Forum Re-Design

[Fred West]

Matthew, that looks much better. Ned thank you very much as well. Fred

[Overtime]

Swap out the drill for the domino, the domi faceplate is very bright.

 I did like the Georgia fonts - Large , easy to read good spacing. Was real nice to type in message form also. But I did not like the funky numbers with the trailing number being large ?

 Any how something is missing on the main header fonts ?  Perhaps crisper letters or a black shadow line a little thicker ? The white shadow line is weak, and renders the lettering soft and mushy, kinda like cornflakes sitting in the milk a little too long. 

[Overtime]

Ok it's the color the green looks like pea soup  .  Change to the color green you get when the cursor highlights a topic heading, that might be more in line with Festool colors ? 

[Fred West]

Matthew, I love the green color and unlike Patrick do not think it looks like pea soup.  However, I think when when you go to the Home page the headings which are very legible just seem really stark. But then I am not a huge fan of black on white anyway. I love the black and green Festool colors and would love to see the heading in green with a black background or vice versa. Fred

[Matthew Schenker]

In the area that Fred reported, the gray text (color= #bcbcbc) on the blue background (#3d71ad) solidly fails all three color contrast tests.  Within the range of acceptable screen tuning, some screens will display this worse than others.

Check the site again.  I changed the font to white against the blue (#3D71AD) background.  Fred reported that it looks better now.  How is it working for you?

Matthew, as I understand it, the new logo will be the background for this area, so perhaps this particular problem will go away on its own.

The header as you see it now (with Scott W's contribution) is a good example of the way things will eventually look.  We'll have a new graphic for the header, plus a background color that blends well with that graphic.

Matthew

[SRSemenza]

Hi,

        The white lettering seems to contrast very well in the logo as it stands now.  The more muted blue of the logo background looks a little dull tome though..    Then again this may not turn out to be the new logo either ( not that it isn't nice work Scott).

        Another thing I noticed is the thin green line running arond the pages. It is a small detail  , but I think it adds nicely to the overall look. Maybe it should go all the way around (across the top)  or even boarder the logo box area?

         Still think the pink shading for the quote box in a reply needs to go. Or is it just my monitor? How about trying very pale grey?

Seth

[Matthew Schenker]

        The white lettering seems to contrast very well in the logo as it stands now.  The more muted blue of the logo background looks a little dull tome though..    Then again this may not turn out to be the new logo either ( not that it isn't nice work Scott).

OK, good!  I'm glad it works well for you.  Yes, the logo might change (let's see what happens in the contest).  If the muted blue looks dull, I could change it to a darker, richer color.  The trick here is that the background of the logo needs to match (blend) witih the solid background of the header.

        Another thing I noticed is the thin green line running arond the pages. It is a small detail  , but I think it adds nicely to the overall look. Maybe it should go all the way around (across the top)  or even boarder the logo box area?

Thanks again for the feedback.  Yes, I put that detail in so I could add a subtle Festool-oriented detail.  I'm trying not to overdo the green too much!  But I just made it so the border goes all around (top, bottom, left, and right).  Tell me what you think.

         Still think the pink shading for the quote box in a reply needs to go. Or is it just my monitor?

I see what you mean.  I changed the quote area to light gray, which should work better for everyone.  Check the test site again to see the changes.

Thanks, and keep up with the ideas.

Matthew

[Fred West]

So, Matthew I love that if I click on "All Tools and Accessories" or any of the others they turn green but the black on white prior to that is just way to stark for me. Any other opinions/ideas? Fred

[Matthew Schenker]

Fred,
Are you suggesting a different font color, or a different background color?  In this case, I'm inclined to go with black on whiite, but, as always, I'm open to suggestions.
Matthew

[Daviddubya]

I like the colors and contrast.  Unless my eyes are deceiving me, the font size is noticeably larger when viewing a thread, compared to the Home page or the index page for a forum.  Personally, I prefer the larger font size - it is much easier to read for me.  Thanks for your efforts, Matthew.

[jonny round boy]

I like the colors and contrast.  Unless my eyes are deceiving me, the font size is noticeably larger when viewing a thread, compared to the Home page or the index page for a forum.  Personally, I prefer the larger font size - it is much easier to read for me.  Thanks for your efforts, Matthew.

David,

I don't know which browser you're using, but in IE (and probably a lot of the others too) you do have the option to change the font size of any standard web page, so if the font isn't large enough for you you can customise it. In IE click on 'page' > 'text size'.

[Fred West]

Matthew, I was suggesting possibly both or just one. For instance if you keep the font black then maybe the background the Festool green or the font green and the background black. To me it just seems stark and sterile whereas your current setup seems warm. I hope that this helps and/or makes sense. Always a distinct possibility with me that it is mere nonsense. Fred

[Matthew Schenker]

        The white lettering seems to contrast very well in the logo as it stands now.  The more muted blue of the logo background looks a little dull tome though..    Then again this may not turn out to be the new logo either ( not that it isn't nice work Scott).

I just changed the header background color, and the background of the logo, to a richer blue color.  I think it contrasts much better with the text now, and shows the logo more boldly.  For those of you keeping score, the particular blue color is HTML code #003981.

