Forum:New Site Graphics?

Forums: Index > Site discussions > Closed site discussions > New Site Graphics?

Closed - The Main Page headers and buttons are now updated

I'm new to Wikia so forgive me for any mistakes I may make, but I have been using the SNN for quite a while now and wanted to make a contribution to the sites graphics, namely the main page. Below are a set of buttons/icons I made. After showing them to Myself 123, he suggested that I post them on a forum, to show everyone else. I would like to hear your opinions/critique.

Objects

Locations

Shows

Comics

Games

Real-World

Super Forms

Villains

Anti-Heroes

Heroes

Well, on here, 58SlugDrones has pretty good Tiles for the Main Page as well, maybe better, IMO. --Bullet FranciscoContribs Blog 20:19, October 19, 2011 (UTC)

Johnsowhat94 21:18, October 19, 2011 (UTC) Ok, well thank you for your time and I'm glad that someone is already working on it. I forgot to mention I was working on things as well if you interested.

Well, if you could finish what that user started... --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 21:21, October 19, 2011 (UTC)

Johnsowhat94 21:41, October 19, 2011 (UTC) I had finished this a few day ago. If you want it.

Wow! That's really great! Do the rest of them, and then the community will decide. Nice Work! --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 21:43, October 19, 2011 (UTC)

Johnsowhat94 21:53, October 19, 2011 (UTC) Ok! Give me an hour or so and let me see what else I can do.

Yeah, better than my orgionals, then again, I only had Paint. Myself 123 22:06, October 19, 2011 (UTC)

The Main Page needs something new anyway. I still liked 58's version of the Tiles, though. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 22:08, October 19, 2011 (UTC)

Johnsowhat94 22:21, October 19, 2011 (UTC) Well my main inspiration for the tiles was Sonic Generation's character loading screen (black bg and white silhouette). I may be able to replicate 58's work if you'd like. I also still use paint for a lot of the sprite work.

Here is another.

Nice Work! If you don't mind, and if it's not to much trouble, can you replicate 58's work? --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 22:21, October 19, 2011 (UTC)

Johnsowhat94 22:26, October 19, 2011 (UTC) If I could find the original file he used for the border, then I may be able to. Could take some time to piece together though. It looks like it may have came from the Sonic4 website.

I can contact 58 for you if you want. She may not answer until 12 hours from now, though. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 22:29, October 19, 2011 (UTC)

Johnsowhat94 22:33, October 19, 2011 (UTC) Ok, I checked and it looks like he got it from the The Spriter's Resource[1] Which is good because that means less work for me. XD

Lol, if its too much work, then you don't have to do it. Sonic News Network really appreciates all your doing for us. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 22:34, October 19, 2011 (UTC)

Johnsowhat94 22:36, October 19, 2011 (UTC) I don't mind, I don't get to do things like this too often.

Alrighty then, thanks for your help. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 22:38, October 19, 2011 (UTC)

I have two this time. Working on the last one. Johnsowhat94 22:45, October 19, 2011 (UTC)

There, thats all the headers. The Tiles are going to have to wait until either tonight or tomorrow as I have to leave in about an hour. Johnsowhat94 22:51, October 19, 2011 (UTC)

Alright. Thank you so much!

Also, don't copy 58's work for now. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 00:10, October 20, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 17:00, October 20, 2011 (UTC) I'm still in the process of making new buttons for the front page, so if its not too much to ask at least give me some time to finish them and show them before we impliment anything.

The headers are good, though I would've preferred it if the palettes weren't altered. Myself 123 17:05, October 20, 2011 (UTC)

Those headers are fantastic. Let's definitely use those! -- Supermorff 17:14, October 20, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 18:28, October 20, 2011 (UTC) Finally done! These are some buttons that I made for 58's "Changes" page (there might be some buttons which some of you have probably seen already). I was originally going to make a new site discussion forum about remodeling the front page once I finished making them, and planned to use these very buttons if everyone felt that they would make good replacements for the buttons we're currently using on the front page. However, when it comes to making the forum itself, it seems that I was beaten to the punch. Anyway, for those who haven't seen the buttons yet, tell me what you think. For the Shows button I created a static effect around the Night of the Werehog title in order to (hopefully) make it seem as though you're looking at the title through some kind of television screen. If anyone thinks it looks bad, I have another version of the Shows button without the static effect that I could upload as a replacement to the one we got now just in case.

