Preserved Topic: Critique this layout plz!

www.zikes.com/sg/SG.jpg

Something just doesn't look right. Please respond with constructive critisms.

Thanks.

As far as I can see you've got some jaggies on the diagonal and curved lines, those jump out at me right away. Try to anti-alias those lines, and you see the jaggies disappear.
I've never cared to much for that over-exposed / nova look. I've mostly seen it done with lines and such. I can tell you that I _really_ don't like it with lettering. In an effort to keep the same look you have now, try to lay the same font over the top of what you have there, and offset it a few pixels. Keep the font soild, so that your current over exposed lettering mimics a drop shadow. That will make it a little more readable, and if you used the same blue that the lines are, it will help tie thing together a little more.

Finally I get to reply to something. You know you are all so fast, I never get a chance. So here I sit, lonely as can be. Well, now it's my turn.
Alright Kycan, I'm a little confused. I assume that the trapezoidal shaped nothing on the left is going to contain navigation??
regardless, it needs something inside.
Also I think that "Latest news" button (??) is a bit too long. Either put more stuff up there or nothing at all. One lonely button...I can sympathize.
Next there is no consistancy. Some of it has depth while other parts don't. Some of it has texture while other parts don't. I appreciate the minimilist aesthetic, and I like intricate details, but not both at the same time. Just commit to something and go with it.
What is the brown? Kinda looks like wood...but not really. Make it BE something.
Not a bad start.
Now BEFORE you open up PS again and start fiddling, make some decisions.
Wait...... Think about it......
OK, now get into PS and make it look like what is in your head. Only then will it look right.
(Sorry to get all philosophical, fingers just typing what brain says, I have no real control. Really, fine start.)

God damn you F1. Finally I thought I would be first.

[must type faster next time]

Well, Im not too crazy about the design overall. I think if you want to make it look nicer you should ...

• Get rid of the cheezie lightning. It looks bad ... real bad.
• Im a big fan of clean banners where you can READ the name. That color dodge or whatever you have going there isnt doing it for me. I think you should clean that up.
• You have those three diagnal sides, make them all the same angle. I think this would make it look a little cleaner.
  
  [
• )Don't extend the diagnals longer thent he banner, does that make sense? What I mean is don't keep going with that diagnal side, end it at the end of the image.
• You have an alright texture in the Latest News box. Add that throughout the image. Or at least a little more.

Besides that I dont like it. No offense, I dont really like anything that has a black background ... pet peeve(sp?) of mine.

Damn, I thought I had it first too ... Serves me right for being online and on the phone and posting at the same time ...

Well. Sleek. Poignant. Clean. Like where it's going. Commentary:

• If you're going to do 45 degree angles, keep the consistent throughout the entire peice. I believe Jestah mentioned this, and I want to reiterate it. Continuity is paramount.
• The thickness of the side angled bars are too wide for the rest of the design. Everything else screams one-pixel strokes, and you have a lovely 10 pixel bar. That's messing up the continuity.
• The small curve on the bottom-right corner of the angled bars breaks the continuity. Might want to lose it, and just continue the bottom lines to match what you've got above them.
• The font "Latest News" has absolutely no connection with the rest of the flow. It's a jagged sans-serif that contrasts greatly with the font used in the title bar as well as the smoothness of the rest of the peice. Choose a more suitable font, you'll be set.
• Like was mentioned, check the top angled bars--they're not even-lines. They've got some jumpy parts. Clean that up.
• The stroke on the right side of the menu area doubles up when it meets the perpendicular stroke above it--might want to clean that up more.
• The texture in the background of "Latest News" doesn't lend itself to continuity. You might try something even more subtle, or even a block color. The same thing applies to the bottom-of-the-menu angled bit (the one that should also be 45 degrees but isn't).
• Finally, if you're going to use the thicker bar instead of a stroke on the 45 degree angled bits on the top sides, then take the bevel off--it looks inconsistent with the rest of an otherwise flat peice.

So there, that's what I have to say. Excellent start, bud. I love where it's going--but then again, I like solid black backgrounds...*pbthhhhhhhh to Jestah*

*looks around the room*
Black backgrounds are good for me also. I think Jestah must be in black background hell everyday on this board. Black is beautiful or something.

Daggum got sidetracked and forgot about the site. Get out the protractor and quit eyeballin those angles man. That light effect is getting kind of popular these days. The head banner area is much heavier than the other 1 pixel lines of the sidebar, just work on balancing the composition and you'll be on yer way.



[This message has been edited by JKMabry (edited 13-09-2000).]

Wow! Never had so many responces (spelling...) so fast before on this forum!

Thanks for the feedback. I KNOW the layout basically just doesn't have any sort of "continuity" and you ppl call it, and I'll post a revised one within a few days.

Layouts have never been my greatest talent anyway... <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/smile.gif">