Current thinking on website design

[Paul C]

Just wondered if I could discuss websites, type and size.

I only have average skill on website design, mostly using a prepared series of HTML pages that I have obtained from the internet and then adding in my own text and graphics. My current design was created a couple of years ago, prior to widescreen monitors and is centrally based.

I wondered what the current thinking is on websites, Do we have a full screen version making full use of widescreen, keep in central or set it to allow all three.

http://www.bramptonweather.co.uk

As you can see from mine (if you have a wide screen) there is alot of free space either side ?

Any thoughts from anyone on design, open to all suggestions. Happy to look at different ways to show "live" data and webcam images.

thanks

[tomcatuk]

Well if you only have average skills I wish I had them, I think your site looks great, very professional.

Not sure about wide screen, trouble is you have to go what seems to be a popluar size now, I used to get users who still use 640x480 a popular size is 800x600 and I would think a maximum would be 1024x768...

See you are using Gallery2 as well... I used that for a while in fact quite a while still use gallery 1 but to be honest if I have any photo's now I sling them on flickr...

Anyway great site once again...

[Paul C]

Well if you only have average skills I wish I had them, I think your site looks great, very professional.

Not sure about wide screen, trouble is you have to go what seems to be a popluar size now, I used to get users who still use 640x480 a popular size is 800x600 and I would think a maximum would be 1024x768...

See you are using Gallery2 as well... I used that for a while in fact quite a while still use gallery 1 but to be honest if I have any photo's now I sling them on flickr...

Anyway great site once again...

Many thanks for your comments
Gallery 2 is a little slow, especially in uploading the images and adding text, takes for ages sometimes. I had thought about using something else but that means uploading all the photos again !

As for the size issue , I suspect I need to try a little code to make what I already have fit the screen completley and not just the middle, trouble is I have forgettone what to do.

cheers
paul

[tomcatuk]

Hi Paul, yes I found that with galley2 as well... but not tried it for ages, why not try gallery1 no mysql database to set up and I have used that for ages, in fact I set up two, one to place some stuff on when I was selling stuff on ebay so rather that ebay making a profit out of my extra images I just uploaded them onto that.

I really do need to update to the latest version but it's was definately quicker than 2 the last time I used it.

I use for the web pages a simple program, it's not the best there is but does me an its wysiwg type one called web page maker.

[TNETWeather]

For Images,

I have recently had clients use PhotoBucket as a place to put their images and adjust the titles for the images.

Then using PHP, I can parse the RSS feed that points at their photo album to display images on their website.

I started experimenting with a motorcycle club a while back where they now have a slide show that is images obtained from a specific album in their photobucket account. I have a process that obtains the images, resizing them, adding descriptions to the photo and then places are logo watermark on it.

You can see the effect on their main page under the heading of Out and About...

http://www.azbeemers.org

You can do the same thing with Flickr but their RSS feed is not as friendly and much harder to work with.

One of the main reasons for moving away from locally hosted images was the constant need to upgrade the software due to security issues. Was using Coppermine and a few other packages and the maintenance on keeping them updated was starting to become a problem.

[Paul C]

Kevin
Thanks for the last re the photos - I have a photobucket account so thats easy enough to arrange. Can you arrange a collection though, into Months/seasons, dont want to show the whole lot in one go?

Whats your view on the size of websites, full screen, variable, fixed

[philcdav]

Hi guys.

just to add a pennorth or two.

1. Size - should be what most folk can access/see. Great. What can most folk see. I suppose a good guide would be your local library in UK. Ours is not bang up to date but all screens are LCD with minimum 800*600 resolution but 1024*768 is probably the desktop mean now.

2. Design. My site has been going for 9 years now and is basic html. Am currently upgrading to CSS using a free design. I am trying to standardise right thru with minor exceptions.

At day end its all down to personal prefference. Doubt if there "is 1 suits all".

The one thing i dont like is 'pale', especially very light blue with light grey text !

am very undecided about image presentation. I went for a full upload on my own site as we have 50 Mb available. But its cumbersome to operate although it works OK'ish.

Old scheme - http://www.maghull-scene.pwp.blueyonder ... lking.html

New scheme - http://www.maghull-scene.pwp.blueyonder ... s_pics.htm

Lightbox - http://www.huddletogether.com/projects/lightbox/
Comments appreciated.

Regards - Phil