Teaser Splash Page for Next Version of Lostinbeta

[lostinbeta]

Hey Everyone, I am working on my next version of my site. Since AOL 8.0 wants to be as evil as usual and switch to Netscape I have to make a new version that is cross browser compatible (of course, the only version I have ever made that isn't NS compatible has to be taken down early because of AOL...grrr).

Well anyway... I set up this teaser splash page for my next version :)

You can either drool over it (being conceited here), make fun of the piece of crap (being opposite here), or just ignore this in general, I don't care....LOL. I was just really bored :-\ :)

Next Lostinbeta Splash (http://www.8ballcreations.com/lostinbeta/splash/)
Next Lostinbeta Splash (Version 1 Type 2) (http://www.8ballcreations.com/lostinbeta/splash/index5.html)

Next Lostinbeta Splash (Second Version) (http://www.8ballcreations.com/lostinbeta/splash/index2.html)
Next Lostinbeta Splash (Version 2 Type 2) (http://www.8ballcreations.com/lostinbeta/splash/index6.html)

Next Lostinbeta Splash (Third Version) (http://www.8ballcreations.com/lostinbeta/splash/index3.html)
Next Lostinbeta Splash (Version 3 Type 2) (http://www.8ballcreations.com/lostinbeta/splash/index7.html)

Next Lostinbeta Splash (Fourth Version) (http://www.8ballcreations.com/lostinbeta/splash/index4.html)
Next Lostinbeta Splash (Version 4 Type 2) (http://www.8ballcreations.com/lostinbeta/splash/index8.html)

[reverendflash]

lost:

you haven't gotten over your Mom digging up your backyard yet, have you... =)

kinda got a thing for grasses...

just kidding... :beam:

I like it, especially the drawing of the punk/you... :P

Rev:elderly:

[lostinbeta]

No, that is me, and how I dress....lol.

I like wilderness stuff, so pretty much anything dealing with nature I like (not everything, but... yeah, you might get my point) :)

And yes, I am still PO'ed about her digging up our yard...grrr :evil:

[reverendflash]

I like it, it says just what you did above...

look forward to seeing more.

Rev:elderly:

[lostinbeta]

I look forward to getting done more...LOL.

Thanks Rev :)

[mdipi]

very nice job lost! did you draw that? Its acctually very good...

Like what i see! I cant wait for those JavaScript experiments w/the new site! :P

-Mike

[lostinbeta]

:beam:

Yeah, the grass is a simple Photoshop brush, the self portrait was done in my first attempt to draw in Illustrator (with a mouse none the less), so I was really proud of how it turned out :)

I need to start working on more Javascript experiments, I have like 2 or 3....lol (well ones that are completed and able to be put up).

[lostinbeta]

Anyone else?

::just bumpin the thread :)::

[Ryall]

I like it - very simple, yet effective. Good colors. Nice work.

Peace

[Ryall]

Although I think I might use the two stripes as a msk for some sort of pattern that recedes out into space, but only visable in the strips (also done in a color that only slightly differs form the striep color) - but that is me, not you. Just a though. :P

Peace

[lostinbeta]

Hmm, I actually thought about that myself :)

I will give it a try, see how it looks later :)

Thanks for the imput... now to get the site itself up :-\ Then I can ask for actual input on my site itself... w00t, that won't be for some time though (hoping by january).

[Ryall]

You thought of it too? haha, well that means the pic is begging for it!! :P

If you try that be sure to post it I'd like to see how it adds or takes away from the pic. Cant wait for the new site. I think I'll actually have mine around the same time, it is going to be my holiday project (as long as I dont aquire any more clients).

Peace

[lostinbeta]

Ok, well I tried the pattern overlay/mask type thing... I tried different ways and styles, etc, but none of them really suited my fancy.

