New Icons/Interface Design for CNC

[Michael G]

I'm new to FQ, but I'm finding it to be the greatest hosting company ever! Things are going great, setup was a breeze (besides that InterNIC junk) and everying loads very fast.

Now that I raved about everything, I thought I'd offer a bit in exchange for the great service (besides my monthly bill!). How 'bout a little redesign of the CNC menu interface? I can make it the same-sized imagemap, so all you would need to do is replace the graphic file.

Let me know if there's anything I can do. http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif

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Michael L Gerenser
Web Designer
gerenser.com (http://gerenser.com)

[Deb]

You are certainly welcome to give it a shot http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif

If you do, and it's something that is preferred over what we currently have, just be sure to make it so we can have those dimmed out items lit up in time one by one http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif

thanks

Deb

[Justin]

It has my vote http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

[Justin]

Hey, wait, something's missing... where's the Pink Floyd pyramid? We can't just neglect that now, can we? http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

[Bi4Be]

I love it! It too think the dimmed ones need some more dimming though http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif
JUSTIN SAID: We can't just neglect that now, can we? http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif
Ummm.... I sure can *big evil hroulish grin of death filled with cockaroaches sort of like BeetleJuice* http://www.aota.net/ubb/biggrin.gif

-Bi4Be

[Bi4Be]

Oh yeah, maybe a "To Be Announced" or "Coming Soon" could be placed in that one empty square? It is driving me nuts every time I give my CNC a visit! http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif (not to be picky or anything...)

[Michael G]

Ok, thanks for the feedback everyone. I've faded the inactive buttons a bit more as requested. You can view the new panel at http://gerenser.com/panel2.gif . Compare it to first other one if you want. You'll see the dim buttons are 15% lighter.

Oh yeah, maybe a "To Be Announced" or "Coming Soon" could be placed in that one empty square? It is driving me nuts every time I give my CNC a visit!

Heh, that lone empty square kinda bothers me too, but hey, I don't know what to stick in there.

Justin, as for the Pink Floyd pyramid.... sometimes we just have to let go http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif

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Michael L Gerenser
Web Designer
gerenser.com (http://gerenser.com)

[Justin]

LOL - I don't think I'm old enough to be that picky about Pink Floyd, but I just got a kick out of that the first time I saw it http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

Much better - at a glance you can tell which features aren't available. Overall I like it a lot better than the existing one even though I never use the CNC panel http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

What if we made the buttons that aren't available work, and pop up a little JavaScript alert saying "This feature not available in the shareware version" http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif hehe - that would be good for a laugh!! (one of my moods again)


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Justin Nelson
FutureQuest Support

[Bi4Be]

The panel is looking good now. Great job and thanks http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

[Deb]

If you could upload the psd to a directory you will grant me permission to download it from, as long as I am able to edit from this side, I'll go ahead and request the change be official http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

Thinking we should go ahead and light up the Manage Mailing List a bit to link to the EZ-MLM tutorials for now. Just like the Autoresponders is linked to the how to... eventually we'll get all that automated http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif

I too will miss the folder with a lock on it, and the prism.... :P

Deb
p.s. we've been needing to make some edits to the CNC anyway... this gives us the perfect excuse to dig into the interface http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Deb (edited 04-03-99).]

[Michael G]

I've uploaded the photoshop file to gerenser.com/panel.psd (http://gerenser.com/panel.psd) . I never use those Windoze file extensions, so I almost forgot what the heck psd stood for http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif And I live and breathe Photoshop daily!

You should be able to make any edits yourself to the file. Each icon is on a separate layer and the all the text is on the same layer. Use the marquee to select one text label to change its color from gray to black.

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Michael L Gerenser
Web Designer
gerenser.com (http://gerenser.com)

[Deb]

Thanks Michael http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

I'll try to get together with Terra tonight and work on making some changes to the CNC (could just replace the image but there a couple of lil details I want to get taken care of while it's on the list)

The only other thing I wonder about is now the images in the upper corners of each area will not match (as in when you go into the mail manager the email image at the top... I had an image for each section) other then that I think all seem to like this one http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

As far as credits for the image.... is there something in particular you require in the source or anything?

Deb

[Michael G]

Deb:

I actually completed the revised CNC panel. It's the same size, so your image map should align perfectly, and it's actually a bit smaller in file size too! Take a look at gerenser.com/panel.gif (http://gerenser.com/panel.gif) .

I worked in Photoshop, so each button can be dimmed or turned back "on" with a quick change of the opacity slider. Let me know what you think.

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Michael L Gerenser
Web Designer
gerenser.com (http://gerenser.com)


[This message has been edited by Michael G (edited 04-03-99).]

[Paul]

My $.02.. LOOKS GREAT!
(maybe just a "tad" lighter on the dimmed
ones might help)

[This message has been edited by Paul (edited 04-03-99).]

[Deb]

I've a feeling the CNC image will be replaced http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif Hang onto those psd files http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

Will wait to hear other's thoughts

Deb

[Michael G]

Well Deb, why stop there? I can make some images for the other pages too! Then they'd match. While we've already gotten into this, I might as well change everything http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif

As for credits, nah I don't need anything.... 'cept maybe a couple hundred more megs of disk space, an extra 50 gigs of transfer, my own dedicated server and--er--just kidding. I like designing graphics and FQ is a very cool place, so this works out well.

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Michael L Gerenser
Web Designer
gerenser.com (http://gerenser.com)

[Michael G]

Ok, I did a few more designs: a new title for CNC, a "back" button, an "email management" icon and a "disk space" icon. They're different sizes than the old ones, so I hope this isn't a problem. They all use transparency so they show up great on the textured background you have.

I moved all the graphics I designed into their own directory, gerenser.com/fqdesign (http://gerenser.com/fqdesign) It lists the files when you go there. The links from my previous posts above won't work anymore, BTW.

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Michael L Gerenser
Web Designer
gerenser.com (http://gerenser.com)

[Michael G]

Deb, Call me impatient, but I wanted to know if you had a chance to look at my latest icons for the CNC (never got a reply). Perhaps you're busy (gee, ya think?), but just checking. Use the URL in my above post to view them.

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Michael L Gerenser
Web Designer
gerenser.com (http://gerenser.com)

[Michael G]

The SIX server has had a way of setting us back a bit

Yeah, that's the word around the forums. Thanks for replying quick, as always!

Oh, and if you happen to come across anything else you'd like me to redesign, just holler. I'm always around the net looking for something to create!

Good luck with SIX and the CNC update.

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Michael L Gerenser
gerenser.com (http://gerenser.com)

[Deb]

Sure have http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

It is just a matter of time. The SIX server has had a way of setting us back a bit:/

With the recent changes that server should be settled down now http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif Caught a movie last night and hopefully will be working on the CNC tonight http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

Deb

[Mandi]

That panel looks FANTASTIC . . . a super "image" to go with a super company/host!

[Michael G]

Looks like the new CNC is up and looking pretty good. Thanks Deb! Are you going to be needing the graphic files I left on my server in the /fqdesign directory or can I take them down now?

And thanks for the kind words Mandi!

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Michael L Gerenser
gerenser.com (http://gerenser.com)

[Deb]

I've got them.. thanks! http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

Deb

[Ed]

It looks to me like Michael does his photoshop work on a Mac. Is this true? Just curious - I use a Mac also, for much of my work.

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Code-Review.com/ (http://Code-Review.com/)
LearnAndTeach.com/ (http://LearnAndTeach.com/)

[Michael G]

Ed... yep I use a Mac, ya better believe it! I do everything on my G3s (yes, I have more than one... lucky me!). Right now, I'm really into web (and print) design, using mostly Adobe products. But with the release of QuickTime 4 and Apple's FinalCutPro yesterday, I plan on getting into Digital Video and more multimedia. Fun stuff.

[Michael G]

Deb, I've updated the CNC design to reflect the "QuestMail" addition. The icon is - er - a bit nicer. You can find the Photoshop file (with layers) at http://www.gerenser.com/cncdesign/cncoriginal.psd and the optimized GIF image at http://www.gerenser.com/cncdesign/CNCpanel.gif

[Deb]

Thanks Michael

It's been updated :)

Much appreciated!

Deb