Justin S — Sun, 09 Apr 2000 19:15:00 +0000

Yeah, I don't think the logo is to small either.

The navigation doesn't seem like it fits in either. I think it would work better with graphic images, but not as big as the ones from your last design.

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Brooke — Fri, 07 Apr 2000 21:46:00 +0000

There is a darker background that appears before the final. I think that background has much more punch because of the contrast. The older version you first showed us had more contrast and therefore stood out more.

The logo is much better. It's not too small at all.

The navigation on the side feels like it just doesn't belong. It feels outside of the site. I would really pull those in, or somehow incorporate those side bars into the rest of the site. They feel more like a frame to the site, rather than part of it.

I would use mouseovers for the text links instead of keeping them in the light blue box.

Brooke

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Roo — Fri, 07 Apr 2000 21:04:00 +0000

Made some changes...it's kind of a different layout with the tabs there on the side. I made a new logo, *sigh* now I think it's too small.

The services link works to give an idea of what the interior pages will look like.

I'm thinking of doing thumbnails down the right and left border for the portfolio section.

Maybe the existing logo that's here might work better?
http://sapphiredesign.bizland.com/

Stll kinda plain???
http://pages.cthome.net/hayescraze/sapphiretest2.html
Roo

Rayna — Thu, 06 Apr 2000 20:57:00 +0000

Roo,

No it isn't absolutely neccessary for your logo to be on your business cards but is a nice touch. Think about how many people you know that carry business cards......is their company logo on them? Probably

On the subject of CSS.......I was a bit intimidated at first thinking that it was something difficult to learn but in reality is wasn't. I found this site the other day when I was looking for something http://www.westciv.com/style_master/house/index_dynamic.html

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Rayna
Triple Orbit

[This message has been edited by Rayna (edited 06 April 2000).]

Roo — Thu, 06 Apr 2000 20:44:00 +0000

Yup...I haven't been able to get to Suzanne's mini lessons on CSS, but intend to use it for the font.

I am thankfull to have the smallest grasp on CSS...I am begiining to understand how it works....looooooonnnnngggg way to go though .

Roo — Thu, 06 Apr 2000 20:35:00 +0000

Ahhh huh!!! I should remember my days at 256 color huh?

That said Ryana, I now am understanding..nobdy ha said it look black! Maybe I can keep the borders but use Gamma correction and lighten them a bit.

And no I had not considered a printing issue at all. Matter of fact hadn't even considered buisness cards at this point.

Does the letterhead and businesscards need to reflect the logo???

I mean I could I just use the facny font and the way the words Sapphire Design are arranged in black ink on a buiness card/letterhead and get away with it?

Oh and yes there is a swirly thingy in there in the borders...it's the same design as what's in the logo turned into a seamless tile. And yup I will see about lightening it.

Roo

Rayna — Thu, 06 Apr 2000 20:21:00 +0000

Roo,

Well you already know the obvious so I won't repeat anything you already know. A few thoughts for you though.....

Keep in mind when you are creating graphics for your site "Will I be able to print this on a business card?" and "How can I incorproate this into my letter head?" Photos and fancy graphics are great but when it comes to print they sometimes aren't realistic. For the most part the print process uses 4 basic colors, much like the colors you have in your ink cartridge for your color printer and there are only so many colors that that can spawn from those basic 4. A simpe way to test this is to print your graphics, you might be very surprised at the result. Obviously it isn't a perfect process and the graphics for your site at 72 dpi aren't meant for print but it will give you a decent idea of what colors can and can't not be reproduced well when it comes time to print up some business cards Even better recreate some of your site graphics at 300 dpi and print!! YIKES, I have done this myself and been shocked at the result.

Now that said.......I think the colors you have used so far are a bit too dark. I know you are "Sapphire Design" and the name itself makes you think of dark blue jewels but that doesn't have to dictate the colors you use on your site. I like the layout you have with the center table running down the middle of the page but I would suggest playig around with some lighter colors. I don't say lighter colors simply for print purposes but for those that will be visiting your site that have older monitors and graphics cards (like the one I am using now) the background looks black and if I squint my eyes it looks like there is a very faint swirl or something in there.....LOL.

One more thing......on the code, now that I looked........font tags all over!!!! I assume you will use CSS for the finished product?

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Rayna
Triple Orbit

[This message has been edited by Rayna (edited 06 April 2000).]

Roo — Thu, 06 Apr 2000 20:06:00 +0000

Actually Bimjo that was the ogiginal design..the light blue background..the large logo graphic with the 3 buttons on the side arraged like this

Logo----- Button
----------------Button
------------Button

It just seemed to plain. While I don't want graphics heavy here...I want get the info in and out...I also don't want too too plain hecnce the borders.

Yes Justin the double border is intentional. I've seen a lot of talented graphic srtists use this in designing linkware sets and I really like the look. I have had trouble getting these borders to work and FINALLY discoverd that removing a non-breaking space from above the table is what was making my tables have a space at the top! I have been trying to get the left and right/top and bottom border setup to work for weesk now.
Despite margin height and width being set for each browser I still had that GD space. When finally my eyes rested on the non breaking space is the code and I said "yaoooy! I've found the problem!"

Roo

[This message has been edited by Roo (edited 06 April 2000).]

Roo — Thu, 06 Apr 2000 19:56:00 +0000

So what exacly is it about the sidebars? I'm tring to incorporate the blue..to go with the same "Sapphire". I thought the dark and the lighter blue offered some contast. No?

Yeah it sucks about the banner...I am looking into a different host...I'm in touch with someone I uses to work with who is part of and ISP team, and although they target the corporate world I may be able to get hosting through them..this is taking time though...he's very busy.
So for now al least I have to live with that GD banner ad.

Roo

Bimjo — Thu, 06 Apr 2000 19:55:00 +0000

Have you considered moving the big graphic over and stacking the buttons vertically next to it?

This would place all the non-text items within a 800x600 window.

Carrying robp's thought one step further- you could use mouseovers to change the big graphic. You could put a text blurb there with a short description of where the viewer is going, etc.

As Megan said, I think if you cut back a bit on the "water drop" filter (make it more opaque- less bright) it'll work better.

Bimjo