Front Page and Layout suggestions

Summary:

How to improve the visual impact?

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Front Page and Layout suggestions

jhubert 19 Apr 2009 06:32

There are probably ways in which I could improve the front page and overall layout of the front page. Do you have any suggestions for this? How could we make it more visually appealing and clear? How should the text be rewritten?

I'd also like to create a more customized appearance for the wiki. The standard theme I used isn't too bad - but I think we could do more with a more customized CSS sheet and background images. What are your suggestions here?

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Re: Front Page and Layout suggestions

David Bane 20 Apr 2009 06:26

Take a look over at CSS Zen, if it's still around. Beautiful CSS styles. They have a few CMS centric ones specifically.

Re: Front Page and Layout suggestions

jhubert 20 Apr 2009 06:53

I know of CSS Zen, and their styles are indeed beautiful.

I think the overall CSS layout of the wiki isn't bad. What it could use is some customized color scheme and background images. But I'm unsure what to use…

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Re: Front Page and Layout suggestions

r_b_bergstrom 21 Apr 2009 00:16

Well, I've changed the layout of the start page as suggested - though someone should fill out the missing links, I guess…

I've also changed the colors of the Wiki. For the technically minded, here is the original CSS file for the "Co" style, which I used as a basis. As an admin, I can make changes to this file in the Site Manager. Here is what I have done so far:

body {
    margin: 0px;
    background-color: #dce4e9;
    font-size: 80%;
    font-family: Arial, Helvetica;
}

#side-bar {
    width: 20%;
    float: left;
    background-color: #b8bdc9;
    border-right: 1px solid #abaebe;
    border-bottom: 1px solid #abaebe;
    color: #43444f;
    padding: 0.5em;
    margin:0;
}

#side-bar li a {
    margin: 0;
    padding-top: 2px;
    padding-bottom: 2px;
    display: block;
    padding-left: 1em;
    border-bottom: 1px solid #abaebe;
    border-top: 1px solid #c6cfd3;
    color: #1E2B31;
    text-decoration: none;
}

.spoiler-tag{
    color: black;
    background-color: black;
}

.spoiler-tag a{
    color: black;
}

We should also look into creating our own custom banner graphic. The original banner is this image:

If you feel artistically inclined, feel free to come up with your own.

Last edited on 21 Apr 2009 08:14 by jhubert Show more

Re: Front Page and Layout suggestions

r_b_bergstrom 21 Apr 2009 19:30

Currently, broken links are highlighted red, and links to existing pages are the same color as text.

It may help to make functional links a slightly different color than the main text, so that avenues for further exploration stand out a little more.

Last edited on 21 Apr 2009 19:32 by r_b_bergstrom Show more

Re: Front Page and Layout suggestions

jhubert 23 Apr 2009 11:57

I changed the color scheme. How do you like it now?

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Re: Front Page and Layout suggestions

r_b_bergstrom 23 Apr 2009 17:15

I like it. The colors (in general) are more inviting, and spotting links is easier. Much better.

Re: Front Page and Layout suggestions

jhubert 21 Jun 2009 15:18

I figured out how to change the appearance of external links (thanks to this thread). I figured that this might be useful for some pages where external and internal links are mixed.

What do you think of the color? Alternatively, I can add an icon to such links, similar how Wikipedia does it…

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Last edited on 21 Jun 2009 15:30 by jhubert Show more

Re: Front Page and Layout suggestions

Mrs_Bergstrom 21 Jun 2009 16:43

I would choose a different color than the dark blue. I was just looking at the "Recent Changes" page and dark blue is the color used for the name of whomever made the recent change. I really do like the color difference over an icon, just as r_b_bergstrom says above - easier to spot the links - but just advise a different color choice for either the external links or the names.

Re: Front Page and Layout suggestions

jhubert 21 Jun 2009 17:55

How is it now?

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Arcana Wiki - Distilling the Real World for Gaming
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