I realize this issue has been discussed to death in many different threads on Caedes but I decided to design a system that I think will work from a user as well as a programming standpoint. Where applicable I created artificial screenshots to demonstrate what I mean.

A number of people have asked about desktop images for widescreen and dual monitors. There are several reasons I can think of why there are still none on the site:

1. They do not follow the current aspect ratio requirements and so demand additional programming for uploading.

2. The demand for these images is relatively low and does not necessarily warrant the creation of a whole new section for the site.

3. The image previews will not fit into the current display layouts since they are a different shape.

4. They do not display properly on most monitors with 4:3 aspect ratios and therefore would probably receive discouragingly low votes.

The system I've come up with (while I have time off from my new job due to the hurricane) I believe solves all of these problems with the minimum possible programming required.

Under this system, anyone wishing to upload a widescreen or dual monitor image would first have to upload a normal 4:3 version of it. This can be created either by cropping a portion of the image (probably the middle) or by adding black borders to the top and bottom of the image. This way the Caedes upload system still receives a 1600x1200 or similarly shaped image to display in all previews and on the voting page (the artist can decide whether a cropped representation or the full image with borders will look better in the voting booth for each image).

Once the image has been approved by the mods (as normal) the artist will have access to the edit screen for the image, either from the control panel or the image discussion page. Here is where the first visible change to the site comes in. In that image I circled the two new input fields and the new button which says 'Submit' instead of the previous 'Edit' (a personal preference). The two new fields allow an artist to upload a widescreen and/or dual monitor version of the image.

This upload would be independently approved by the mods to prevent abuse, and then attached to the original 4:3 image but not displayed anywhere on the site. To download the new resolution a user would click on [widescreen] or [dual monitor] on the image discussion page to bring up a full-screen view (again I have circled this on the screenshot).

I advocate only uploading (and storing on the server) the largest 8:3 or 8:5 image the artist has, since windows can reduce it to fit the desktop in question or most anyone can at least resize it with basic software. Caedes can determine the maximum upload dimensions but I presume it would still be a height of 1200 pixels. The submission method for these images seems like it would be able to basically steal the programming from the current submission system with the exception that instead of adding the image to any gallery it just links it to its parent image in the database.

That just leaves the question of how people will find the widescreen and dual monitor images, since they will still only be able to search and browse 4:3 images after-all. Since I think these images (and their parent images) should live in all the regular galleries (as opposed to special widescreen galleries), this third and final picture shows my proposal for how people can find them. By default they would be included in all sorting configurations, the difference being that the bottom two options on the pull-down menu would exclude all images that don't have an attached widescreen or dual monitor image respectively from the display.

Down the road their could be a selectable option in the wallpaper search but currently their isn't even a selectable gallery option and I don't think it's necessary for implementation of this system.

As a side benefit of doing the system this way, the new resolution images could also be attached to any images currently on Caedes by using the same edit menu as described above since it would exist for all images, not just new ones. That way if anyone has or wants to make a widescreen version of one of their current images they can add it easily. It would be up to the mods to decide whether the new resolution image is enough like the original image to warrant attaching it in this way.

I do not have a widescreen monitor and have not used dual monitors for a year or two now, but I would like to make my images available to those who do when possible. I have experience with website design, perl programming, and database construction, and I would be willing to lend my time to help in any way possible if you (Mr. Caedes) would want such assistance.

Thanks for taking the time to read this novel. Does anyone see any problems with this system or have additional input of any kind?

I don't know much about programming but this sounds like a very well thought out and simple to implement idea. I look forward to seeing it on caedes soon.

Admittedly I've never seen the inner workings of Caedes' CMS so I can only presume that this would all be easily implemented but I would be more than happy to help in any way possible. I hope it's something we'll see soon as well.

Is there anyone who thinks they would be able to create wider resolution versions of some of their current Caedes images if this system allowed them to submit such a thing?

most digital cameras create images at a wider aspect ratio than the 16/12 format on here so that should be an easy thing to achieve. Multi monitor images would be good too for panoramic shots instead of posting them in letterbox formats.

Well, widescreen fractals shouldn't be a problem, I'm all for it.

while I'll admit I didn't hang on every word that Josh typed (blush) .. HERE is an example of dual monitor display .. two thumbs side by side ... a little reformatting of the 'info' page for a dual image and things should fit .. I run my browser at 800 wide on a 1280 screen .. I imagine some folks run them fullscreen and would, therefore, have more room for 2 thumbs side-by-side.

As far as naming conventions within the caedes system database perhaps an "a" - "b" designation tacked on to the number wouldn't break anything ... searching involves keywords and those would be the same for the two thumbs since they would be on the same page

Not really knocking Josh's method .. it's sound ... just chiming in with options

Oooh some lovely desktops there. I don't have a dual monitor display, but next time I am using my widescreen pooter I'm gonna drop in and get me some of those.

I just use the side I like .. I'm not proud

Wow, Thanks Keith, I just looked there & there are some gorgeous desktops......got the Gerbera daisy one up now.....beautiful.

SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT!! Im all for wide and multi display imagery and have just finished a triptych image of Loch Rannoch to use on upto 3 displays or in combinations on dual displays.
Left Panel, Middle Panel, Right Panel

I thank you..... :-)

No, Phil, Thank you

The next time I have the Queen over for tea I'll suggest she throw a little business your way .. I think Camilla needs some PR stuff done.

no amount of photoshop trickery could get Camilla good PR results - will have to shop around for a decent equestrian photographer...

Grand Canyon Displays

As was pointed out to me .. alot of numbers but no dollar signs or quid squiggles (that's what they're called, right?

When I get one of these I'm going to come back and re-invigorate this thread .. but not until then .. except for this one time which was necessary for me to say I wouldn't do it

About that time I'll also be starting a topic on where to get a cheap reliable construction crew to widen my computer room

but not until then

** cuts up credit cards very quickly **

oh BTW they start at $8500 for the baby version up to $17,500 for the full monty

it's one of those .. "If you have to ask, you can't afford it" .. type of things

Sorry but I just had to say... "Mine's bigger"...

If I have to ask about that, as well, I probably can't afford it either

It's funny you should even bring this up. I was dragging my 92" out to the curb the other day and wondering to myself "when are they going to make something that meets MY needs?" These monitors are so 5 minutes ago. I want the Ray Bradbury style full-room monitor.

(Re initial idea...) I love reading ideas that are so well constructed, evidenced and useful. Go torque!

I have two monitor and am going to go two a three monitor display next month. And mine is not costing 8500 phil. I purchased the monitors and disolay mounts my self and built it.

Mac OS X Tiger wallpapers ... Most of these are 2560x1600

Mac OS X Default ... a mix of sizes .. from 10x07 to 12x10 .. and the "wide" versions are 16x10