I think I like the plain way better. Didn't hurt to try though :)

Well I did update a few things on it, probably nothing really noticable, just a few touch ups here and there, and instead of a whole strip, the enter area is now a button (that pops up an alert message saying its not up yet, tacky, but I was bored), and I added a logo next to it. I also repositioned me, and added another diagonal line to the left side.

Why did I say the changes? No clue, oh well :P

[reverendflash]

I don't know why, I just keep expecting the guy to kick something...

:-\

maybe it's the PS2...

:-\

Rev:elderly:

[lostinbeta]

Well it is just an image, not Flash... so I won't be kicking anything.

I probably won't make it flash, so I probably won't kick anything in the future either.

It must be the PS2 man, your stoned on the PS2!!!

LOL :P

[reverendflash]

that 2

:cool: :sleep: :cool:

Rev:elderly:

[lostinbeta]

:beam:

[Kitiara]

Cool. I like the cartoon-y character, but then again, I would. :)

Can you give us any clues about what the finished thing would look like?

[lostinbeta]

The Cartoony character is a mock up of myself... what was really funny was when I left my computer and my sister saw it she was like "WOW SOMEONE DREW SOMETHING THAT LOOKS JUST LIKE YOU!!!"....lol.

She cracks me up sometimes.

Hmm, the the insides don't look much different... so far right now I have that same splash as the heading of the page, but that is subject to change. I am also working on writing a Javascript menu thing that works in NS and IE, kinda like a drop down without it being an ugly drop down box, one of those kinds of menus. I am going to try and have a more organized nav, so that there are main sections, with sub sections instead of all different crap like I have now squeezed into a tiny area.

I should also have open source Flash/DHTML/Javascript experiments of mine (all unoptimized since I am self taught I can only do what I figure out...lol).

The color scheme is obviously the same. I am trying to keep it simple, but not too simple.

I think that is about it.... If you have any questions don't be afraid to ask :)

[andr.in]

OH MAAN! I love it!
sry for the delay! I was @ school!
I like the colors and the guy there... you!
It's good to make a site with only few colors.
I have black&blue on mine... (not ready yet, waiting for it to be finished)

[lostinbeta]

I am going to tinker more with the navigation code today, that is what is taking this thing so long. If I can't write my own I will use another one, then continue writing mine until I finish it.

Why rush right?

[andr.in]

That's absolutely positively right!
Why rush! A website is absolutely not a thing to be done quickly. If you start rushing n' stuff then you'll screw it up!

[lostinbeta]

Exactly... a website shows your skill, if you rush it and make it look like it was done in like 10 minutes, people will think you have no skill :)

[andr.in]

yep!
I had this friend who made a new homepage with one night!:o
...he didn't finish it! I wonder why I'm not surprised...

[Guig0]

I have a few tips for ya, but in the general I think it is great!

not-so-good things:

1- the color scheme: I think that the stripes color is in a need of a little more life;

2- The grass color is too neutral, a little more of green wouldn´t hurt.

very good things:

The mini-lost is awesome! The way that he breaks the limits (the thin black square) was perfectly done. The background color is a signature of you, never abandon it!

To the internal pages design: Keep your design as personal as possible, if you like it use it again. The grass the flower, the color, don´t over use them, but always use them.



=)

[andr.in]

hey maybe you could make the little-lost a bit happier. He looks like he's mad at me or sumthin'!
maybe this kinda mood:
=|
or sumthin'
:)

[lostinbeta]

Guig0 - Great critique :) I tried to liven up the stripes, but I liked them better plain... I don't know why, it just struck me more for some reason. And for the grass, I used a neutral color so there wouldn't be more colors which would increase the load time, I will give it another try though and see what I can do :)


Syko: Yeah, I made him angry originally, for a series of images I am doing called "The M.O.E. Volumes" (My series are always numbered in volumes for some reason..lol), I will be releasing those shortly and you will be able to see me....lol. I tried making him happy or content, but it just didn't fit his stance too well, I tried redrawing it before, but I had no luck in making it looks as good :-\ :(

[Guig0]

I made these commnents without any regards, knowing that you have the maturity to understand and accept, even if you totally disagree with me(wich is the case):) .
But you know, taste is like belly button, everyone has its own.