Nice Work! I could update the Main Page if you guys want. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 19:41, October 20, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 19:55, October 20, 2011 (UTC) Should my buttons be used, can they be resized so people can have an easier time reading the text that's on them?

I planned on using them, i just don't know if I should update now, or wait. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 19:58, October 20, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 20:05, October 20, 2011 (UTC) I think we should wait and see if anyone else wants to express their opinions on what we have so far, suggest other changes/ideas, or both.

I love those buttons too. New headers and new buttons, it's great! Gen, can you please post the alternate Shows button so that we can compare and decide which one we like more? -- Supermorff 20:46, October 20, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 20:50, October 20, 2011 (UTC) Sure thing. Here's the version without the static.

I love your work, but can I make a suggestion? I think you should use an image of Green Hill instead of City Escape for the Stage icon.

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 21:05, October 20, 2011 (UTC) Any particular reason why?

I have a suggestion Gen, for the Games, use the boxart of Sonic Generations instead of Classic and Modern Sonic. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 21:14, October 20, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 21:27, October 20, 2011 (UTC) @Bullet: That I don't plan on doing. I used Classic and Modern Sonic instead of the Sonic Generations boxart (I did consider it briefly) because I felt that using the boxart would make the Games button look bland. Besides, I think our visitors would find it more appealing to look at the prefered Sonic of their choice than just the title of the most recent game to come out, and the message that the two are trying to capture is still the same: 20 years of Sonic and counting.

I think we should use Gen's/ 58's buttons and use John's headers. Jake the Hedgehog The Ultimate Apprentice 21:09, October 20, 2011 (UTC)

Rainbowroad6w – Your mom. TALK – 21:23, October 20, 2011 (UTC) I like the idea a whole bunch. MarioWiki needs this so bad right now... Anyways, the icons that Genesjs showed are perfect. Keep 'em. The headers are great too. But what are the silhouettes about? I'm not sure I like them... they don't seem clear enough...

We arent using them. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 21:27, October 20, 2011 (UTC)

Rainbowroad6w – Your face. TALK – 21:30, October 20, 2011 (UTC) The silhouettes?

Yea.Jake the Hedgehog The Ultimate Apprentice 21:30, October 20, 2011 (UTC)

Rainbowroad6w – Your face. TALK – 21:33, October 20, 2011 (UTC) Ok.

I like the idea. I was thinking about changing them, too.
Knowall - October 20, 2011 19:46

i agree. even when i joined the main page is still the same. its desperate for a revamp. --Felectrify (talk) 21:55, October 20, 2011 (UTC)

I personally wanna wait for 58: she has her own plans for changes in appearance that she was working on for much longer. Circumstance forced her to temporarily drop her project. Since she did the original revamp in the first place, I think it only fair we wait to see what she has first.--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 07:24, October 23, 2011 (UTC)

58 commissioned these buttons. She put them on her 'changes' page. The only reason we haven't changed them already is because she was gone before the last few buttons were finished. I say we just change them and give her a nice surprise when she gets back. -- Supermorff 09:47, October 23, 2011 (UTC)

I know the buttons are hers. But if I remember correctly, she had much more than just changing the buttons in mind.--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 09:50, October 23, 2011 (UTC)

And she will be upset if we make one of her changes and not all of them at once? -- Supermorff 14:21, October 23, 2011 (UTC)

Rainbowroad6w – Your mom. TALK – 00:18, October 24, 2011 (UTC) Yeah, I don't see the problem with changing this. And God knows when 58's returning.

Comment: She closed her dA account just days ago, that isn't a good sign for her return, I am all in favor of changing the graphics ASAP. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 00:21, October 24, 2011 (UTC)

Rainbowroad6w – Your mom. TALK – 00:38, October 24, 2011 (UTC) Indeed.

Oh guys these are amazing!--58SlugDrones • (Contact) 09:03, October 26, 2011 (UTC)

Rainbowroad6w – Your mom. TALK – {{{time}}} Oh, whoa.

