Nice new updated frontpage layout caedes. Or is it backdated? :p I seem to remember it looked something like that when I came here two years ago. I like it. Simpler and smoother.

There are two issues that I have been wanting to address for a while now.

1. We needed to have a nice little description of the site on the front page for first-time visitors. Otherwise they might be confused and consequently hit the back button.

2. Having 6 thumbnails on the front page sure looked nice, but it really increased the download time for the page. With three images that time is roughly cut in half. This matters more to people with slow connections.

We'll leave it up for a few days and see what happens.

I noticed another change - the thicker blue line between comments. Plus the posts seem to be longer.

Nice tweak Caedes. It seems clearer.

The benefit of having 6 images on the homepage is giving more artists the chance to be featured. I understand the about download time, but isn't all about the art?

It looks nice... and the 3 pics give the visitor just that little taste to want to look at more images... =)

I prefer the new look. The 6 images just took up too much room IMO. I mean, you could argue that we could have 9 or 12 images on the homepage, but it comes down to practicality in the end.

I'm sure something else about the format on the image comment pages has changed too but I can't put my finger on it? I don't think I'm imagining it because I noticed this before I saw the new homepage...

Blue line between the comments? To me it's greyish black... ^_^ Is it me or does our browsers render it differently? I hadn't noticed about that more defined divider between the comments until now. Hmm... Not sure about that one. Makes the layout "rougher" on the eye, or how to put it (more angular is perhaps the term). I think this was a lighter shade before (more transparent perhaps). Something along the line of the signatures. I'll have to try it on for size for some time I guess. :)

I like that " Leave a comment" is in bold & a larger font on the image comment pages as well as the discusion threads. The site looks great Caedes. Love the front page. It looks sleek and clean and well organized. No "breaking in" required"~Thank you :~)

I think i like the six pictures one the front page better, but i understand the reasoning behind it i guess, has there been any changes to the way the images are selected or is it completely aesthetic? (just wondering because i saw an image with a c-index of 38 on there whereas they used to always be above 70... i think)

It is now selecting one image from the permanent collection (any c-index) and two new images in the top 85%.

Woa, top 85%. Higher goals to reach for. 70 gave us more of a sense of accomplishment, I think.

Correction: top 15%. =\

Well, that leaves me out.....

The other new thing I noticed is no image or discussion title right at the very tippy-top left hand corner of our comment box dealie ......while certainly a cleaner look I miss that little reminder of where I was & the the very necessary spelling ( sometimes ! ) of an image's title.

~Absolutely Lauren, I agree. Does that make us severely absent minded? I have to keep scrolling up to see where I am.

~Top 15%, is much harder to acheive than top 30%.(Obviously) Reading the c-index statistics, you can see just how hard that is. I understand the reason for 3 images, but why such a high goal now?

I like that the ads are back to the right side of the page.

Some more changes I noticed -
The subject of a discussion topic can't be changed.
The Post a Comment has been changed to Leave a Comment, and the font is bigger.

Actually, I didn't change the top 15% part. It actually isn't as high as it sounds, right now the top 15% cutoff is at a c-index of 65.

and if a picture of red pepper shot on a plain white background can find it's way on there then it's open season, right?

:-)

So glad I'm not a part of this any more..

Ah... The good old comment divider is back. I prefer it much more this way I think. :) It's softer on my eyes and makes the the overall layout flow much better. Looking fab now. :)

Part of what? The top 15%? :p Just kidding. Most of my images would not make it under such criteria at any rate.

I don't post images here any more.. Not after the last round of abuse.. That's what I mean.. I just stop by once in a while to annoy folks with my opinions.. I do not like the changes in this site.. Not one of them has been good as far as I can see.. Not even sure how much longer I will leave my gallery..

Ok. I guess I annoy some people here too... What abuse? I must have missed that. Perhaps you should PM me instead of making me hijack my own thread further, beyond repair... :P I don't see how a few shifts in the design of the layout on the site can do much harm. Most I've seen have been only a plus as far as I can tell. I guess I must be geeky enough to care about such things though. ^_^

I'll maybe start post some day again though... Any year or so, when I get the time. ^_^

I will never post on this site again, unless some major changes are made to the voting system.. No, I don't like the new front page, but that won'd matter soon anyway.. Once my subscription is up I am removing my gallery and I will not be back.. This used to be a friendly site.. It isn't any longer..

You know, you are really depressing.