And I realliy liked so far.

Can´t wait to see the new-improved lost page.:P



=)

[lostinbeta]

I agree with the grass thing. I wish I could remember how I got the colors in my footer.

I tried using the same greens, but Photoshop was spitting out blues and yellows and soft purples.... I was like "what!?". So I just went with grey so it would spit out greys and blacks, giving less color and less loading time than a billion different colors...lol.

I will keep trying on that though :)

[Makaveli]

i actually like the grass, it looks sorta....mettalic? i dunno about the cartoon guy tho, he looks mad or sumthin and taht is not the beta way, maybe if you make the grass longer he could really be lost =) ...i mean how could he be lost in the that little grasss?! oh wait i forgot we were talking about LOST here, his attention span is worse than that of a 5 year old.... :P kidding beta

[Guig0]

How did you tried to chnge the colors?

Since they´re neutral now, a hue and saturation would not do the job. Have you tried to make them a duotone of light-green and dark green? That shoud work.


=)

[lostinbeta]

Mak: I may have the attention span of a 5 year old kid, but I have the memory of a goldfish :P

Guig0: I tried hue/saturation... it didn't give me the desired effect. I will try duotone..hmm, didn't even think of that ('DOH)

[Makaveli]

c000000000l , lost make the cartoons face a bit better....i kow its a cartoon but i dunno it just looks wierd to me , like a 5 year olds finger painting ?

[lostinbeta]

I have to wait until I get another chance to use Illustrator again before I can mess with it :-\

I really want to buy it, but it is too expensive :(

[mdipi]

I looked at it too, but for $400 bucks,,,well thats a little steep! Oh well, it would help if i got a job,,,my partents never pay me for baby sitting...i would have more than enough for Illistrator if they did...oh well i dont mind doing a good deed. oh well, i guess this went somewhat off topic, no? maybe a little but not much...

-Mike

[lostinbeta]

Oh what means would that be? An illegal way that I don't agree with and would never do and don't believe/condone/support doing?

[h88]

Well, i liked it, but i would replace the grass with a drawn one, it would look cooler. :)

[lostinbeta]

Well I don't have Illustrator, and I would need that to draw it to match the character, and when I do use Illustrator, I don't have enough time to be drawing different shades of grass....LOL.

I got a good green effect on my grass that I like, and keeps the file size the same as the black and grey. I like them both, so I am going to need other opinions on it. Not sure which one I will pick in the end, but can't say I didn't try :)

Original Version (http://www.8ballcreations.com/lostinbeta/splash/)

Green Grass Version (http://www.8ballcreations.com/lostinbeta/splash/index2.html)

[h88]

Hmm, the green one is really better than the grey, but i won't stop, (LOL) a drawn would be cooler! :P

[lostinbeta]

Lol, stubborn one eh. Can't say it won't happen, but it most likely won't. I will have to see next time I use Illustrator :)

[Ryall]

Lost you can purchase Ill, or any Adobe, or Macromedia, etc program for a GREATLY reduced price... you get the "educational" version which is a special priced version reserved for full-time students. I purchased photoshop 5 for $225.00 (norm retail was like $600.00) - totally legal, and totally sweet.

Peace

[lostinbeta]

225 is still expensive for me though :(

If I had that much money I would buy a Wacom before Illustrator, I wan't one of those more :)

[reverendflash]

I know what you mean Lost...

One of the toughest things starting out is affording the tools to do what you want to do.

I still suggest the 90 day trial of FW... it really does work like Ilustrator, as far as drawing is concerned...

Plus, if you point it to your PS plug-ins, you have access to those as well... Nice if you have a slug computer like mine...

Rev:elderly:

[lostinbeta]

My computers not a slug, but it could definitely stand to use more RAM, specially running winXP (I only have 128MB).