Let's put them up already. What are we waiting for?--58SlugDrones • (Contact) 05:24, October 27, 2011 (UTC)

I addded to what is agreed upon, on the Main Page. I must say, it looks pretty stylish and awesome! Thanks to those who contributed! Oh wait... did I add them too early?--58SlugDrones • (Contact) 08:39, October 27, 2011 (UTC)

Post-implementation

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 19:34, October 27, 2011 (UTC) Is it possible for us to remove the links below the buttons and make the buttons themselves a little bigger so the text on them is more readable? IDK about everyone else, but I think that having two of the same links right below/above each other is a little redundant, especially since the buttons more or less accomplish the same objectives as the links below them (which is telling the reader the names of the categories they link to)

I'll do that. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 19:45, October 27, 2011 (UTC)

I've just made the buttons even bigger. I think it was necessary, although it meant I had to rearrange them and now 'Real world' is down at the bottom all by himself. Even at this larger size, the text in the 'Super transformations' button is a bit small. If we got rid of that button, it would be a nice 3 by 3 square. Thoughts? -- Supermorff 19:58, October 27, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 20:02, October 27, 2011 (UTC) Why don't I try remaking that button before we consider getting rid of it?

But I like the idea of a 3 x 3 square better, we should just get rid of one of the buttons. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 20:04, October 27, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 20:09, October 27, 2011 (UTC) Lets not be so hasty just to throw the button out the window once a problem is found. I uploaded another version of that button with bigger text. This good enough?

It's better, but we've still got 'Real world' down the bottom by himself. -- Supermorff 20:13, October 27, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 20:22, October 27, 2011 (UTC) Then lets revert the buttons to the size we had them on previously and keep them that way if the Super Transformations button is more readable. Simple fix. I'll try making the text on the button even bigger than the version I just uploaded if I have to.

All of the buttons needed to be bigger, not just that one. -- Supermorff 20:51, October 27, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 20:58, October 27, 2011 (UTC) Just to make sure we're on the same page... by "bigger" you mean pixel size, or text size?

Aside from asking them "bigger", I have an idea to even it out - make a button for the Males and Females categories - problem solved, we now have a perfect rectangle. If thats not too much work for Gen... --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 21:05, October 27, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 21:13, October 27, 2011 (UTC) It won't be much of an issue as long as I can find some appropriate images to use for such buttons. Anyway, regarding the text in the Super Transformations button, I got 2 more ideas left: I've made a button similar to the original button, but the text instead simply says "Super Forms". This will make the text bigger and more clear to read, and also leaves plenty of "white space" which I can use to make further improvements if necessary... which leads me to my last option after this one: I do whatever I can to make the "Super Forms" text as satisfactory as I possible, should anyone still find any problems with it. If that doesn't work either, then I will officially have no idea on what else to do with the Super Transformations button.

Changing the text on that button to say 'Super forms' is probably a good idea. Can I quickly nix the idea of 'Males' and 'Females' buttons? I'd rather have a button that links to the 'Browse' category (with a label Browse or Navigation or whatever) and maybe another to 'Groups and Species'. -- Supermorff 21:25, October 27, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 21:27, October 27, 2011 (UTC) Then I'll upload the "Supe Forms" button and place it in he image gallery at the bottom of this page, so people can decide if they want to use that button instead or not. As for the (potential) new category buttons, I can try using recent artwork of the members of Team Chaotix and Team Rose for the ale and female category buttons respectively, unless anyone thinks I should try other characters?

I think maybe Morff's ideas for the categories is better than mine. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 21:28, October 27, 2011 (UTC)

You could still use Chaotix for 'Groups and Species' (for which the label would probably be just 'Groups'). -- Supermorff 21:30, October 27, 2011 (UTC)

Yeah. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 21:31, October 27, 2011 (UTC)

About Super Transformations, shouldn't it just be Transformations? 'Cus I've been thinking, not all transformations are super transforamtions. Aren't the super transformations transformations that have "Super" as a prefex? Myself 123 21:35, October 27, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 21:39, October 27, 2011 (UTC) Alrighty. I just need to figure out what kind of image would be best suited for the "Browse" button then I should be all set. One idea I currently have for the Browse button could be to use the image of a computer, or some gadget from a recent Sonic game that features a screen (like one of Tails' handheld devices or something), assuming that we have images which I can use without too much hassle. Still, anyone have any other ideas on what I should for the Browse button? EDIT: Myself brings up an interesting point. What does everyone else think?

