

blah blah...

[Queen Bee]

Yeah, well Denis can keep his banner in the exact same spot as it is right now, and just change the logo... That's IF he decided to change, (I repeat) I think it's fine the way it is

There's not really much involved with redesigning a forum, right? How should I know, I've never created a forum before...

Blah, I think he should keep the colors he has and just change the logo once a year. That's what most forums do.

Me? I'd change the logo every week, because I'd never be pleased with it. Hahaha... *cough*

I'm sorry about being off-topic again, I would make it into a new topic if I thought my conversation was important enough. Besides, I don't even know if Denis planned on redesigning, or I'm just blabbing away...

Blah blah, babble, babble... I'm like the indestructible parrot, you couldn't make me shut up if you whacked me over the head with a frying pan

Okay, this is it. Seriously. My last post in this topic about something off-topic. I'm done now. Someone help me, I can't control myself!! Okay, I'll stop.  

[ched]

arti,
You're always good for a smile  

[SensoVision]

Maybe time to wrap-up this thread.

probably you're right, Andy so I've split it. So now feel free to give me any suggestions on how would you like to see new Webmaster Key(just want to mention that update is scheduled after I'm deal with directory and main site, so it wouldn't happen probably until June-July or so...). so I invite everyone who have any suggestions to tell about them.

If you were going to go for a new logo, I would go for something less squared off. You can see an example of what I mean here:
http://www.teamphotoshop.com/forum/vbforum/index.php?s=

squared logo was done not by me but by one of our members, I have some other idea in my mind on how to do this all.
BTW I found only small circle with T letter, which could be considered as a logo, or I'm looking in a wrong place?

The team photoshop page seems to be spoiled by the standard banner at the top of the page.  

actually my forum start with the banner in the same place where team photoshop has it... but later it was moved a bit... what do you think about banners by the way? how much should I have them and where? as now I have 2 banners one 468*60 and one 88*31 and two counters for top sites of the same sizes... I've plan actually to change appearance of forum itself a little bit and probably to make some quickbar which will give access to main boards e.g. like http://www.searchguild.com or http://www.yabbse.org/community/index.php I also want to move or remove or change news at the top of my screen... and change a colors from default, as actually my YaBB Gold board have different gamma but when I install this one I have no time to change it's look and it's still default... so I've plan to change a color a little bit... maybe make background like we have on http://links.weblamp.net what do you think about that? and do you have any suggestions on background color if so I'll be glad to see your hex codes of this colors

Yeah, well Denis can keep his banner in the exact same spot as it is right now, and just change the logo... That's IF he decided to change, (I repeat) I think it's fine the way it is

if it would be possible I want to change logo size as well and reorganize top area in order to make it look better in 800*600, as for banners they probably moved to new locations... maybe not so prominent.

Blah, I think he should keep the colors he has and just change the logo once a year. That's what most forums do.

as I've mention before I actually think about changing colors... but who knows maybe I'll keep them on default.

I'm sorry about being off-topic again, I would make it into a new topic if I thought my conversation was important enough. Besides, I don't even know if Denis planned on redesigning, or I'm just blabbing away...

Okay, this is it. Seriously. My last post in this topic about something off-topic. I'm done now. Someone help me, I can't control myself!! Okay, I'll stop.  

Not offtopic anymore, now it's legitimate post
and hope that you change your mind and this wouldn't be your last post on this subject

[Queen Bee]

Well know that's you've made a new topic out of it...

What kind of colors were you planning on using? I like the blue and white you have already, and I like the fact that everything contrasts well. But since you planned on changing it...

What did you have in mind? You know what I thought would be cool? Having a large key as the menu at the top... But I don't know how hard that would be to create, I was thinking of you either making it in photoshop or a 3d program.

It might be too difficult, but I know if you made it right it would be both unique and cool.

I was thinking of it kind of like the same way Team Photoshop was, except being a key instead...

[Queen Bee]

Here's a sketch of what I thought Denis could do (I'm not asking him to use it nor do I necessarily want him to use it, this is just so he might sort of understand what I mean):

http://www.retro-teknix.com/Stitch/WebKeyExample.jpg

I think it might be too traditional, maybe you should go for a futuristic look? Could you even do something like that with a forum?

Or, you could go for something in-style like the 'obviously plain', or the grungy 'I haven't cleaned my bathroom for over 80 years' look. Those are both really 'in' right now as far as computer graphics are concerned.

It's funny, they even have in-styles with artists and web designers... And you thought it only applied to clothing and makeup  

[SensoVision]

Well know that's you've made a new topic out of it...

I've planned to start it as soon as I have time to work on forum but since it's already appear why not start it discuss now and get more time for thinking and prepearing for changes.

What kind of colors were you planning on using? I like the blue and white you have already, and I like the fact that everything contrasts well. But since you planned on changing it...

