How does my site look?

[Matrix]

Well i just opened the doors to my site " MX Entertainment " , check it out! it stands for Matrix Xtreme Entertainment , it i will be about my flash movies, go in and tell me how it looks, check out the guest book too :)

http://www.angelfire.com/film/mxent

[jkm]

ok... I like it...
I am NOT a pro
BUT

Here are some observations:
1. The green is a lil' hard on the eyes

2. The graphic/banner at the top would look much better if the left side reached the other side of the screen (just like the right side) OR maybe centering the banner would work.

3. It looks like the backgroud is 2 graphics

4. The text inside the banner is a bit hard to see. Try sharpening up the contrast on that bad boy.

Overall, you gotta cool, clean, simple layout. I think that is a good thing. These robot machine interfaces are over-rated.
Keep it up!!
Good luck

[jillymo]

MX-
Okay, big web design no-no is something that is hard to read on a black background. That green is so bright I could not even really get a good look at the layout to comment on it. Maybe you could tone it down a bit?

[Matrix]

wow maybe my color is messed. i didnt see any problems whatsoever with thecolor. my bad the color i have must be messed up then

[jillymo]

it might be something with your monitor or its settings-
that green could be okay in small doses- just don't overdue it
Good Luck ;) :s:

[Matrix]

i forgot to ask, can one of u take a screenshot what it looks like on ur comps and post it in this thread? thanks

[jillymo]

Here you go :nerd:

[jillymo]

oh that turned out a little small and blurry let me know if you would like a better one posted...I will be gone for about 15 minutes or so...

[Jubba]

that won't really matter tho, because the colors will look the same and his monitor will still interpret the colors the same way... And yes, the green is too harsh.

[jillymo]

Yeah Jubba you are right. He is going to see it the same on his moniter anyway... *L*
Oh this Friday afternoon is dragging..I have been at work too long and I wanna go home!! :trout:

[Jubba]

matrix, check out your site on another computer. if it looks the same then its your eyes that are messed up. :P

[Matrix]

lol i did, it looked fine on my bro-in laws comp....i dunno ill see if more people think its looking bad and if its not then your colors are messed :P

[liam]

i think the color choice is horrible, it's not my eyes or anyone elses.

try to get a consistent color scheme, make your layout a little more fluid, and fix the many image and linking errors.

[Matrix]

umm the linking erros are normal the site isnt 100% completed, i am still working on the graphics layout, i haven't done the other pages yet thats whyt he links aren't up. oh and for the color scheme, different people have different likes/dislikes, i understand you don't like the color but i cant make different version to please everyone else. but some would like the scheme, i personally like it. i like the way i did the logo it looks sortof icy lookin :). the site will be done maybe in a few days, i just need to plane the side bar menu, which im still brainstorming

[Matrix]

i just made the about page

[bcogswell11]

Originally posted by Matrix
umm the linking erros are normal the site isnt 100% completed, i am still working on the graphics layout, i haven't done the other pages yet thats whyt he links aren't up. oh and for the color scheme, different people have different likes/dislikes, i understand you don't like the color but i cant make different version to please everyone else. but some would like the scheme, i personally like it. i like the way i did the logo it looks sortof icy lookin :). the site will be done maybe in a few days, i just need to plane the side bar menu, which im still brainstorming

I don't understand Matrix. You posted this site for some constructive criticism which you got. Of course it's the way you like it, otherwise you wouldn't have built it. However, by posting it in site check and asking people what they think of it, you are going to recieve some criticism. You shouldn't just respond to it by saying that's the way you like it and acting offended. Poeple have told you how your site looks, and ways to make it better, to appeal to more people, which I'm sure you want. It is your choice whether you want to keep it the way it is or not, but dont get upset at people for trying to help. :P

-brad-:evil:

[Matrix]

i wans't getting upset all i said was it depends how people like it i didn't have any problem with your critiscm, i was just saying that i like it and so do others probably it all depends what you like, i had no offence to your post.

[dreamer]

i don't like it... just my opinion...

[Voetsjoeba]

The layout is ok, but the colors are indeed too fluorescent & hard on the eyes. And eeh, I hate to brake this to yah but ... check your poll results ...

[Matrix]

i did, i don't think its possible it's that bad, you think mines bad? check out the affiliate on my site called yut343,now that's bad!

[NeoDreamer]

Websites that change drastically depending on the browser width are bound to be bad.

[Jubba]

http://host15.ipowerweb.com/~livetosk/curious/matrix.gif

That is what your site looks like on my resolution. I don't like your site (which seems to be the overall consensus). My opinions on it:

We'll start large and work our way smaller.