I don't really think Real-world being down on the alone on the bottom is all that important. One solution that is very inconvenient that I can think of is to just put the "comics" and "shows" into one "media" category to save space. As I said its probably more trouble than its worth. Forgive my ignorance Genesjs but what browse button are you talking about? Johnsowhat94 16:06, October 28, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 23:19, October 28, 2011 (UTC) I think the shows and comics buttons should remain seperate. As for the browse button, what I'm trying to find is an image I can use to create a button for this category.

Did you find one for Groups? For Browse maybe you could just use the logo of the site, or Tails' gadget from SC or a computer. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 23:24, October 28, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 23:30, October 28, 2011 (UTC) I'm thinking of using artwork of the Chaotix for Groups. As for Browse, I'm trying to find artwork of Tails' gadget that I can use for a button. What's important is finding artwork of a gadget from a recent game, to me anyway.

Miles Electric --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 23:46, October 28, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 00:58, October 29, 2011 (UTC) I think I can use that. Just keep in mind that I'm gonna be doing a trial and error thing with both the Browse and Groups buttons. And speaking of the latter, I made a prototype with Sonic Channel artwork of the Chaotix. So what does everyone think?

It's great! I'll add it to the Main page. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 01:09, October 29, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 01:36, October 29, 2011 (UTC) Shouldn't we wait until other people have a say on it first before we use it? What if everyone else hates it?

Yeah. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 01:40, October 29, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 07:57, October 29, 2011 (UTC) I just finished the Navigation button. Like the Groups button, I did the best I could on this one. I hope everyone likes it. I've also took the liberty to add the missing buttons that were not in the gallery below... into it. EDIT: I've also made a new version of the Super Transformations button, the text simply saying "Transformations". I've decided to make this button because of Myself 123's comment regarding transformations seen in the Sonic series in general, since I felt it makes sense. As a result, I went ahead and placed the new button on the front page. If me doing this without waiting for everyone is a problem, then feel free to revert my edit to the front page. The new button can be seen in the button gallery as well.

I like both of the new buttons and think we should add them. I think we'll need to rearrange the other buttons a bit, but that's not a problem. Objections? -- Supermorff 09:55, October 29, 2011 (UTC)

Yeah, we'll have to rearrange them, but I like the buttons, I say we should add them ASAP. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 17:51, October 29, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 01:37, October 30, 2011 (UTC) Alright, then as soon as soon as we do that I'm gonna place the buttons, along with the unused buttons under protection so nobody messes with them. I'll also do the same for the new headers and the other images that were posted on this forum as well.

I've added them and done a little bit of rearranging. I assumed we were aiming to have the three main character buttons on the top line. If not, a better arrangement might be having four character buttons (Heroes, Anti-Heroes, Villains, Transformations) in the left column, then four real world buttons (Games, Comics, Shows, Real world) in the middle column, then the other buttons in the right column. -- Supermorff 08:11, October 30, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 03:27, October 31, 2011 (UTC) I don't know about everyone else, but I wasn't aiming to have specific buttons in specific places. It doesn't really matter to me where they go. If you feel that the other arrangement might be better, then go right ahead and change things around again.

I think the buttons take up too much space/attention. I think it would be best to shrink them down a bit, and put them in three-by-four (three row, four column) organization. I suggest this so that what's under the buttons (aka Featured User, Forum Discussions) will also be easily visible. We all know that some Users/visitors may or may not bother scrolling down to look.--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 04:50, October 31, 2011 (UTC)

I'm okay with a four column arrangement as long as everyone agrees that the text is large enough to read comfortably (I've included such an arrangement of buttons in the 'Buttons' section at the bottom of the page). Also, could we move the site discussions above the Featured User for the same reason? The idea is to get people participating in site discussions, but it's kind of invisible at the moment. Fortunately the site discussions section is quite short. -- Supermorff 11:00, October 31, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 20:51, October 31, 2011 (UTC) I've made the text on some of the buttons as big as I could make it without it looking wierd, but there are still a few I can edit if anyone thinks I should do so (although knowing me I'm probably gonna go ahead and do it anyway). If getting people more active in site discussions is what we're after, then I say we should go ahead and do whatever is necessary to make sure it happens (without going overboard about it, of course~). As Supermorff said, the section is short, so it shouldn't take up too much space if moved up high, so I don't think doing so would be much of a problem for everyone.

