Preserved Topic: new to design, critiques needed... please.

Ok gang, I have just started playing with PhotoShop, four days ago. I am re-writing my website, and have setup a site I would like critiques on as it evolves. Don't pull any punches and/or hold back any comments. As this is just starting out, I would like as many comments on any part you want to comment on. The URL is:
http://www.nimbusnetworks.com/dev.phtml

It is very new, and PhotoShop is new to me as well. Any links (to tutorials)on how to do the things you suggest would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Jason

PS. Let me take this time to thank all of you people out there helping newbies like me. Especially Doc... thanks again everyone, and keep up the good work.

well....lets begin, class.

1) First off, welcome to the Asylum--I hope the commentary you hear from this particular area is helpful for you.

2) After only four days in PS, you're working with curves--kudos to you. Most are too scared. I'm glad you're taking a stab.

3) The interface itself is very flat--you've got your inner-beveled text which makes it feel like it should be a 3D interface, and yet it is not. It casts no shadow, has no highlights--you get the drift.

4) Blue and gray are very safe colors to work with together in an interface. Try spicing it up a bit by using variations on that blue, suck up the hue/saturation levels, etc, to give it more of an interesting look.

5) I assume the gray bit on the side is going to be where the options are going to be located. It could work, but if you go for a more three-dimensional look, I'd suggest using different texturization on the gray than in the blue.

6) You've got some jagged edges on the curve on the top-right corner as well as the top parts of the gray. Touch that up with your levels or by hand @ 1600% zooming.

7) As far as texturing goes, though you don't have any now, allow me to give you some ideas on that. You've started with gray, go for metal. They're rather difficult to pull off well, but there are several places out there that have tutorials on how to do metal texturing. My own personal version is to get your hands on a photo of the metal you want to duplicate and play with your burn/dodge tools plus airbrush and lines in layer masks. But that might be a step ahead of you right now. Try wasted youth , they've got some rudimentary metal texturing, as well as Alex DG . In addition, I happen to know our friend DarkGarden has put together a fantastic metal texturizing tutorial here , so check that out.

The blue could definately be a plastic texture--in which case I'd forward you to phong, but he's not up yet... Instead, I forward you to here , which is a wonderful Gurus Network tutorial on plastic.

8) All in all, a rather bland start, to be perfectly frank. Everyone in the world uses a side-bar menu/interface. It's been done one-million times, and no one has done it better than anyone else. I'd suggest playing with some different ideas, play with the organic nature that the web is taking.. or stick with the side bar. <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/smile.gif">

Anyway, that's my $0.02USD. Hope I said something useful.

I think twitch covered pretty much everything. I don't have any more comments for you. <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/tongue.gif">

Thanks for the replies. I thought of something "less standard", but wanted to do this first. I know about the jagged edges, and I will take care of them.

I thought about the plastic/metal combo and I agree it would look better. I just cant think of a way to make it "dynamic" so it will resize with the browser. I had a heck of a time getting CSS to work right (still doesnt in Netscape). Thought of some javascript, but tried some and it didnt help. Right now (if you didnt notice) the images are small and match the background of the layer they are on or on top of.

Since I am still learning both PhotoShop and CSS I am going to remain kinda basic. (although I want to get better and will push myself)

Thanks for the links, and keep the comments comming. I'm going to go play with metals and plastics <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/smile.gif"> and see if I can work out some sort of "dynamic interface". Any ideas here would be helpful also (links as well please).

As time goes by this will progress, and probably be used far before it meets any of your level (or standards). :P Feel free to comment, critique, give a tip, point to a tutorial, and/or anything else at anytime. My UIN is 32342827 (mention your name here and I will auth you)

Thanks again for all the help
Jason

PS. Dont pull any punches, the only way to learn is to fall on your face a few (hundred) times.

well, there is something to be said about small images for quicker loading time.... but I suppose for any more critical analysis, I'd have to question what "Nimbus Networks" is all about. If you're a design firm, beef up on the images--who cares about the 30 second load time? Only bastards. If you're a networking solutions firm, keep it small and simple--you might even want to keep it all "plastic-esque" and keep from the fringe-metal texturing. I've noted that most "professional" firms not dealing with design aren't big fans of the metal texturing. It's basically used for designers who want to show what they *can* and never *will* do to them. <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/smile.gif">

As far as CSS and javascript are concerned, if you can ask specific questions, we might be able to address them. You might also want to check out Builder.com . They have some fantastic CSS & Javascript tips for beginning users. You might find what you're looking for there.

Cheers, and keep working on it.

Right now I am working on 2 versions. Both graphics "heavy" and "lite" versions <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/wink.gif">. Seeing as how I have both aspects to cover, I want to show off both, Right now I do anything that pertains to computers (call me a whore if you want) so I have to be a jack of all trades. I dont do most of my design, I contract that out, but this one I WANT to do. Call me crazy, but I think it will be good for me.

Thanks again... <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/wink.gif">
jason

I agree twitch. My new site is in the ballpark of a one-time download of 100k. There's at least 50k of dhtml tho. It's kinda big, but I just can't cut anything off of it. Oh well.

Ok, I have done some work... not too much but now I am thinking of "floating" this in the upper left hand corner... so the page can be more dynamic. I am doing some playing with PS to learn the metal and plastic stuff... this is SOOO cool. <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/wink.gif"> thanks for the help... and please critique this again... not too much more done. and its still flat i have not applied any lighting effects yet, but i will...

sorry forgot to post links
http://www.nimbusnetworks.com/templates/images/i1.jpg

and
http://www.nimbusnetworks.com/templates/images/i2.jpg