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Contest: New CT Layout

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Eltafez
hotkoko
Aislynn
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Post  Aislynn Tue May 31, 2011 3:21 pm

I know I've had a lot of questions about this and I agree - Cat Tails would do well with a new layout to re-open with.

So here we go!

Contest of the Layout
You are tasked to create a new layout for Cat Tails. This basically means the top banner/sidebar navigation image thing that shows on every page of CT.


Rules
- Layout must be a sidebar layout. IE the navigation must show along the left side with the banner going across the top like CT's current layout does.
- Layout must use the same color scheme as the current layout does. I believe this is a blue-grey/slate kind of color. (You can see the image link I post below for an exact reference.)
- Any images used on the layout must be either your work or used with permission by the artist. You can team up with an artist if you like - I know some people are better at drawing and others are better at manipulating images. You just both have to agree on things.
- Images must be artwork/drawings. I would rather not have any photos on the layout.
- You can use CPD images or images of CT items. Basically anything that appeared on CT. (These you will have to private message me about and I can get you a link to the image or images.)
- Links on the sidebar must be the same as on the current layout, though the names may be altered slightly if you so wish as long as they would obviously lead to the same place.
- There must be a spot on the lower left underneath the sidebar that will allow room for user information.
- The top banner across the top must say "Cat Tails" somewhere and clicking on it should return to the main page.
- You must provide me with accurate image map HTML code. Naturally I'm blind and I can't see where to properly position these on your image. xD
- You must also tell me how wide the sidebar part of the image is, as well as how tall the top banner is so I can properly position the site's content.
- Background can be transparent, though I believe the actual BG of CT has some sort of tint to it if I remember correctly. This might be able to be pulled off some of the items so that the new layout doesn't stick out too much. (See images below.)

Other Info:
Current Layout image: http://www.cat-tails.org/Base.gif
An Item (May have the BG Color on it): http://www.cat-tails.org/catnipmouse.jpg

Final Remarks
- Judging will be done by first a private consultation with the other admins and other people I know who have working eyes.
- In the event of a tie a public poll will be put up to vote for the layouts.

The winning layout will, naturally, be used as CT's new layout. The winner will have their name and ID permanently on the Credits of CT and likely there'll be some CTC prize involved - not sure on the details yet.

Please Private Message your entries to me.

If you need a link to any images from CT, either ask on this forum or private message me.

Any questions? Ask here or private message me.

There's no particular deadline for this - I'll aim for the end of the summer as that's when I am hoping to be able to re-open CT.

Good luck!

Aislynn

Posts : 26
Join date : 2010-11-27
Age : 39

http://www.cat-tails.org

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Post  hotkoko Thu Jun 02, 2011 7:43 am

What's an HTML map?
I'd love to try, but I'm not sure what an HTML map is.

hotkoko

Posts : 2
Join date : 2011-06-02

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Post  Eltafez Thu Jun 02, 2011 1:42 pm

An HTML map is an image where coordinates are placed so as to be able to place a divider, link, etc. on that specific image area.

A perfect example would be a Facebook picture with someone marked on it. Hover your mouse over the person's face, and it will show you a link to that person's page. The image you were hovering over is an image with a HTML map.
Another example: Furry Paws' Atlas. The Atlas is an image with several clickable areas.

If you have GIMP, there's a tool which allows you to make a selection and get the coordinates for it. Don't remember how it works, so you'll have to look it up.
Eltafez
Eltafez

Posts : 34
Join date : 2010-11-28
Age : 30
Location : Belgium, Europe

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Post  Aislynn Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:43 pm

I'd probably be lenient about the whole HTML map rule.

In fact I am sure if you asked on the forum there may be someone who'd map it for you.

In fact I won't automatically disqualify an entry if it doesn't have an HTML map code associated with it as long as it's easy to see where the links'd go. An HTML map included would make it easier. xD

Basically it'd be giving the coordinates to the rectangle shapes that make up the spots that are supposed to be links. The CT sidebar was/is an HTML image map - the "buttns" were traced with coordinates.

You can look up image map how-tos on the internet. I am sure there are programs you can download where you can take the image, trace your mouse over the spots you want the links and it spits out the proper code. Voila.

Aislynn

Posts : 26
Join date : 2010-11-27
Age : 39

http://www.cat-tails.org

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Post  Draf Fri Jun 03, 2011 5:18 pm

Aislynn, could you please post a few photos of your cat for reference? It would be a shame to get CT's mascot's markings wrong!

Draf

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Join date : 2011-05-13

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Post  Aislynn Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:08 pm

The markings for Eliot are accurate on the drawing of him in the upper left of the current layout. At least as far as his face goes. I made the color of him more orange than would be possible IRL for the sake of making him easier to color and reproduce as a mascot. Smile

Here's another drawing: http://www.cat-tails.org/eliot2.jpg

I'll have to try to dig some photos up tomorrow. I'm not 100 percent sure that there are any that have been scanned in. But even so the colors on them would be a tad different - Eliot was a bit of a darker red than the orange I made him for the site.

Aislynn

Posts : 26
Join date : 2010-11-27
Age : 39

http://www.cat-tails.org

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Post  Emma Mon Jun 06, 2011 3:18 pm

can we code the layout ourself and give you the code?
i'm going to enter. q: i'm pretty sure i have a friend that i can team up with to make this layout.

does the layout HAVE to be image based, or can it be css with a banner? i know that on the current cat tails layout, it used to take forever to load. i think a css layout would be ten times better and easier to code. o3o does it matter?

Emma

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Join date : 2010-11-30

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Post  Aislynn Mon Jun 06, 2011 10:19 pm

Yes. I'd prefer an image-based layout. Simply because I like the image mapped sidebar buttons, etc.

Not sure if there's a way to do that with CSS and a banner that would be visually appealing - the sidebar would just be regular links then.

Aislynn

Posts : 26
Join date : 2010-11-27
Age : 39

http://www.cat-tails.org

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Post  Emma Mon Jun 06, 2011 10:25 pm

hrm...
alright. q:
i actually have this really good idea for an image-based layout now, if i can get my friend to draw this picture for me. ^w^

Emma

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Join date : 2010-11-30

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Post  Zvi Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:05 am

Is there specific banner size you prefer? My resolution is 1280x1024 and that's fairly big to one who has a smaller resolution.

Zvi

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Join date : 2010-11-29
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Post  Aislynn Fri Jun 24, 2011 11:21 am

Hm. Likely no wider or only a little wider than the current banner image.

I'd hesitate to say sacrifice width of the sidebar for width of the banner - the skinnier the sidebar is, the harder it'll be to fit the user info below it aesthetically especially with avatars probably being up to 150x150.

I think the actual old layout's width was no wider than 900 so try not to go too much over that.

Aislynn

Posts : 26
Join date : 2010-11-27
Age : 39

http://www.cat-tails.org

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Post  falconstar Fri Nov 04, 2011 5:08 pm

I'd like to include a catnip mouse in my image, but I want to make it match the site's color scheme.
Is putting an item that doesn't exist (but possibly could? sounds like a new topic to me...) in the banner would be a bad idea?

falconstar

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Join date : 2010-12-16

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