1) Color scheme. Too hard on the eyes. You don't want your viewers to get a headache when they come to your site. You may like it, but many people don't. You need to do some research on color theory. Bright green like that is definately a "web-design no-no" You want colors that blend and create harmony, not colors that jump off the page and scream at the viewer. I personally would change the color scheme to something more gentle.

2) Constrain the width of your site. On monitors with larger resolutions you get huge gaps in between the tables.

3) The banner doesn't flow with the rest of the site. The color does (unfortunately) but that round bulb on the left does not. You don't repeat this shape anywhere else on the site. Everything is square and straight except for that bulb and it breaks apart the continuity of the page.

4) Continuing with the header, the blue does not mesh with the rest of the colors. They look nice and I suggest following those colors as a possible color scheme.

[Matrix]

WHAT THE F***!? ok now i see why u guys say my site looks bad , here is what it looks like on my computer. ill update in a second. GEEZ no wonder everyone thinks it looks bad.

[Matrix]

geez no wonder everyone thinks it looks awful, something is wrong for sure, ok here is what mine looks like.

http://www.angelfire.com/film/mxent/mysite.JPG

[Jubba]

you need to constrain the width of the site.

Place the entire site inside of a large table and give it a width value of something less than 800.

like I did here:

http://host15.ipowerweb.com/~livetosk/NoFlash/index.html

[Matrix]

can you tell me how i would do that in dream weaver?

[Jubba]

Originally posted by Jubba
Place the entire site inside of a large table and give it a width value of something less than 800.
It doesn't matter if you use Dreamweaver or notepad. You know how to make tables right? Put the entire content of the site into a table.

[Matrix]

you see, i try to copy and paste the entire thing into a table but i can't line it up with the site border. i don't do my site in code anymore i find it too confusing.

[Matrix]

ok try going to http://www.angelfire.com/film/mxent/indextest.html

[Matrix]

aaah ok i tested another res and you were right , all i got to do now is configurethe table properly and fix this problem, thanks a lot!

[Jubba]

looks much better. Can you move that hit counter to the bottom? it would look better down there...

[Matrix]

ok ok i think i fixed it, guys try looking at my site now, oops sorry for the quadruple post.

[Matrix]

where to the bottom, where it sais copy right??

[Jubba]

just above the copyright notice is where I would put it.

[Matrix]

thanks a lot, i really improved the site because of that, umm are the colors still a problem? lol , i dunno it's weird in my computer the green really looks good, maybe my color is messed because i thought it didn't hurt my eyes. should i just change the letter color?

[slayerment]

I'm going to be hard to try to help you...
I don't like the top header. Somewhere between the drop shadows being different distance and the textures being altered I lost interest. The colors also clash IMO. If this were a database driven site, I could see the minimal design working well with the HTML. But as I can see you're using your guessbook and other things from Bravenet, so I would recommend adding some more graphics somehow. Try to spice it up a little. The RPG Icons button bg shows when u roll over Yut343 or The Hideout. Also, is it legal to have an affiliate on your list thats not affiliated with you? Maybe just change those to links perhaps. Not sure. Whatever you choose, I would also recommend opening them in a blank window. The Link Us!, Fan Flicks, FAQ, Movies, Graveyard buttons didn't work. Hope this helps you in the future.

[Jubba]

http://www.kirupaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16452&highlight=color+theory

http://www.kirupaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18264&highlight=color+theory


check out the links that are in those two threads. They will help with your color ideas.

[Matrix]

Originally posted by slayerment
I'm going to be hard to try to help you...
I don't like the top header. Somewhere between the drop shadows being different distance and the textures being altered I lost interest. The colors also clash IMO. If this were a database driven site, I could see the minimal design working well with the HTML. But as I can see you're using your guessbook and other things from Bravenet, so I would recommend adding some more graphics somehow. Try to spice it up a little. The RPG Icons button bg shows when u roll over Yut343 or The Hideout. Also, is it legal to have an affiliate on your list thats not affiliated with you? Maybe just change those to links perhaps. Not sure. Whatever you choose, I would also recommend opening them in a blank window. The Link Us!, Fan Flicks, FAQ, Movies, Graveyard buttons didn't work. Hope this helps you in the future. thanks guys
as i said before the links aren't working yet as i am still fixing the layout. once the layout is 100% good and rdy to go, i will do the rest of the site.

ya i probably will change the affiliates to links , and the yut343 i aint sure what to do, i was in dream weaver messin around trying to add more cells when i accidently did that i don't know how to fix it , yet.

forthe color theory i will check that out but the site is called MX Entertainment, the theme is soppost to be about the matrix, how can i make a matrix theme when there isn't any green?

[Jubba]

http://whatisthematrix.warnerbros.com/

This is the matrix site. Do you see that green anywhere? or in large quantities when it is there?

