I'm screwing around with the main page

[Kitoshi]

Oh yeah I like the blog layout. That's nice.

[Sir Psyko]

I'm still not sure why the blog isn't the main page... I thought that was the idea over the summer. You can make a main page that only takes the "best" from the other blogs (by rating or just pick and choose based on topic).

I think that's the way to go.

[Furiel]

Yeah, after checking out the various options I do kinda like the blog as the main page. Although experimenting with it wasn't a terrible idea, it just didn't work out as well as I thought it might.

One tweak to the main page though, we need to find a way to keep it from height adjusting when the quote goes more than 1 line, the page jumping up and down like Vesp on crack is distracting as hell.

[Blackferne]

I was getting feedback that the white on green/blue background from the motion theme was kinda hard to read so I went out and found a different theme. I chose mystique. It has the pages white with black text, but those are above a black background (the background/header/logo images can all be swapped if we wanted to keep the themes frame but swap out visuals. It also has a follow us (RSS) button and a foll us on twitter button. The intention being that twitter will be a RSS dump for folks who prefer to follow blogs that way.

For example to show you how we can modify look at http://www.treebarkjacket.com and http://menagerie.jaedia.net for other blogs with that theme.

[Blackferne]

Okay blogged moved to front page. I'm going to go eat lunch and tackle moving all the widgets and pages over after lunch. But at least it is functional at this point.

[Bulwark]

I like the page at http://www.thechurchofalvis.com/blog/ . I especially like the font used when it says "Error: page not found"

[Kitoshi]

I like the page at http://www.thechurchofalvis.com/blog/ . I especially like the font used when it says "Error: page not found"

Yeah I think we're really on to something there.

[Blackferne]

I'll error 404 your face!

[Blackferne]

http://www.wp-united.com/features/

I am going to attempt to install this so we can have an integrated login for wordpress and phpbb3.

[Blackferne]

So I made a header. I know it is republic themed, but it is a place holder to test out style stuff. If down the road when we make the decision what faction, if we go sith we will obviously switch it.

Thoughts on the style aspect though?

[Bulwark]

Can you put a thin black outline around teh text at teh top of the page. With the color changes behind it, it would help the letters stand out.

[Blackferne]

Can you put a thin black outline around teh text at teh top of the page. With the color changes behind it, it would help the letters stand out.

Yeah I am not happy with the way that turned out, even with a black outline the font seems to have scaled wrong. I can't do it from work, but when I get home tonight I can take a stab at that. (its a transparent gif)

[Blackferne]

Oh something else I'd like feedback on. Currently the side bar (has the navbar, search box and quote widget) is on the left side per Bulwark and Arrican's suggestion. Previously I had it on the right hand side. If you have a preference on it speak up and we will go with the majority.

[Blackferne]

I have just written a rough draft (including an embedded video of the Legend of Alvis from Adult Swim) on the About Us page. At the bottom is the website credits mainly as a way to outline where we got all our stuff as a form of proper attribution, as well as a notice that all articles we do can only be reused with proper citation or written permission from the author of the article or a rep from the site (myself).

If you want stuff added to the about page let me know. I figured broad general strokes are best for that sort of thing.

[Sir Psyko]

Header image is WAY too tall. I shouldn't have to scroll down a page to see the first article on my laptop...

Give me some image dimensions (well, just the width of the table) and I'll get one made up that matches the button image style.

I've also got an idea for the background that's a little more "Star" Wars-ish. Simple and it can tile to the width and unlimited height of any screen size...

[Kitoshi]

And I don't know if it's possible to change, or even if it's just because I'm running at 1920 x 1080, but there seems to be a lot of empty space on the sides.

[Reese]

Because my opinion doesnt really matter I offer you some sage thoughts on this main page.

The button and header text needs to be synchronized, all the pretty colors hurt my small brain.

I prefer the buttons to the right, because my mouse is on the right. Justified.

The extra space (according to Kit) is fine because it helps scale between large monitors and small (like my phone).

The About Us page is helpful, but I still think a Bio page under there with all the Church Members is needed.

The calendar needs some events. Like the Annual Church Retreat to fDood's parent's basement for punch and pie. Or the monthly Church conference call for insightful wisdom of the church elders.

I do like it on the stark background rather than the full image and with the blog as main page. Is teh nice.

Reese, out.

[Blackferne]

1,440px × 360px is the size of the pic with the weapon wielding people. It is center anchored so the width doesn't matter as it will just cut off the sides if the browser isn't wide enough.
http://www.thechurchofalvis.com/wp-cont ... coah7.jpeg

There is a transparent gif with the word church of alvis etc on top of that which measures 900px × 300px
http://www.thechurchofalvis.com/wp-cont ... OALOGO.GIF

Kit the blog is set to fixed width largely because if you make it fluid it makes the sidebar look weird. I have the background image center anchored so unless you squish the browser too narrow the trooper is teabagging the RSS floating button that came with the theme.

I agree SirP that the header is big, and a big part of that was based on the screen shot I took the image from and how the toons were placed relative to each other. But I don't think it is too big. I am open to changing it based on what you come up with and what other people prefer.

[Blackferne]

Because my opinion doesnt really matter I offer you some sage thoughts on this main page.

The button and header text needs to be synchronized, all the pretty colors hurt my small brain.

I prefer the buttons to the right, because my mouse is on the right. Justified.

The extra space (according to Kit) is fine because it helps scale between large monitors and small (like my phone).

The About Us page is helpful, but I still think a Bio page under there with all the Church Members is needed.

The calendar needs some events. Like the Annual Church Retreat to fDood's parent's basement for punch and pie. Or the monthly Church conference call for insightful wisdom of the church elders.

I do like it on the stark background rather than the full image and with the blog as main page. Is teh nice.

Reese, out.

All opinions are welcome since this is representing everyone here.

I know about the text synchronization. And pondering how best to tackle that.

Majority opinion will decide where the sidebar goes. I'm a righty myself, or if we have enough stuff to justify 2 sidebars we can have the great compromise with one side bar on the right and one on the left.

The extra space is there to help various monitor sizes. Down the road phones and other mobile devices will end up getting a mobile theme (wordpress plugin dealie) so they are less graphic intense and more friendly on buttons and menus. That is down the road and already in the works.

The bio page I think should wait til later when we have toons we can screenshot and make up a proper about us subpage. If Bioware does something similar to WoW's armory that could be a very useful in linking that.

Calendar events can be suggested, but that is largely a placeholder for later when we actually do have events.

[Furiel]

Calendar events can be suggested, but that is largely a placeholder for later when we actually do have events.

I know it's a LONG ways out, but might as well put the Vegas "Alvistide" get together on the calendar...cuz that's happening...

[Blackferne]

Calendar events can be suggested, but that is largely a placeholder for later when we actually do have events.

I know it's a LONG ways out, but might as well put the Vegas "Alvistide" get together on the calendar...cuz that's happening...

Good point.

[Blackferne]

Background image scaled down to 60%. I removed the "star wars font" transparent logo gif and will rework it so the text Church of Alvis is parked above the smuggler and troopers head.

Kit does this solve your empty space issue?

[Furiel]

Kit does this solve your empty space issue?

There is no solving that issue...

[Blackferne]

Kit does this solve your empty space issue?

There is no solving that issue...

I meant on his screen, we all know the empty head space can't be solve until Roza figures out how to open his skull and use it to store stuff.

[Kitoshi]

Looks the same to me, but I figured it was like that for monitor scaling. I think it's looking really good.