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Randman · Mar 16, 2005, 03:43 PM

Originally posted by paul w:
Seriously guys you could've opened this thing up to us loyal members. :

What's stopping you from doing from effgee did and offering something up?

ManOfSteal · Mar 16, 2005, 03:54 PM

Approximately how long before these changes are implemented?

Oisín · Mar 16, 2005, 03:57 PM

Originally posted by ManOfSteal:
Approximately how long before these changes are implemented?

Eleventy billion seconds.

xi_hyperon · Mar 16, 2005, 04:03 PM

Originally posted by ManOfSteal:
Approximately how long before these changes are implemented?

First half of 21st century.

paul w · 06:11 AM

Originally posted by Randman:
What's stopping you from doing from effgee did and offering something up?

Oh believe me, I have. I messed around with the logo when I first saw Nick's design.

But effgee's just faster AND better. I certainly enjoy his little clinics though.

EDIT: Anyway, I thought the "plus" and the yellow elements could be played with a bit more and incorporated into the overall design. Like this design I made .

MacMan4000 · Mar 16, 2005, 05:56 PM

effgee, your my hero.

alphasubzero949 · Mar 16, 2005, 06:05 PM

I hate pinstripes.

The blog style looks good IMO.

Oisín · Mar 16, 2005, 06:08 PM

Originally posted by alphasubzero949:
I hate pinstripes.

The blog style looks good IMO.

If by blog style you're referring to effgee's mock-up, that one does have pinstripes. Or were you referring to Nick's look? Or..? There are a lot of 'blog styles' in this thread, y'know...

alphasubzero949 · Mar 16, 2005, 06:12 PM

I meant effgee's. I should have been a little clearer when I meant the second "blog look" in one of the mock-ups that he pointed out.

awaspaas · Mar 16, 2005, 06:36 PM

Maybe this should be a democratic process. Have a call for submissions from any parties, the editors choose 4 or so top contenders, and it's put to a forum vote.

How about it?

DeathMan · Mar 16, 2005, 07:47 PM

Originally posted by awaspaas:
Maybe this should be a democratic process. Have a call for submissions from any parties, the editors choose 4 or so top contenders, and it's put to a forum vote.

How about it?

I don't think thats a good idea. Maybe for forum decisions, but the front news page doesn't really have all that much to do with the forums, now does it? It probably has a different audience than the geeks they've already roped in to view their BFAs.

awaspaas · Mar 16, 2005, 08:46 PM

Originally posted by DeathMan:
I don't think thats a good idea. Maybe for forum decisions, but the front news page doesn't really have all that much to do with the forums, now does it? It probably has a different audience than the geeks they've already roped in to view their BFAs.

So, put a link to it on the front page. I imagine the people concerned enough about the design of the page to participate in its redesign would have no problem visiting the forum to vote.

Superchicken · Mar 16, 2005, 09:12 PM

Dude this is how some people make money sure this is a community based site that's how it keeps it's readership but come on.

That said, I LOVE the one that used the chicklets I suggested... actually I was seriously impressed when I saw it. Especially with how fast ef works

You did a SERIOUSLY good job man. I will say I don't much care for the massive full page view, I rather like the one that just has a more centred container in the middle of the page.

And as for the cleanness of the forums:
We already have the MacNN logo on the left hand why do we need MacNN forums on the right hand side? Why are the links just floating in the centre there? Why has the high part of the header like NEVER been updated to my knowledge... or at least not often. Do we need every little line that runs between table cells? I'm not arguing that MacNN is uglier than any forum I go to... in general they're not that pretty looking. But the navy with white with pin stripes with the yellow makes me feel like I'm posting on a sailor's uniform. It's a very blah layout. Not to mention again the smilies are freaking ugly and inconstant. Regardless of how cute the pokey one is.
Add to this our stars which could be slightly larger still maybe 4 colour gifs with some anti-aliasing which would add negligibly to the bandwidth but create a much nicer more matt feel than the transparent gif files we have right now (they might even be smaller)
As well as the fact that most of the small buttons and what not that aren't buttons are freaking ugly and not Macish at all... well if they are they're more classic than anything. For e-mail why don't we use a lil Mail graphic or one similar. Apple moved on to sexy photo realistic icons why can't the forum? Not to bash the forum or something but... it could seriously look a LOT better. Some colour aside from navy and grey would provide a lot of help.

rozwado1 · Mar 16, 2005, 10:32 PM

effgee should get honorary "Clinically Insane" status for his efforts. bravo.

im_noahselby · Mar 17, 2005, 01:02 AM

Originally posted by effgee:

Effgee,
This one is my favourite. In fact, I like all 3 of the "less bloggy" examples you've posted. I think this is a picture perfect example of the direction the new MacNN website should take. You know your stuff! Your logo is perfect.