Hehe... So it seems. No PM, so I guess I will just keep on going happily in the bliss of ignorance. :p I do try to keep the discussion on the lighter side. Perhaps I'm not that successful though... ^_^

One question about the design of the frontpage. You added the titles of the featured pieces now, didn't you? (I could be totally wrong but the first new version didn't have this as I remember it.) That is all fine and dandy, I don't object at all. Au contrair. :) The line of text below the titles (saying something like: 3812 regular members - 26695 total images - 135 new images today) come just a bit too close for comfort and makes it "crowded" or how to put it. Just a tad bit of more space in between would probably do the trick. I'm not sure though. It could be only me. Wouldn't be the first time. ;)

No I didn't change the titles or the spacing with that other text, but I'll consider the suggestions. *goes back to look critically* It is very difficult for me to look at the page design without prejudice.

Hehe... Then it's just the sad, feeble remnants of my internet rotted brain, concocting what I think I remember... ^_^ No worries. It's probably just me. When you changed the design of the layout I guess I noticed it again after being accustomed to the old design. I'll be accustomed to it again in a few days. ^_^ Cheers.

I didn't ask for the subscrioption.. I didn't want it, but I have it, so I will have my say.. What is depressing is the small town attitude this site has developed in the last few months.. No Klas, I am not going to PM you.. I want this in open discussion..
I bow to the Great God Caedes..

*scratching head* maybe I just haven't been around long enough…

anyways… my 2 cents… I like the 6 images better than the 3. It's an art forum, I think it should reflect that. It's not like we have so much news every day that we need to make space for it 8•P

and I agree w/Klas, I'd give that line just a little bit of lead for some breathing room 8•)

One day I'm surfing the site, and POOF!...hmm....let me see...deja vu?...no, it's a different layout :) That's what ran through my mind at first.

I'm perfectly okay with all the changes, at least, the ones I noticed :)

And I'm just wondering - the brief site description - I mean, in a few years, the site gained 175407 members and more joining everyday. Even without a description, all those people joined, not to mention the vigintillion-something guests. So, maybe the description isn't that necessary. And, without that, there would be room for the six images.

On the other hand, I can see why less images are better, as it becomes a lot faster to download the page. That means more people with slow internet connections will frequent here more often.

And, I have a suggestion - How about if the Jobs was right on top of the Galleries? I know something like this was posted earlier, here, but I still have to scroll down a bit to see my Jobs. If I'm going through the New Images or Photography galleries, the long menu of sub-galleries makes the Jobs list go down even further.

I LOVE this site the way it is, though. The juxtaposition of everything here is truly unique, and the voting system is really wonderful. Every member gets a say here in this town atmosphere here.

Wow, that has to be my longest post ever. Even my fanfiction stories aren't half that long. :)

Just wanted to balance both sides on this 3 vs. 6 images-on-homepage thing.

Well .. since we're all group hugging about the front page and asundry tweaks

how about considering ..

1) .. moving the "new images" listing to the top of the list and BOLDING it .. since it is a gallery with a difference

2) .. add in EXIF data via a link (like the old "dis" button) for those that desire to see it .. possibly show the author of those EXIF images what data will be displayed if they "opt" in to use it .. (of course that would require "pre-loading" the image for the site to read the data .. )

3) .. give ME access to the first comment box when posting an image .. since I use it to pontificate on life's little foibles

4) .. add in one of those tiny page icons or the initials "PM" that give a direct link to sending a PM to somebody .. .. (so .. it would be .. [complain] [PM].. under the avatar)


I'll wait for the laughter to subside before coming up with others

*laughs all throughout*

# 1 - Good idea

# 2 - Ditto

# 3 - hmmm....that means...let me see...yeah..oh no.. I give up on that, so Caedes, I'll let you decide if he oughtta have First Citizen of Caedes rights

# 4 - *clicks on Keifer's PM icon* Hello? Can I speak to Keith without accessing his home?

I liked the old feature page with 6 images. I have never been featured there, but it looked great when logging on to see 6 fab images right there. I also liked the old title space at the top left of the comment box. The option was there to change the topic of the comment. The site is beautiful, I feel you can't upgrade perfection!

Aha! I knew there was something missing, the "Re: Title" thingy. I prefer it this way it's cleaner. I have very rarely seen anyone change the title in my time here.

i like the idea baby big ears suggested about a PM button under the avantar.. or maybe it could be put above the description where it has author etc.. also when you open the new images page maybe make the most recent images or sort by date as the default instead of random.. anyway i like the new layout..

