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New Forum Design project

Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2017 9:37 am
by Bez
I recently purchased a new forum base design or style as it is called, these are basically just skins that are added to a standard forum to make it look different and also add extra features, lots of free styles are available on the web for phpBB (see here for a selection of free styles (select a different style from the drop-down top left)

While these are free and some are good in design they lack some of the features a paid style has also once some of the free ones are made they never get updated as the phpBB software gets updated so the style falls behind and eventually stops being compatible :( styles you pay for tend to get regularly updated and also have many more add-ons and features so for this reason i tend to go for these as the price you pay is worth it in the long term. :D

At the moment our forum runs on a base style of Prosilver (all phpBB styles have this base style) and is overlayed with the style you see now, Subway a paid style.

Prosilver
prosilver.png


Subway
subway.png
As you can see the Subway style you see in the photo looks nothing like the one we use here, that's because i have re-designed it quite a bit and also added some extra features to get it to look and work as it is now. :geek:

This brings me to the purpose of this thread :mrgreen:
I'm going to start a new design for the forum based on the new style I've purchased " Avalanche" i have set up a new test forum to work on the design so anyone who is interested can follow the design process as it goes along and also give any feedback here they think might help with the look and layout.

This is a giff showing the base style i will be starting with its very different from the one we use now and like the Subway style it won't look like this when finished :geek: but hopefully with a little help and feed back from you guys we can get it to look and feel the way we want it before it is used on :tdudt:
Image

Also if it gets to a point that the style is not looking right or most of you don't like the results then i will hold off using it on the forum till we come up with something better.




i will also post any updates here as i go along. ;)

Re: New Forum Design project

Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2017 6:37 pm
by Bez
Ok made a start on some of the basics, still a long way to go. :mrgreen:
From this
igame21072017.JPG
to this
22072017.png
and this
22072017-1.png

Re: New Forum Design project

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 11:24 am
by Beardroid91
The forum itself is fine, it is the background that is the issue.

And i need a vampire dark mode preset similar to the one we have now.

Re: New Forum Design project

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 2:44 pm
by Bez
Beardroid91 wrote: Sun Jul 23, 2017 11:24 am The forum itself is fine, it is the background that is the issue.

And i need a vampire dark mode preset similar to the one we have now.
The forum already comes with a vampire dark mode built in. :character-count:

Members will be able to choose between three modes Light, Medium and Dark and can even change the colour of forum buttons. :D
Will try to post all three colours as i go along with the project.
Members will also have a fully customisable profile screen. (more on this later ;) )
23072017-1.png
23072017-2.png
23072017-3.png
Added some dummy forums so we can see what it will look like (but even this look will change once i get into the more complex stages :ugeek: )

Re: New Forum Design project

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 6:00 pm
by Beardroid91
Ah okay, well it looks nice, but the main menu quick links would need to be looked at as they are abit to stealthy imo., but other than that it looks okay.

So is it going to be that wide, or is going to be a centered version like the one we use now ?

Re: New Forum Design project

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 7:21 am
by Bez
Beardroid91 wrote: Sun Jul 23, 2017 6:00 pm Ah okay, well it looks nice, but the main menu quick links would need to be looked at as they are abit to stealthy imo., but other than that it looks okay.

So is it going to be that wide, or is going to be a centered version like the one we use now ?
Menu is a little hard to see (maybe because of the photo) but does become clear as you scroll down the page.

I could reduce the width of the forum but I don't think it looks good with this design, it would also bring up the problem of what to put on the background like we have hear so for now no plans to reduce the width.

I'm jumping on a train to Scotland this morning so won't have time to do any work on it today but will get back on it tomorrow.
:party:
:tdudt:

Re: New Forum Design project

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 10:25 am
by Beardroid91
Ah okay.

Well I like the centered look more, also we must be able to find some background that works but maybe keep it gaming related. Also the background makes the forum nicer to browse.

Okay Bez enjoy your trip on the Flying Scotsman railroad track I have heard it should be an awesome trip with lots to look at. ;)

Re: New Forum Design project

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 7:37 pm
by Bez
Not much to report as yet been having problems with coding the backend. :geek:

But starting to get somewhere now. :D
igame index.JPG
Index page (photos are just place holders)

Re: New Forum Design project

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2017 2:43 pm
by Bez
I'm thinking of removing the chatbox from the forum index ready for the new style I am working on as it never gets used very much. :(

If anyone has a good reason why they think it should stay then post away and I will consider it. :mrgreen:

Re: New Forum Design project

Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2017 8:43 pm
by Bez
Well, i was planning on updating to the new design in the new year so it can get a good testing wile i am off work and have time to iron out the bugs but we have hit a snag. :(

The author of the new design has removed it from download and also the support and updates, in fact, he isn't even replying to his emails and has given no reason why. :?

So in light of this information it will not be wise to install the new Avalanche design as without regular updates available it may become incompatible after the next phpBB update. :angry-banghead:

What makes this even worse is that the style the forum runs on at the moment is also maintained and updated by the same author so unless i look for something else that will suit the forum we are screwed when it comes to updates. :facepalm:

I had been working on lots of changes with avalanche including a new look monthly newsletter for subscribers through MailChimp but this will all have to go on hold now till i figure out the best way to go forward. :(

More news when i decide what to do. :geek:
:tdudt: