I wanted bring back a topic that was mention by TSO back in 2007.
Back in April of 07' the old Maiden of the Kalaidoscope website was lost when someone didn't manage to keep up with the payments for the site and forum, which then had the website and forum get taken away by a spam group the moment the domain name was up for grabs.
Eventually TSO and SH7 revived the forum and started a new board but then there was a question in mind....
What are we going to do with the MotK website? We had a placeholder that was place there where updates were made occasionally but it lacked something so TSO made this suggestion...
Alright, as was being discussed on the old new forums before we lost them, the main site needs a major overhaul. The old main page leaves a lot to be desired, and didn't coordinate well with the forums. Now that we have a truely clean start, we can make one big unifying design, and finally lay to rest the old sm page.
Here's what I need from you guys. A lot of you are artists and graphic designers, but have no idea how to code. That's perfectly fine, all I really need is a pictoral representation of the layout, and possible source images for graphics used in the design. Working code is not required, and is in fact discouraged. Don't bother about coding, I can handle that part of the equation. I just need a good pictoral view of a general layout, and I can build the site around that. So let me do the grunt work, you guys just let your creative juices flow and make shrinemaiden purdy.
Forum layout/themes are also welcome and encouraged greatly. I've got a current project I'm working on, Chatbag.net. Part of that project involves a total reworking of SMF's layout templates and themes, so I've got a lot of experience working SMF now. You can see examples of the work in progress here (nav bar/main page) and here (forums)
Part of this for me is practice doing serious web design and development, and I can use all the practice I can get to make everything work as expected. Let me do the grunt work of the coding, you guys just focus on creative designs, and I'll make them work. So don't fret if you don't have any sort of web programming skill at all, I don't need or want working code, I just want a layout
Here's an example of what I'm looking for, in terms of a pictoral layout.
This is the example layout for the main page I'm building, see how the nav bar and such are built, with examples of hover-over, and current page effects. Any sort of background images are included, including any custom graphics like the column divider.
Example of a forum layout, specifically the front board view. Spots are marked with examples, other items are clearly marked, etc. For the forums, I'm going to need 3 layout examples, front board view, thread listing view, and an example thread.
Preferred format for these is a psd, with each individual piece in layers, but I can work with a flat image. Use png for a flat, jpg will ruin the colors. I'll enable attachments for this forum, with a 10mb limit per attachment to upload sample work. Clearly indicate what the layout is for in the filename please, and also make a zip of any separate source images and attach as well.
Now get to it
So then several people gave out ideas, but as far as I recall, not many put it to full use.
Luckly I found out about it and decided to contribute to the project.
I went and gather a large number of artist to help out or just get me permission to use thier pictures and worked on a site layout along with a banners I put together.
Here's what I had put together over the time...
Main banner 1 - Art by Chaotic Unknown
Main Banner 2 - Art by Chaotic Unknown
Main Banner 3 - Art by Chaotic Unknown
PC-98 banner - Art by Midnight Sun
Embodiment of the Scarlet Devil banner - Art by OHKRA
Perfect Cherry Blossom - Art by Limiter
Inperishable Night banner - Art by OHKRA
Immaterial and Missing Power - Art by Wong
Phantasmagloia of Flower View - Art by Limiter
Shoot the Bullet - Art by Limiter
Mountain of Faith - Art by Totaku
And here's the main site layout:
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/3379/shrinemaidenmainnh6.jpgAs far as I know TSO was interested in all the idea I had in mind and wanted to implement what I put together for her. But then she got held up with her own problems.
I donno if she has gotten through it all, But there are some concerns to deal with....
First off, TSO mention she wanted a "Rumor section" of the site which means another banner.
Second, two years have passed. So we have to work on some new banners for: Scarlet Weather Raphsody, Suberrantian Animism, and eventually Undefined Fantastic Object.
Third, when Wrathie came along he wanted to see about touching up the banners so I teamed up with him and eventually got another friend named "snapxiyth" to work with me.
So far we came up with these banners:
Banner touchup by Wrathie
Banner touchup by Wrathie
Banner touchup by Snapxyith
Text about game content provided by Redcar
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So what does this means of right now is, even though the Shrinemaiden site maybe a ways from being ready I would like to ask the forum community to partake in helping get this project rolling and bring this vision into reality.
While TSO is willing to use the current banners I've made, I would like to stive for something better but if I'm left to do it myself it'll take a while. Which is why I would like to see if others are willing to help out in working on some things to get the designs together.
What I recall TSO said she required was artist that were part of the forum community (if possible). Since she feels taking art from other places isn't right since we are likely risking having the art pulled down if it's found out to be stolen.
All banner must not reveal final, EX or Phantasm bosses.
And we are all welcome to touchup if needed.
So far my plans on the work list are:
Retouching the site design
Retouching the remaining banners
Work on the rumor, SWR, SA, and UFO banners
I know there may be more, but I can't think of them right now.
But for now, I'm open for anyone thoughts views of ideas for the site design. I've studied graphic design in college so I have my share of experience and can see how we can use the ideas, and suggestions you all have in mind.
Also anyone who's interesting in drawing, design and partaking is welcome, cause it would truely help.
As for now, let's try the brings this site design into reality!
(PS: On a side note: I may still be on the busy side since I still have client projects, so I may not be able to fully participate till I can get my client projects over with.[Which is likely late May now.])