I am going to download that trial of FW, just haven't gotten around to it :)

I really want a Wacom... I was thinking about asking for it for christmas, but it is too expensive and I don't ask for anything expensive (or anything at all) for christmas.

[reverendflash]

Just the opposite for me...

450 MHZ, but 512M RAM... every slot is full... doesn't even have a case, just a frame... to turn it on, you touch 2 wires together...

I named it Frankenstein...

Heck, it works,

:P

Rev:elderly:

[reverendflash]

OH,

I like the green grass better...

But the b&w is cool too...

did I confuse you more?

:beam:

Rev:elderly:

[lostinbeta]

Lol, I have a 733mhz or something like that, with 128mb ram. It is really good, until it runs out of ram and starts lagging.

No you didn't confuse me more, I am leaning towards the green one, but I am still balancing on the wire. Haven't fallen on the choice yet.

[Guig0]

The green grass is definitively the best!

But I still think that it would be better if it was in between the neutral and the green, something like your footer.

If you´re having trouble to get there, send me the grass image and I´ll gladly do this for ya.



=)

[lostinbeta]

Alright... you people are never satisfied...LOL :P

Well anyway, I gave the grass one more shot, I realized what I was doing wrong with the colors ('doh!, it was a stupid mistake, I am ashamed of myself). Anywho, I came up with this next version, and I love it, it is my favorite one out of all of them, hands down, but if I use this one it comes at a cost. That cost is being that this grass bottom takes twice as long to load as the the other two :( It takes approximately 20 seconds on a 28.8 (which would make this the biggest file size of an image I have ever used in an interface...lol).

Anywho.. You can tell me if you think its worth it by viewing it here....

SPLASH PAGE THREE (http://www.8ballcreations.com/lostinbeta/splash/index3.html) (Another Try)

[Guig0]

the grass in the splash page looks like hulk to me.:-\
the grass color in your footer is perfect, try to do like that.



:P

[mdipi]

no no no, this is it! I love this one, althogh the file size is a bit big, its most deff worth it! How did you get the color?

[reverendflash]

I actually like #2 best so far...

a little more "artsy" rather than realistic...

IMHO

Rev:elderly:

[mdipi]

IMHO? what is the meaning of this?

[lostinbeta]

In my Honest (or Humble) opinion.


Sheesh you people are NEVER satisfied. Oh well, I can't remember the color values I used for my footer, and I am not experimenting with every shade of green...lol.

If I get it I get it, if not, then not.

[reverendflash]

lost:

you asked! :P

at least you are getting feedback... some of us have to beg for it... :beam:


It's tough being your own client...

Rev:elderly:

[lostinbeta]

Lol, I did ask... but now I am starting to think I am going to have to do millions of colors for my grass and have people choose...LOL.

I did want to go for the effect in my footer, but I can't get the right shades :(

Bah.. I will keep pressing for the shade in my footer, but make no promises. Besides, in the end it is my choice anyway :evil:

:P

[eilsoe]

Just to ruin it all, I think the original one (#1) looked awesome :)


Looked unique... (to me)...

I vote #1... so there... :pirate: Yar!!

[lostinbeta]

Lol, well at least SOMEONE liked my first one the best :P

I really like all of them to be honest, this is going to be hard choice for me in the end.


Hmmm, maybe I could just write a random javascript image displayer that will change the color of the grass everytime...lol, that would solve ALL the problems (just kidding).


:P

[mdipi]

lost, open up the grass image in your footer and use the eye dropper tool...

[lostinbeta]

It doesn't work like that unfortunately :(

See, the grass is generated through a background/forground color jitter.

This means it takes your background color, and your forground color and randomly creates shades of it for the grass. There are also other settings such as brightest jitter, hue jitter, etc.

So the color on the blades isn't the actual colors I used ::sigh:: :(

[mdipi]

man that stinks :( And there must be like an infinit amount of green combos...

