Re: Forum Customization? Maybe?

[Pettytyrant101]

ooooh typical female always making demands! The answer is yes I can help and make it longer and thinner but it does somewhat kill the image.

[img][/img]

[Pettytyrant101]

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[Ringdrotten]

One word for the new layout - awesome!!

[Pettytyrant101]

[img][/img]

[Eldorion]

Forum looks better than ever now that you finished with it, Baingil!

Petty - those are all pretty good, though there is the copyright issue to consider. Baingil contacted Ted Nasmith and got permission for us to use this specific image as a banner, but we would need to double-check with whoever the artist is for any other banner we used so long as it's a copyrighted image.

[Pettytyrant101]

Typical!!

[Eldorion]

Clearly we can ask for permission again if we want a new banner; I'm just putting it out there so people are aware of it.

[Pettytyrant101]

Would have been nice to have had rotating banners but could be a bit of hassle if every time we change it we need to seek permission. I could see the point if we were using it for some commercial purpose but not just as a banner for a free, open forum (and with no ads). If it was me I'd just be happy people liked it, its basically free advertising for his work.

[Eldorion]

I get where you're coming from, Petty, but personal feelings aside, I'd rather tread carefully around copyright laws when it comes to stuff like the forum banner, and most Tolkien artists have very clear copyright warnings posted on their websites.

[Ringdrotten]

Perhaps you could make something, Petty? Judging by your work in the nice pictures thread, I'm sure yours would look just as good

[Pettytyrant101]

I understand your position Eldo, it is what it is, nothing you can do about- but I can still be crabbit about it!

I may have a go at that at some point Ringdrotten. Its finding one which seems suitably Tolkien is the trick, nice thing about the current banner is its instantly recognizable. Downside is that when I'm close to the tv its bitty. Guess I will just have to sit further back!

[Ringdrotten]

There's no hurry - I'm quite in love with the current banner Looks very painting-like (not surprisingly)

PS: Nice signature

[Eldorion]

I agree with Ringdrotten, but we can still pass the buckie around if that would help!

NB I mean I agree with Ringdrotten about the banner, though the sig is also great.

[Ringdrotten]

Sounds like you've been on the buckie long enough! You had better pass it over, yes that would be for the best

[Baingil]

Typical of guys. Something happens and they immediately go find the buckie.

[Eldorion]

In our questionable defense, we have to celebrate your hard work!

[Pettytyrant101]

(((Nice Eldo, good thinking))) Hears to Baingil's hard work. Cheers! You know the banners starting to blur nicely now, its growing on me with every bottle.

[Eldorion]

Baingil's been working on some new ideas for the layout, which she is currently trying out on her test forum. You may notice that Forumshire is still using the same thread and forum icons (that show up to the left of every title) that we were before the switch to the new layout, but Baingil is experimenting with alternatives. There are a lot of different variations so she's put in a lot of work. Head on over to http://justanexperiment.forumotion.com/ and see what she's come up with!

[Pettytyrant101]

Mm nice idea but with all the green plus leaf icons makes me think of salad!

[Orwell]

Keep up the good work, Eldo and Baingil. But may I offer one word of concern. Please don't make Forumshire more complicated or clever in it's layout. A simple Forumshire, an easy Forumsire to use, as it is now, is best. I find Dark Planet and Tolkiens Ring a bit too big and complex for my best liking. By all means make Forumshire layout prettier and warmer and friendlier if you can (with perhaps a few shadows and monsters barely sighted in the corners somewhere, if you must). But please, let's not try to blow other forums out of the water with our awesome graphics or whatever. (Dark Planet and Tolkien Ring layouts I find a bit oppressive and dizzying and off putting after awhile, irrespective of how nice the people are). Keep it simple and light and welcoming, I say.

[Baingil]

I thought the leaves would be nicer than the usual topic icons, fitting with the green theme. But it's up to what everyone wants, of course.

[Orwell]

They sound good. Hope I didn't put you off with what I said. So far you've done great work.

[Baingil]

I'm mainly playing around with modifying icons and colors and such at the moment, probably won't do any real modifications to the general layout. I just wondered what you meant by awesome graphics and if mine counted. Probably overly proud of me.

[Kafria]

I like the new icons, think they fit in lovely. Thanks for all the hard work. I wouldn't know where to start!

[Pettytyrant101]

Yes, don't let my salad comment put you off! The effort being put in to make the place all the more welcoming is greatly appreciated. Keep at it (I'll be over here with this buckie, um, supervising and offering unwarranted critiscms )