The new layout is fine...whether there are 3 images or 6, what concerns me is that, once images draw a handful of votes and a low c-index based on those votes, they become STUCK in something of a downward spiral. They get lost in a growing pile of new images and there's really nothing that draws viewers attention to them. Again, a couple-three votes are dictating whether images mover forward or fall into the abyss and, IMO, a lot of very good images are being sidelined this way.

I've always liked the layout of this site. It's one of the things that drew me to it in the first place. It's easy to understand and get to where you want to go. Wen

Another suggestion - maybe we could have [PM] [Complain] [Gallery] under the icon..only it would be a bit too long. Or just shorten it to [PM] [C] [G]

Why not just rename the site hernoor's place..

I am thinking of making a drop-down menu that would be activated by right clicking a user's name or avatar It would link to all those functions as suggested.

Also, this thread is not about voting, c-index, or hernoor. Thanks.

It's looking better, 3 images only makes for a good welcome screen.

A drop down menu using the username would be very streamlined & cool. But, while we're here, can you fix the slider-tab-thingy on the right on my comment box so it's a leetle bit more, just a teensy tiny bit more, visible, therefore more easily used ? It's like the comment box space is getting just a bit too big for his britches ....lol.
A thousand Thanks, from Princess Fifi as well.

I like the sound of that drop-down menu. :)

Hmm... I thought that "slider-tab-thingy" was depending on what browser and system you use. Mine is stylish and smooth in beautiful aqua blue as it should be. (I'm running OS X on an iMac) :p If it's the same thing that I think about. I could have misunderstood your description.

I noticed it was down to three images on the homepage right away...well, obviously. The 6 image page seemed more like a gallery, showing off Caedes Art...it popped! It was more "In your face world! This is Caedes!"
I don't usually post in the message boards, but came looking for what happened to the homepage. Well, now I know.

Well Klas I'm very pleased that your scroll tab is stylish & smooth & apparently a lovely shade of aqua, mine used to be red but it got changed. In fact my whole page used to be Scarlet & Gray....Go Buckeyes ! But no longer. Maybe I'll do it again.

Apparently it was me. I apologize to everyone, Klas I hope you enjoy your lovely iMac ! I really am sorry for wasting people's time.

Yes this is about hernoor..Just ask her..

as far as i see it, the three images are fine.. its nice having the site description on the main page.. yes 6 thumbs was nice on the mainpage.. but i can see where caedes is coming from in wanting to streamline things further.. the less time it takes each person to open the main page, means the the server is working less.. which in turn means other areas wont get bogged down as much.. im sure quite a few here have only seen the 6 image frontpage (and now the 3 image).. tho some will remember how this site looked before that.. one featured image.. and only the title of the TNI's.. which is still the layout on the dev site.. but i digress.. we all have a chance to voice our opinions here.. but ultimately, its caedes decision on how to actually execute things done to the mechanics of the site.. of course not everyone will agree with every little change made.. but thats the way things work.. we all need to remember not to take things so personally..

Dj

Morwyn - This is not about me only. If it is, in what way? You keep talking about your opinions only, complaining about this "depressing" site. Everyone else seems to love being here, and all I was doing was making a few suggestions, like everyone. I am not going to PM you anymore and I didn't want to go on and on about this, but you just don't seem to understand.

hernoors site is firmly in her hands.. Good luck taming her, Caedes.. I'm nearly finished..

Ann, I can totally appreciate your opinion, but the way you are raving makes you seem obsessed. You are a grown woman ranting about a 15 year old girl.
I agree that you shouldn't be harassed in the first place, but you are the one giving up something that you once loved. That is your choice, no one can make you do it.

Please keep this thread on topic.

OK..Another front page idea . . . as long as it's up for discussion. First of all, the front page is the home page, so having a good site description there just makes sense. The site description could even be a bit more detailed, including a bit of site history as well.

How about having links to the NEWS page or to a News Discussion board on the front page? You could have the headlines in blue hyperlink as now, but, if people want to read more, they would have to click the links to the News boards. Then bring back the six images or have some kind of image marques so that featured images are slowly moving across the page. In addition, how about giving all new images exposure there for their first week or so on the site? You could have one marque cycling main gallery images, one cycling the top 85% and one cycling images under a week old. <G> Wen

There is already an "All News" link down the bottom of the page, is that what you mean?

I like the idea of the drop down menu thats a great idea... as for the front page.. i like it.. there is no difference from 6 to 3 if people are interested they will look at the new images regardless of how many is on display..

