Megan — Wed, 22 Aug 2001 13:47:50 +0000

Quote: Originally posted by freeflash

I decided not to add menus to all of the sample pages as they will change often.

Look into using Server Side Includes (SSI) - it will save you a lot of time and effort while making your pages more consistent and attractive to users. SSI allows you to literally include other html files in your page. So you have your HTML, you call a SSI and the server will automatically grab the file you're calling for and add it right in to your exising HTML. So you can keep your navigation elements in one file that will appear on every page you tell it to. THen when you make a change to the navigation, it will show up on every page (hope this makes sense!)

mrdon — Wed, 22 Aug 2001 03:14:42 +0000

Your site seems to load fast, but for a dedicated Flash site, it needs some work.

I would take a look at Flashkit.com, there is some stuff on that site that will blow you away.

I would think about a different color scheme and maybe try using a different font (larger).

Brandon

freeflash — Sat, 18 Aug 2001 11:03:43 +0000

Hi,

I,ve tidied up.
I've changed the background colors on all of the tables to dark blue and the text to white.

I've made the same look and feel to the 3 pages.

I decided not to add menus to all of the sample pages as they will change often.

Thanks for all the help.

I wish I could do more in exchange.

Maybe if I had some color sense I could be of more help to others.

Regards,
FreeFlash.

freeflash — Thu, 16 Aug 2001 14:49:47 +0000

Megan,

Thankyou for the kind critique.

I obviously have achieved the amateurish look that I was after.

I was going to use yellow and or white backgrounds with dark blue headings but didn't want my site to look too bland.

As for the animations I am glad that you noticed that they unique as the last thing I would want is to be like everyone else.

Thanks again for the wonderful critique.

Regards,
FreeFlash.

Megan — Thu, 16 Aug 2001 13:12:43 +0000

I'm going to have to be honest and say that this really needs a lot of work.

The front page really doesn't do much to catch my interest. We'll get to the flash part later, but the black background is dull, the colours are dull, the serif font is ugly (best to avoid using serif fonts on the web), the counter graphic is hideous (jaggy! ugh!), and it's lacking a defined colour scheme.

I think that choosing the right colours is an important part of any design. Usually that's one of the first things I'll do - it doesn't look to me like you've really thought much about it unless you deliberately decided to use brights which are really difficult to do well (I've come to realize that it's a bad idea to use any of the 6 basic brights - they're just too garish and clash with everything)

Another important basic element of a web page is a navigation bar that appears on every page. You have one on the front page but it doesn't appear on the others so that just makes it difficult to get around the site.

Now, this site is a showcase of your Flash skills, and I understand that you're just learning but you really need to broaden your skills here. I looked at some of the samples and it seemed like half of them were the same technique you used for the front page animation (which is really ummm.... annoying with all that stuff bouncing around). I'm seeing a lot of cheesy newbie-type effects here like spinning text, waving text, overly large drop shadows, 3d orb things (which are SO 1997!), serif fonts, etc. etc. I would recommend that you go around and look at some really good Flash sites and get ideas from there. Some of this isn't too bad, but most of it ... umm.... isn't so great.

The Webmistress — Thu, 16 Aug 2001 11:35:17 +0000

LOL

I'm sure you'll get a lot of helpfull comments anyway. Carry on looking around the forum & posting as it is a good way to learn.

If you are making changes to your own site post back in this thread when you have something new to show us

Mine needs more work.

freeflash — Thu, 16 Aug 2001 11:20:31 +0000

Hi,

I had a look around.
Posted one reply.
Read a lot of critiques.
Found out I have a lot of work to do.

No need for critique here.
I dont want anyone to get RSI.

Regards,
FreeFlash.

The Webmistress — Thu, 16 Aug 2001 10:17:25 +0000

Welcome aboard freeflash,

We do ask that before your site is critiqued that you review and post your thoughts on at least three other's sites here in the forum. Once you have participated in other threads I'm sure you'll get all the help you need and by looking at other sites you'll pick up lots of ideas as well.

I'll have a look at your site later.