Well, I don't want to shorthand the Featured User bit, since that takes community attention and participation. Maybe.... hm, is there any way to widen the front page? I mean Sonic Fanon Wiki has more stuff on their Main Page, yet it's shorter than ours.--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 03:13, November 2, 2011 (UTC)

Sorry, what do you mean by 'shorthand' in this context? The only way to widen the front page is to remove the column on the right. I don't think that helps. And Sonic Fanon Wiki does not have more stuff on their front page than we do. When considering sections that aren't on both sites, they have Featured Characters, Announcements and Helpful Wiki Tips; we have Upcoming Games, Site Discussions, Weekly Poll, and Sister Wikis. Their sections do tend to be shorter than ours. I am planning to take Sega Wiki off the main page Affiliates (though it would stay on the Affiliates page), but that doesn't help with any of the other sections on the page. -- Supermorff 13:46, November 2, 2011 (UTC)

I mean divert attention from it, reducing visibility and subsequent use.--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 03:41, November 3, 2011 (UTC)

To be honest I think site discussions require more participation than Featured User polls, but how about this: since Site Discussions and Upcoming Games are about the same height, how about we move Site Discussions where Upcoming Games is now, move Upcoming Games into the column on the right, and move Sister Wikis underneath Featured User? -- Supermorff 08:33, November 3, 2011 (UTC)

Um..... try that in Sandbox first and see how it looks?--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 02:54, November 4, 2011 (UTC)

Good idea. I'll work on it later. - Supermorff 08:36, November 4, 2011 (UTC)

Okay, done. See here. (Note: Wikia skin users have to look in the diff page, or the Wikia rail makes the page look wrong.) -- Supermorff 18:34, November 4, 2011 (UTC)

I Think that would look good. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 19:35, November 5, 2011 (UTC)

Well.... moving the Sister Wiki bit so far down is iffy.... Geh, I just wanna make sure nothing is removed from the public eye, despite how impossible it is. It's good for now, and we can always fiddle with it.--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 07:02, November 6, 2011 (UTC)

Genesjs – "I don't die. I just go on adventures." TALK – 07:42, November 6, 2011 (UTC) How exactly is moving that section down "iffy?" All you need to do is scroll a little further down the page, and poof- Affiliates.

Not all Users have that type of attention span, sadly.--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 09:41, November 6, 2011 (UTC)

That's true as far as it goes, but Sister Wikis are already a long way down. People already have to scroll, and they have to look over the right of the screen (generally, that far down, bored people only look at the left). -- Supermorff 09:45, November 6, 2011 (UTC)

True. Anyways, I made some of my own changes to the example. Thoughts?--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 09:47, November 6, 2011 (UTC)

I tried reducing the banners as well, just a little bit. I thought that maybe things would fit together a little better if those weren't so huge.--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 09:56, November 6, 2011 (UTC)

Your layout doesn't work because the buttons are now overlapping the column on the right. I don't like the smaller banners either, the words aren't as clear. -- Supermorff 10:21, November 6, 2011 (UTC)

Overlapping? I didn't have that issue.--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 10:23, November 6, 2011 (UTC)

Screenshot. -- Supermorff 10:28, November 6, 2011 (UTC)

Strange.... Maybe later today (a.m. My time) we should see if anyone else has that issue. Also, I noticed that if you look at the arrangement at the bottom of the forum, it's the exact same way I did it on the Sandbox. Honestly a coincidence.--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 10:32, November 6, 2011 (UTC)

i like them --Felectrify (talk) 20:46, November 10, 2011 (UTC)

Gallery

Buttons

Different version of Shows button without the static effect

Arrangement