[lostinbeta]

I am working on it.... I am actually kind of close :)

[telekinesis]

I think it looks sweet, maybe you should add some effects, I'll hook you up on AIM with how to do the smoke effect!

[h88]

K, its improving now, third version is really better. :)

[lostinbeta]

Alright... Guig0.... here it is :P This is the closest I could get to my footer colors. I think it does look really nice actually. I do like the unrealistic contrast of the brighter green, but this one is subtle and I like that too.

You can view the new one here...

Almost There??? (http://www.8ballcreations.com/lostinbeta/splash/index4.html)


I would like to take this time to thank all of you for your input and helping me out with this. I am glad this is happening before I launched the site... I can now make it better for my viewers when I launch it originally :)

[Guig0]

Lost, this is it! That´s the color my man! PERFECT!

I knew you could do!



=)

[lostinbeta]

SCORE!!!!!!

I really like it also. I need to decide between the 4 versions I have up though.

Hmmm, this one is high up on the choosing list though :)

[reverendflash]

I change my vote to #1... I like the monochrome aspect...

Rev:elderly:

[lostinbeta]

I ruled out #2 personally, I like the other ones more.

Version 1) I like the grey look, silver (grey) and black are my favorite colors.

Version 2) I like the Bright green because it gives a more unrealistic look, and provides a good contrast in colors (IMO).

Version 4) I like the last one because it is subtle and calm, and blends well with the other colors.

[lostinbeta]

Hmmm, I don't think Ren or Dan commented on this yet.

I was really looking forward to their opinions :-\

[Neo_Clone01]

lost dude, #1 ALL THE WAY

do not color that grass, it contrasts in a bad way with the thick black lines of the mini-you imo

DUDE KEEP #1 FOR GODS SAKE MAN!!

[vts31]

i think itd look more pro with out the guy. tahts just me tho

[Neo_Clone01]

yea but its soo much more fun with

lol

[mdipi]

that is so close! i really like this one, mainly because if the guy is colored then it makes sense to have his surroundings coloured, no? well thats just my 2 sense, either the really green one or #4 for my vote. lost btw, set up a pole for it!

[h88]

Good idea.

[mdipi]

yes, i think it would be, all in favor say, well says yes!

[lostinbeta]

Alright, I will set up a poll soon.

But first to tend to Edwins suggestions, because he is friggin awesome and I trust his opinion, I set up all my splash pages without the character, they can be viewed at these links...

Im not here 1 (http://www.8ballcreations.com/lostinbeta/splash/index5.html)

Im not here 2 (http://www.8ballcreations.com/lostinbeta/splash/index6.html)

Im not here 3 (http://www.8ballcreations.com/lostinbeta/splash/index7.html)

Im not here 4 (http://www.8ballcreations.com/lostinbeta/splash/index8.html)


What do you think Edwin?

PS: I am not really going for professionalism persay, it is just my personal site, nothing major. I don't think my current version is at all professional...lol.

[h88]

Nope, with u there is really cooler. :)

[lostinbeta]

I like it with me there better, but the poll will say what most viewers like :)

Even with the poll I might just choose one that I like more, but the poll will help me to decide.

I updated my first post in this thread with all the links in case you guys want to see all 8 versions...lol.

[h88]

Did u proceed with what i told u b4, drawing some grass :q:

[lostinbeta]

I haven't gotten to use Illustrator to make it match my character.

And the grass brush in Photoshop, is the best grass effect I can get in there, so I am keeping it :P

[h88]

Okay, i liked # 4

[lostinbeta]

I like 'em all (#2 is my least liked one though).

I will probably set up the poll tomorrow or something.

[Jubba]

I liked number 2 the best...something about the dark green with the other colors. Thought it looked really good. I don't like the one that has really bright green...its too bright. They are all cool

[lostinbeta]

Lol, my taste must really suck, I like the bright green and not the dark..... seems everyone else here thinks that way too.

:P

Oye... this upcoming poll will hopefully help me out.