I'm developing a new theme

[__Darknite]

I've been using the excellent and slightly modified "CODFaction" theme over at "The IT Ninja".

 

However a lot of users have given feedback, that a lighter theme would be good.

 

So I've decided to create a new theme from the ground up. So a week of hacking later

 

It is no way near complete, however you can get a quick preview here:

 

Preview:

 

area51.theitninja.co.uk

 

your feedback and suggestions are most welcome!

[ridwan sameer]

PhpBB?

Not a good choice

[__Darknite]

PhpBB?

Not a good choice

 

Its all relative, different strokes for different folks.

 

The engine meets my requirements for now. It may not work for others and that's fine with me

[ridwan sameer]

Lol I personally dont like it... It's not as user friendly as one needs.

if your looking for something else.. MyBB is Amazing.

Anyway The theme is looking nice

[bryce12]

I won't get into which forum software is better or why. If you like phpBB, there's no reason why you should't go ahead with it. R

 

Regarding the theme, I liked the minimalistic look but the top header looks too big to me. I would also suggest to reduce the font size for sub forum headings. Finally the grey background (or is it blue) behind the word "Forum" looks dull to me. Overall it's a nice theme, good job.

[Nathan]

I won't get into which forum software is better or why. If you like phpBB, there's no reason why you should't go ahead with it. R

 

Regarding the theme, I liked the minimalistic look but the top header looks too big to me. I would also suggest to reduce the font size for sub forum headings. Finally the grey background (or is it blue) behind the word "Forum" looks dull to me. Overall it's a nice theme, good job.

Gotta agree with Bryce. I would shorten up that header, just so people can see boards/content above the fold to peak some interest just hitting the site.

[__Darknite]

Excellent feedback guys! keep 'em coming!

[__Darknite]

Update:

 

as as per Bryce's suggestions:

 

* Header Logo now reduced in size text adjusted to fit, cut down well over 60px

* Forum sub headings made much smaller, was 1.5em now around 1.1 or 1.2

* Gray/blue background colour in forum heading row removed.

[Nathan]

Great job, I'm like the new header adjustments.

[sumicool7]

Since you have a IT based forum with some Ninja stuff, I would suggest adding some light shaded ninja related background.

Or use any other slightly darker background container instead for white

 

But the plus point that you have is that the forum loads blazing fast!

[Marc]

That header is miles better than it was yesterday. Seemed to, well, white yesterday

[Nathan]

It's quite the contrast black/white. Almost not inviting, maybe make it grey/white?

[Victor Leigh]

Aha, good to know that IT Ninja has moved out of the Dark Ages. Looks a lot brighter now. The black background for the header does look a bit stark to me. Maybe change it to something with shades of gray and some kind of embedded pattern.

[__Darknite]

hello Victor,

 

I've played with the header colour, but I don't have access to my asset library right now.

 

I've updated a temporary colour for now. I think you are correct, the header could certainly do with a new colour scheme!

[tetutato]

I like it. It's clean and less effects that some forums just have too much of. :3

[ridwan sameer]

It Looks good now.

Add more effects to the cateegories area and whatnot to give a proper asessment and feedback

[Thomas]

I'd love a bit of colour mixed in with the very plain black/white.

[__Darknite]

New Update

 

As per Victor's feedback, I've played around with different header colours. He was right, the dark black was un-inviting.

 

As a result of a new colour, no matter what I did, the vector graphic of the ninja just would not "sit" right. Time for something drastic!

 

I've now replaced Mr Ninja with an emoticon!

 

Have a look at the new result, along with user avatars enabled:

 

http://area51.theitninja.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=33&sid=df4ea64c2a219d3bdb6c2a1c537876a9

[Victor Leigh]

Is the problem related to the color of the ninja graphic's background? There should be some way to make that background transparent, isn't it? Then it wouldn't look like an awkward patch when it's not the same color as the banner.

[__Darknite]

Is the problem related to the color of the ninja graphic's background? There should be some way to make that background transparent, isn't it? Then it wouldn't look like an awkward patch when it's not the same color as the banner.

 

Hello Victor,

 

Transparency was not the problem. The problem was the actual colour of the ninja's clothes in relation to the header colour. In order for visibility, the front colour needs to be "lighter" than the back colour. When the header was black, and the ninja's clothes grey this worked.

 

However making the background lighter meant, I needed to use a much lighter ninja clothes. However the problem was that the ninja didn't look right with really light clothes!

 

Anyway I will post two versions soon, I need a quick poll over two colours I can not decide!

[__Darknite]

NOTE

 

Please ignore all other formatting/alignment issues as its still in dev

 

navy version:

 

 

 

sky version:

 

[ridwan sameer]

I Think Ill go with the Sky version

[MustangV10]

Personally, I don't like it. It's far too basic and doesn't look attractive what so ever. That, however, is just my opinion. As you said, it's still in development though.

[__Darknite]

Personally, I don't like it. It's far too basic and doesn't look attractive what so ever. That, however, is just my opinion. As you said, it's still in development though.

 

That's fine, although the "modern clean UI" movement as inspired by both Apple and Google are very popular. I understand its not to everyone's exact taste.

 

Both UX and HCI studies have proven the usability of minimalism based designs. But once again, not everyone likes it

 

But that topic I think though interesting is a side issue.

 

On the matter of "attraction" I'm sure everyone is aware how subjective that how "attractive" a website is defers from person to person.

[Marc]

I would be tempted to change the colour of the background div, but only to something like a light shade of grey/blue just to make the central area stand out more.