[Matrix]

:(, no but i don't have any color scheme ideas and those threads you gave me, it was like being in art class and listening about the way color works.

[Jubba]

You want to be a web designer? You have to put in work and you have to learn about colors and the ideas behind those colors. Different colors cause our brains to induce different emotions. You want to have the right emotion for your site.

Its up to your how far you go and how successful you are. This kind of skill does not just fall into your lap. It takes hard work and a lot of learning. I have been doing this kind of stuff for 6 years and I learn something new every day. I also put about 2-3 hours each day just reading articles on color theory and web theory.

Now I just need my clients to get me the content information and I cna get my sites online...

[Matrix]

2-3 hours a day? ****! i mean im just getting into this stuff and it is hard work but i just need to know where to start, with flash i was so bad but now i can do flash because i know how to use it, web design i somewhat know but still have problems, i am still a begginer, but the color theory is right, i learned about it in art, so i guess it wasn't all bad but i just need to know what are good colors to get my site going. hey do you do web design fora living? how much do they usually make?

[Jubba]

i do it for extra money on the side of my real job and i don't earn anything substantial. You can make good money doing it.

as far as how much you can make, it depends on what type of site you are making, who you are making it for, how long it takes you... etc etc...

[Matrix]

ya i am still not sure if i want to do it as a job, see i like it but i'm not sure if i could do it, nowadays what really sucks about the world is everything is so darn competitive that it is hard to make a good living. i like to do it in my spare time but as a job, i dunno...i really don't know wat i want to do when i'm older.

[dreamer]

I don't see how that makes a difference... on different computers

[Jubba]

different resolutions. different tint/brightness/contrast. different videocards monitors...

[Matrix]

well when you go to work , you feel motivated because you want to earn money right? but when your at home your not as motivated because you feel confortable and don't really try your best, but if your working you work your *** off, i mean i didn't say i aint consdering web design in college i am just saying i aint sure.

[Mik3]

What version of dreamweaver are you using?
I think..
Your using layers instead of tables, while tables would be a lot more necessary in your site.

Go in this mode:
http://tokiomedia.com/images/test.gif

Dreamweaver may take some practice! Keep working buddy! You'll get the hang of it!

[jkm]

Originally posted by Jubba
You want to be a web designer? You have to put in work and you have to learn about colors and the ideas behind those colors. Different colors cause our brains to induce different emotions. You want to have the right emotion for your site.

Its up to your how far you go and how successful you are. This kind of skill does not just fall into your lap. It takes hard work and a lot of learning. I have been doing this kind of stuff for 6 years and I learn something new every day. I also put about 2-3 hours each day just reading articles on color theory and web theory.

Now I just need my clients to get me the content information and I cna get my sites online...

That $&*% should be in a book !!!
Ya summed it up bro.

[dreamer]

ahh yes i c what ya mean. I wish everyone in the world had just on setting and one size. i would make my life very easy. everytime i make a site i need to make it work from 600x400 all the way to 2000x1500 and its a pain in the *****

you use xp ish... sick me too. silver.. =] nice banner. i never use the drawing part in dreamweaver its not accuriate.

[liam]

lol 2000x15000 - that's a little extreme, dontcha think?

[Matrix]

i think everyone should have their res at 1024 X 768 is confortable and nice laid out, not so **** close in like 800 x 600 like in school -_-

[jkm]

1024x768 is too big for me and I'm blind !!8]

[jkm]

haha, maybe that's why my graphic work sucks huh?
I have been running 1280x1024
I think I might try to get used to 1024x768 ....I can actually see what I'm doing now....:beam:

[dreamer]

lol no... people use 2000 x 1500.. i hate these people. its like there to cheap to get a tv so they use a computer monitor as a TV too... lol

[reverendflash]

Originally posted by Matrix
i think everyone should have their res at 1024 X 768 is confortable and nice laid out, not so **** close in like 800 x 600 like in school -_-

unfortunately, some monitors (especially laptops) have the best quality @ 800x600 without drastically sacrificing performance.

Stats are showing, however, that the trend is going to 1024x768, but it is not quite half yet. The majority still use 800x600...

not me, but about 45 - 50%

Personally, I would only like the browsers to simply comply with the standards they themselves set forth 2-3 years ago...

**play dreamy music here**

Revhttp://www.aulman.com/rev.gif

[.soulty]

Originally posted by jkm
I have been running 1280x1024
I think I might try to get used to 1024x768 ....I can actually see what I'm doing now....:beam:

Ive been running my monitor at 1280 X 1024, I wouldnt go smaller nor bigger. I rather work like this because you have so much more real estate (room to work in).

[.soulty]

And matrix, like jubba said they dont use alot of green on the Matrix site but if they do it's a toned downed green (less saturation).