Nick,
I think your designs are good too. The only thing that really bothers me is the yellow cross you used in your logo. As Efgee stated, it creates an undesirable focus point within the logo itself. Otherwise, the logo is perfect.

I like the top bar, it looks clean. The colours are good. I wonder if it would look better with the corners squared off? I think it would.

As for the right sidebar, I think you should carry the colours that you have used in the top part and use them here. The light grey/white mix in this section doesn't sit well with me. This is the only area that I feel needs more work with your design.

Keep up the hard work!

Noah

Athens · Mar 17, 2005, 03:15 AM

Originally posted by Nick:
I've used some of the suggestions, but not all. Just seeing how things look. Thoughts? What does everyone like betther?

YES

Mar 17, 2005, 03:17 AM

effgee: what you've come up with is great. I have some

paul w · Mar 17, 2005, 03:25 AM

Originally posted by Nick:
effgee: what you've come up with is great. I have some

..pickles in a jar?

Xeo · Mar 17, 2005, 05:07 AM

Originally posted by paul w:
..pickles in a jar?

bwahahah

OreoCookie · Mar 17, 2005, 07:11 AM

Originally posted by Nick:
I've used some of the suggestions, but not all. Just seeing how things look. Thoughts? What does everyone like betther?

I like it, but make the comments, e-mail, etc. options in a separate line. Looks cleaner IMHO. Another thing is: please D O N O T u s e s p a c e s i n C o n t i n u e d.

davesimondotcom · Mar 17, 2005, 10:49 AM

Originally posted by OreoCookie:
Another thing is: please D O N O T u s e s p a c e s i n C o n t i n u e d.

Anyone who would letterspace lowercase would steal sheep.

roberto blanco · Mar 17, 2005, 11:31 AM

teh bomb!

Apple Pro Underwear · Mar 17, 2005, 11:44 AM

Originally posted by davesimondotcom:
Anyone who would letterspace lowercase would steal sheep.

i think 3 people may possible get that

Garage81 · Mar 17, 2005, 11:45 AM

effgee,

wow.

id love to visit a site with any of those layouts, thats the money.

Oisín · Mar 17, 2005, 11:50 AM

Originally posted by Apple Pro Underwear:
i think 3 people may possible get that

I don't think I'm one of them.

E's Lil Theorem · Mar 17, 2005, 12:05 PM

effgee's designs are the way to go. Pretty much any one of them.

Originally posted by Apple Pro Underwear:
i think 3 people may possible get that

I'm one of them.

Mr Kino · Mar 17, 2005, 12:24 PM

i love the look of this. it brings a sense of organization to me. truly a mac look.

Fiend · Mar 17, 2005, 12:31 PM

(seconding Mr Kino choice)

dav · Mar 17, 2005, 12:43 PM

nice work effgee

gerbnl · Mar 17, 2005, 01:33 PM

Originally posted by Mr Kino:
truly a mac look.

I should hope not. That ticker looks remarkably like a button...

iREZ · Mar 17, 2005, 01:33 PM

Do the above immediately!

gerbnl · Mar 17, 2005, 01:37 PM

and where's tooki when you need him? I don't see any "HUGE IMG" warning in the thread's title

Stradlater · Mar 17, 2005, 02:24 PM

Originally posted by gerbnl:
I should hope not. That ticker looks remarkably like a button...

Maybe it is?

It could easily link to a more indepth look at AAPL.

Oisín · Mar 17, 2005, 02:32 PM

Originally posted by gerbnl:
I should hope not. That ticker looks remarkably like a button...

This is completely off-topic, but why does your signature say 'red deer foreigner'? Or, to be more precise, what is a red deer foreigner???

davesimondotcom · Mar 17, 2005, 05:04 PM

Originally posted by Ois�n:
I don't think I'm one of them.

You would if you were a typophile.

villalobos · Mar 17, 2005, 06:31 PM

Out of curiosity from a total noob in the domain, what software does one use to make logos like the MACNN one Effgee has made?

budster101 · Mar 17, 2005, 06:39 PM

Fireworks or Photoshop.

effgee · Mar 17, 2005, 07:08 PM

Originally posted by villalobos:
Out of curiosity from a total noob in the domain, what software does one use to make logos like the MACNN one Effgee has made?

Illustrator for some elements - magnifying glass, rounded headers, reflections, etc. Photoshop for general layout.