I don't sure if I would change it much especially if member will vote against it... but I thought about making colors using e.g. this one  color #6394BD, which was already used in our directory... or maybe use much lighter colors, not sure yet.

What did you have in mind? You know what I thought would be cool? Having a large key as the menu at the top... But I don't know how hard that would be to create, I was thinking of you either making it in photoshop or a 3d program.

I have in mind some interactive Flash logo... and several other which I like less. as for idea to have key as menu it was in my head for long time but I didn't bring it to life yet. I've saw example you've show me and I think it's possible to integrate it into forum but a bit of code modification should be done...

Also I still not decide which key to choose modern or oldie? so I want to ask everyone to tell few words about this and tell which key they would prefer to see on the top of the screen, also if you have any picture of keys you like to see on the forum please show me them, so I can use it as a prototype for logo.

It might be too difficult, but I know if you made it right it would be both unique and cool.

not so difficult, as I actually have done few 3D keys for logo but I like none of them, so I never used any for logo... that's why I ask for pictures of keys, as maybe I'll see key I like to draw on one of this pictures.

Here's a sketch of what I thought Denis could do (I'm not asking him to use it nor do I necessarily want him to use it, this is just so he might sort of understand what I mean):

http://www.retro-teknix.com/Stitch/WebKeyExample.jpg

thx for this! it's good example and I actually like a font you've used there(for menu, not for logo) and shape of key is also good one IMHO. I'll need to look for similar font like you've used on the page... where did you find it(if you know)?

Thanks in advance for everyone who'll contribute any suggestions to this thread.

[Queen Bee]

Hmm... To tell you the truth, I think you should go for a more modern, space-like look. You're dealing with a bunch of CG artists, web designers, and webmasters, and you can't go wrong with the spacey look.

On the other hand, if you did it traditionally, a younger person might come around and say "What is this? For old people?" Hahaha, it might be too conservative.

Not that either of us are old, of course, that's just the way it might look... Like young people don't belong here, which is not true.

Just about anyone can be amazed by the modern style, young or old, you don't have to worry about people looking at your site differently because of it's style.

Are you planning on using Swish or have you been studying Flash using Macromedia's program?

[SensoVision]

Hmm... To tell you the truth, I think you should go for a more modern, space-like look. You're dealing with a bunch of CG artists, web designers, and webmasters, and you can't go wrong with the spacey look.

On the other hand, if you did it traditionally, a younger person might come around and say "What is this? For old people?" Hahaha, it might be too conservative.

Not that either of us are old, of course, that's just the way it might look... Like young people don't belong here, which is not true.

Just about anyone can be amazed by the modern style, young or old, you don't have to worry about people looking at your site differently because of it's style.

yeah probably it's right point of view... usually I decide about such things asking permanent members of my forum personally so it appear like a kind of poll and in the end I choose solution which is backed by most of users.

Are you planning on using Swish or have you been studying Flash using Macromedia's program?

not sure yet... actually I don't even know if it would be animated at all... maybe it would be simple JPEG...

[darkcoder]

@articutis

the w on the font is hard to see, and looks old fasioned, and the key looks fairley messey, looks like you used wind in both directions tom make that effect but if you decreace the ammount it would look a whole lot better.

ok, with the logo at the moment, the checkered pattern doesnt fit with anything on the forum so there is a big contrast from the logo and the forum, the font looks a bit not like chrome, it actually looks like a badley textured 3d model, it would look much better with light/dark bands to fade in more, rather than just flat

the colours are standard for yabbse forums, but i like them, alot.

well actually you can go very wrong with a space type logo, if you overcrowd it with stuff, then it will look messy and harder on the eyes, but a more simplistic one, and the forums wouldent sute a spacye one unless you changed the forum colours  

[SensoVision]

@articutis

the w on the font is hard to see, and looks old fasioned, and the key looks fairley messey, looks like you used wind in both directions tom make that effect but if you decreace the ammount it would look a whole lot better.

ok, with the logo at the moment, the checkered pattern doesnt fit with anything on the forum so there is a big contrast from the logo and the forum, the font looks a bit not like chrome, it actually looks like a badley textured 3d model, it would look much better with light/dark bands to fade in more, rather than just flat

the colours are standard for yabbse forums, but i like them, alot.

well actually you can go very wrong with a space type logo, if you overcrowd it with stuff, then it will look messy and harder on the eyes, but a more simplistic one, and the forums wouldent sute a spacye one unless you changed the forum colours  

hi Dark Coder thanks for giving feedback on re-design. You've give me some good ideas to think about so I'll take them in count while make new logo and yes I think we should change a color sheme a bit as well(actually they still default only because I haven't time to alter them from the beginning and later I decide to stick with them till the next upgrade.
Thx for suggestions, I'm looking forward for more feedback.

[Queen Bee]

Thanks Darkcoder, but as I stated before, it was just to give him an idea. I know it stunk, but it was just a dirty sketch. Anyway, nobody else (Including me) liked the font either