New web design

[Inaaca]

Alright, I need some opinions/ideas from all of ya on what you think.

In designing a flash site, it's preferable for the entire site to fit within the dimensions of a browser window (i.e. no scrolling down to see things). This provides a bit of a challenge with the actual comic pages though, and I've come up with a couple solutions.

1: Each page shows up as a thumbnail, and in order to see the full size image, just click on the page for it to open in a new, bigger window.
2: Something along the lines of a dynamic slideshow, in which one or two frames would appear at a time, and you would click a 'next' button to see the next frame on that page, etc.

Those are ideas I have come up with, with a little help from my professor. If neither of those are preferable though, feel free to lend any additional ideas you have.

So, what do you think I should use? Ah, and I should have a preview demo for the site ready once I get a couple things working.

Well, since I'm here, how about throwing out some site design styles that would be good as well, including color scheme, etc. I have a working design, but it can be changed based on general opinion.

[Kuat]

Popup blockers will hamper the popups, and also people may not like popups in the first place. However, it would allow for a whole window to be devoted to the comic, thus more room to put crap on. Also, nothing else to "distract" the viewer.

I like the panel idea, mainly because you can have a punchline/dramatic occurance at the end of the update without the reader seeing it mistakenly when they intially view the image. Also, it gives the impression of more content... har, har. Problem is, that with big images (such as bahmut being summoned, ect), that will get a bit confining.

Kung Fool ( kungfool.transpect.net/ ) has fooled around with some flash ideas as well, apart from other variations of comic presentation. May get some ideas on what to do, or in some cases, what not to do. Less clutter the better, keep that in mind.

Anyway, I'll give more opinions later, but good luck on the designs for now.

[Inaaca]

Ah, true.. the frame by frame solution still poses a problem with dramatic page-size frames.. Hm.. I'll keep thinking, and I'll check out that site later.

[Muramasa]

Perhaps we could try having the thumbnail method, but instead of having them open up a new window, just have them resize themselves in the current window with some button to return to the thumbnail selection?

[Inaaca]

Hmm... that's an interesting idea. I would just need to figure out how I would want it to be scrollable (i.e. browser or integrated site buttons).

[Muramasa]

How elaborate did you plan on making the new design?

[Inaaca]

Depends on what you mean by "elaborate". Right now I'm basically trying to incorporate all of the content we have now into a new layout (which is still being molded). My focus is to make it functional, simple, and easy to navigate.

[Muramasa]

Elaborate would involve clowns popping out of the buttons everytime you pressed them.

[Inaaca]

Nah, I'm not going to even look at fanciful effects until I have the meat of the site up and running properly.

Neat little effects/animations would be an addition I'd like to build in there later on, though. Nothing too distracting though, of course.

[Kuat]

mysticmuramasa said:

Elaborate would involve clowns popping out of the buttons everytime you pressed them.

Why did that make me spew my drink through my nose.

You have no idea how funny I found that.

[Muramasa]

I figured at your current state, you'd find anything funny.

Hmm...

Hey, look at the jubilously dancing gubbly dares? The wallow wike quipply in the sqorching teet.

[Kuat]

mysticmuramasa said:

I figured at your current state, you'd find anything funny.

Hmm...

Hey, look at the jubilously dancing gubbly dares? The wallow wike quipply in the sqorching teet.

Sqorching Teet. Why? Why that?

Bad man.

Evil man.