Oisín · Mar 17, 2005, 07:09 PM

Originally posted by effgee:
Illustrator for some elements - magnifying glass, rounded headers, reflections, etc. Photoshop for general layout.

Related question from another n00b - how do you go about doing the pinstripes? Surely there's an easier way than tracing five hundred gazillion lines with the pen tool?

effgee · Mar 17, 2005, 07:23 PM

Originally posted by Ois�n:
Related question from another n00b - how do you go about doing the pinstripes? Surely there's an easier way than tracing five hundred gazillion lines with the pen tool?

think of the story with the dude who invented chess - all he asked for as a payment from the king of persia was one grain of rice on the first field, 2 on the secon, 4 on the third, etc.

draw a single line
cmd-click the layer in the layer palette (ctrl for xp), this selects your line
hold down cmd-option and hit the downward arrow key once (copies the line, ctrl-opt on xp)
let go of the opt key but keep holding down cmd (ctrl) and hit the arrow one more time - now you have two 1px-lines with 1px of space in between.
hit cmd-d (ctrl) on the keyboard to deselect everthing.
rinse and repeat steps 1-5 until you have 8/16 lines, from there on, do step two and opt-drag (hold down option and drag with the mouse) to copy.
deselect, cmd/ctrl-click the layer again, option-drag
etc., etc.

sounds more complicated than it actually is - after you have done it a couple of (hundred) times, you'll do it in your sleep without looking at the keyboard.

Oisín · Mar 17, 2005, 07:29 PM

Hmm, so it is just the manual way (of course I didn't mean actually drawing each line separately)... I was just wondering if there wasn't some nifty little function that will automatically insert pinstripes (like a pinstripe pattern or something), but apparently not...

Ah well, I suppose I've just got to sit down and do it a couple of hundred times... Hey, I can decorate my room with pinstripe wallpaper

effgee · Mar 17, 2005, 07:31 PM

Originally posted by Ois�n:
... Hey, I can decorate my room with pinstripe wallpaper

LOL ... diagonals only, please. And a different angle for each wall.

exca1ibur · Mar 17, 2005, 07:49 PM

1. New File any width but 2 pixels height (i.e. 10 x 2)
2. Make a single pixel black line on a new layer. (Delete the background layer so it is transparent and your single line.)
3. Select All and go to Edit... Define Pattern... Name it
4. Open any other file you wish...
5. Edit... Fill... Use Pattern... Select your pattern from Custom Patterns...

Auto Pinstripes for anything you wish

Enjoy.

effgee · Mar 17, 2005, 07:52 PM

Originally posted by exca1ibur:
1. New File any width but 2 pixels height (i.e. 10 x 2)
2. Make a single pixel black line on a new layer. (Delete the background layer so it is transparent and your single line.)
3. Select All and go to Edit... Define Pattern... Name it
4. Open any other file you wish...
5. Edit... Fill... Use Pattern... Select your pattern from Custom Patterns...

Auto Pinstripes for anything you wish

Enjoy.

Ugh - next we'll see pinstripes all over the place. Nice one, though. That's why they were all over OS X - some dude at Apple learned how to use custom patterns in Photoshop.

exca1ibur · Mar 17, 2005, 08:01 PM

Na not me. I only used it for doing TV screen type stuff in the past. Got tired of the one line at time stuff... I swear!

Oisín · Mar 17, 2005, 08:54 PM

Originally posted by exca1ibur:
1. New File any width but 2 pixels height (i.e. 10 x 2)
2. Make a single pixel black line on a new layer. (Delete the background layer so it is transparent and your single line.)
3. Select All and go to Edit... Define Pattern... Name it
4. Open any other file you wish...
5. Edit... Fill... Use Pattern... Select your pattern from Custom Patterns...

Auto Pinstripes for anything you wish

Enjoy.

*click save*

Thanks

budster101 · Mar 18, 2005, 11:36 AM

Uhm... lines are easily done in fireworks with a texture overlay. One-click.

Here are a few samples of line textures that come with Fireworks MX.

This took me about 5 minutes to create. Fireworks offers great workflow for web graphics. Much better than Photoshop IMHO.

gerbnl · Mar 18, 2005, 06:49 PM

Originally posted by Ois�n:
This is completely off-topic, but why does your signature say 'red deer foreigner'? Or, to be more precise, what is a red deer foreigner???

baka = foolish, an idiot, stupid

OreoCookie · Mar 18, 2005, 07:15 PM

Originally posted by gerbnl:
baka = foolish, an idiot, stupid

I have never seen anyone using kanji for that, just hiragana.

nredman · Mar 18, 2005, 08:36 PM

my favorite...great work effgee.