        Another thing I noticed is the thin green line running arond the pages. It is a small detail  , but I think it adds nicely to the overall look. Maybe it should go all the way around (across the top)  or even boarder the logo box area?

I like your suggestion, so I added the border under the header area, beneath the logo.  I think this sets the header and logo off from the main menu nicely.

Take a look at these changes and tell me what you think.

Matthew

[Matthew Schenker]

I like the colors and contrast.  Unless my eyes are deceiving me, the font size is noticeably larger when viewing a thread, compared to the Home page or the index page for a forum.  Personally, I prefer the larger font size - it is much easier to read for me.  Thanks for your efforts, Matthew.

I'm glad it works for you, David!  Keep browsing and tell me what you think about any other elements.
Matthew

[Daviddubya]

David,

I don't know which browser you're using, but in IE (and probably a lot of the others too) you do have the option to change the font size of any standard web page, so if the font isn't large enough for you you can customise it. In IE click on 'page' > 'text size'.

I just went to the test site again.  The "Text Size" parameter is under View in IE7.  The Text Size is set to Medium in my browser, and shows up as Medium in the Home Page and in the Forum index pages, as well as in a specific thread page.  The text is noticeably larger in the specific thread pages.  Therefore, I am led to conclude that the software in the test FOG is set to display one font size in the Home page and Forum index pages, and a different, larger, font size in the specific thread pages.  I'd like to see the same size font, the larger font, on all of the pages within FOG.  Am I making sense???

[Corwin]

The background color of the Spell Checker screen seems a little dark to me.  A lighter color might be nice.

Also, the "unread posts..." notifications are rather hard to read when placed over the banner area. 

[SRSemenza]

Hi,

   I like the richer blue. I like thin line all the way around, and I like the grey quote shading.


Seth

[Eli]

Hi my name's Eli, and change scares me.

[SRSemenza]

Hi,

   O.K. on second look maybe a shade lighter on the quote shading. (yeah, I know - picky, picky..)


Seth

[Matthew Schenker]

...The text is noticeably larger in the specific thread pages.  Therefore, I am led to conclude that the software in the test FOG is set to display one font size in the Home page and Forum index pages, and a different, larger, font size in the specific thread pages.  I'd like to see the same size font, the larger font, on all of the pages within FOG.  Am I making sense???

Check the site again.  I adjusted the fonts so they are the same in posts as on the home page.

The background color of the Spell Checker screen seems a little dark to me.  A lighter color might be nice.

Also, the "unread posts..." notifications are rather hard to read when placed over the banner area. 

I'm looking into the spell checker screen (have to figure out where that color is defined).

Notice that I am using another logo submitted by Scott W.  It has a deeper color than the last one, which shows the white login information more clearly.

Matthew

[Matthew Schenker]

Hi,

   O.K. on second look maybe a shade lighter on the quote shading. (yeah, I know - picky, picky..)


Seth

Check the test site again!

[Overtime]

Oh yea much better and no more split pea soup green    Lookin good    

[Daviddubya]

...The text is noticeably larger in the specific thread pages.  Therefore, I am led to conclude that the software in the test FOG is set to display one font size in the Home page and Forum index pages, and a different, larger, font size in the specific thread pages.  I'd like to see the same size font, the larger font, on all of the pages within FOG.  Am I making sense???

Check the site again.  I adjusted the fonts so they are the same in posts as on the home page....


Matthew

Thanks Matthew, they look more consistent now.  But...  Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.  You didn't use the larger fonts. 

[Ned]

Hi my name's Eli, and change scares me.

"I don't mind change.  I just don't want to be there when it happens."
      -- Monk

[Fred West]

Matthew that header is great and the "New Message" notice area is very easy to read. Fred

[Matthew Schenker]

Thanks Matthew, they look more consistent now.  But...  Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.  You didn't use the larger fonts. 

Well, I can either have the fonts be a consistent size on the home page and in the posting areas, or I can have them be relatively larger in the posting area.  There is a problem with letting the fonts get too big on the home page.

Matthew

[SRSemenza]

Hi,

      I don't know about anyone else , but I like that color grey for the quote shading.

       On the current forum the posts are "separated" by  alternating white / pale blue. I cannot see that type of separation on my screen. Is there supposed to be a color alternation?  If not, then some more prominent form of separation would be good.  You could try a very light grey. If that results in  too much grey for  a nice appearance, then maybe something else.  Wide black line or thin green in between? Or guide rail graphic?  I don't know... something?


Seth

[SRSemenza]

Hi,

    Also on the logo could the jig saw be moved to the left , out from behind the text?  Not sure which way would look better.

    I like the black shadows better than the white of the previous logo.


Seth

[SRSemenza]

Hi again,

       How about using a guide rail ( FS/2 please ) for one or both of the grey bars across the top of the pages?  I don't know the tech term- the ones with  home, messages, help, etc.    It might help give the forum that unique look.

      I definitely like the green hover color on everything

Seth

[Daviddubya]

Well, I can either have the fonts be a consistent size on the home page and in the posting areas, or I can have them be relatively larger in the posting area.  There is a problem with letting the fonts get too big on the home page.

Matthew

If I had to choose, I'd go with a consistent font size.  Thanks.