Ann what is your problem... why have you got it in for Hernoo, all she is doing is participating in the thread and giving her suggestions like everyone else.. yes she's young but right now she's being very mature.. if you hate the site and people on here why put yourself through it, it obviously is upsetting you being on here.. i know you have friends on here, email them that way you wont have to be stressed with other people who want to enjoy the site and give their opinions and suggestions seriously..

Sorry Geri.. just had to get that off my chest... now back to the discussion... i think the front page is looking very streamlined, not cluttered, easy to read and navigate..

No, Sam. I mean that the home page is now basically occupied with paragraphs of news. My suggestion is to only have the headlines in hyperlinks to the News Page. I'd also suggest making the "Artist of the week (or month)" a page of its own with a headline hyperlink and paragraph on the front page regarding the CURRENT artist in the spotlight. That would give more room on the front page for art images, which is what people come to the site to look at. I understand the concern for loading time, but isn't that an issue with any page with images? Wen

Except that the number of images was not reduced in order to create more space but instead to reduce the high download requirement.

Example: Before, the size of the front page was 252kB and download time on a 56k modem was 36 seconds. Now the download size is 192kB and the time is reduced to 27 seconds.

Yep, I hear you, Caedes. In fact, I made reference to that objective in my message, adding, "isn't [loading time] an issue with any page with images" on this site? I was just sharing my thoughts. If saving a 56K person 9 seconds is the ultimate concern for the front page, then leave it alone. Wen

In my humble opinion, the changes to the main page can best be described by the original title of this thread: "Looking good caedes. :)" ...kudos for a job well done.

Being one of those unfortunate people still stick with a very slow dail-up connection (not by my choice but due to the unavailability of any other service) I can really see the increase in speed. I must say that it makes me happy and it looks good too!

It's nice to know there are people who stand up for me :)

I haven't been able to figure out why Morwyn has had this personal grudge against me since day one, and I have tried hard to reason with her, but since she made the decision of deleting her gallery and leaving the site, I think it would be best if we disregarded the whole thing.

I like the idea of a drop-down menu also. And, on the subject of the 3-images-on-homepage, I'm neutral. I tried balancing the whole thing above in a very long post.

I agree with the site looking good, all the improvements are practical & aesthetic. i definitely noticed faster load up at works' wireless network. the pull down menu sounds pretty sweet too. :~)

I have two suggestions, not aesthetic ones. 1. Allow you to delete your own posts on your own images. 2. Allow line breaks in signatures.

I doubt it if we would have to post on our own images very often. Maybe you mean that we should be able to delete a post (removing the icon also) on any discussion forum?

And for the signatures, maybe you could try spacing a very long distance between the lines. I don't know if that 's going to work, so I'm going to try it now. Let's see...

No, the spacing didn't work. I just thought it might..

Hmm I wonder if 'Ampersand-n-b-s-p-semicolon' enough times would work?

Cool! It works!

why dont you try in your edit profile where you type your signature.. put a row of
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ above your signature..

I am late for this :'( But the changes are well...I like them much! also...the 3 in the front...looks cleaner and less cluttered imo...but 6 also gave the front page a nicer look...not sure if that makes sense but happy w/the way it is now anyway.

Also, for that drop down list idea...quite good! I like it! Nice work caedes!

I like the way the featured images cycle now. Seeing quite a few perm images I haven't come across for a long time, or at all in some cases.

i will say this much.. the new page loads quite nicely.. im currently having trouble with my cable connection and online thru my cell phone (a wonderful trick i wish i could have figured out while i was in florida).. which judging by speed, isnt much more than a dialup connection (tho the buzzing from cell phone interferance is quite annoying).. im having no trouble manuvering around the site.. everything is running nice and smoothly.. nice work boss *tips hat*

Dj

I was thinking - what if we had a "Random Image" feature? We would click on it, and it would take us to any image, regardless of gallery, c-index, or date. I often find myself wanting to critique an image from any gallery, so I have to go to the new images, but I would love to comment on the permanent images also. Most of the permanent galleries have too many images to go through.

If you want a random image from the perms, the "Featured image" on the front page serves that purpose now (as one image is randomly selected from the perms, regardless of c-index). If you want a random image from the New gallery, just sort them randomly.

I think the best solution would be to use the voting booth. Those are recently uploaded image which the author would be most interested in getting comments on.

Thanks for the suggestions..