I'm unsure of what to do with the headers to my updated Scenic layout.

I already submitted this but it got rejected & now I'm working on it and I'm seeing what I can do to the layout to make it look better.

The "reviewer" of this layout said that I needed to give image credit & work on the headers. I have image credit but I don't know what I should do with the layouts. I don't understand how the person thought they needed some work.



This post has been edited by theerinkal: Jun 1 2009, 12:30 AM

i dislike that the photo has a white border and the content area has a black border. i don't like the black anywhere though because there isn't any black in the picture/background and it's just making stuff look heavy. you could have just as easily used a grey from the background. it looks like separate pieces, maybe becuase there is really nothing tying the background and content area/picture together. also all the blue bars/text, those colors should be pulled from the picture in my opinion. that bright neonish blue doesn't look good to me, it looks out of place because it's not even the same hue/shade/whatever as the blues in the picture.


not saying that if you did that you'd get accepted because it's still not much. a lot of details make it look sloppy though.

I just chose a background that was black but had some kinda design on it. I'm using my other layout as a template for this layout. I didn't want there to be much change so that I could have 2 of the same style layouts.

You're right, I didn't put much work into this layout. It only took me 10 minutes to make because I'm using a "template". The only way I, personally, can improve is by posting stuff on here and getting criticisim and comments. That is the way I improve on anything I do, from school to sports, I have to have criticisim and comments to improve; it's just the way I am.

like everyone has said...this is what's wrong with your stuff, and it shows by how little attention to detail there is.

Okay, I'll see what background I can put on there to make it look less heavy and I'll change the color of the border of the content. I will also see what shade/hue/whatever I can make the links and header text.



I look over & over my layouts/graphics before I post them on here. It really takes me only 5 minutes, but I take the other 5-10 minutes to look over my stuff. It's not like, I don't care.



I think I have improved a little since I took that break. I mean, I'm choosing fonts better and I've downloaded TONS of fonts & brushes.

I don't see how any of the advice that you guys/gals have said can be applied in this layout. Please explain.

how do you not see how everything i said can be applied to the layout? i'm straight up talking about this specific layout and specific problems in my post.

I didn't see that post until after I posted that.

THIS is the only layout I've done that with. The other layouts I've done I started from scratch.

AT LEAST I'M TRYING. Give me a freaking break, GEEZ.

There's no black anywhere in the image so it should not be in the headers, Try a light gray instead like e7e7e7.

How how does it look now?

As long as it takes only 5-10 minutes to do any of your designs you are not going to improve. You are not paying attention to detail, if that is the case.

Regarding your post, the colors in the content area are all over the place! The blues don't match the blues of the image, the black comes out of nowhere, and it looks like you didn't design a thing. All it looks like is an image that you found online, and the slapped on content and navigation.

Sure, that's is harsh, but I find it frustrating that I've spent some good time reviewing your work, only to find out that you spend 10 minutes creating some of it. It feels like a gigantic waste of my time. Also, you haven't regarding anyone's tips about taking a break, the rule of thirds, or Fibonacci's spiral. You really need to sit down and spend about 5-6 hours on your next design.

I think it looks better, I would also suggest not to use the blue you used for the 3rd header, it's just very unattractive. Try using the blues that are in the background rather than in the image.

for real, that's like 3 of us now who have said you need to pull your blues from the image and you still aren't seeming to get that.

Okay, How about now?



She said to pull it out of the background not the image.

I pretty much agree with other people have said. You need to take your time on your design.

Even though you may not want to hear what I say, I'll say it anyways. It looks like you took an image off the web, put a border around it and then added a box for text.

Throughout creating layout images you'll find that there are some things that are easier to work with than others, and that will probably effect your image choice. For example, I think that working with images of people is easier than working with images of the sky. But that doesn't mean that you can't play around with layers to get the look that you want for the image. Spend some time in your image program and see how you can improve on the image. Slapping the word "scenic" on it isn't going to cut it. Maybe move the image above the text area, so that it is easier for you to create a border without having to put a border made of color around it.

To me, the setup looks awkward. The text area is small. If you moved the image above the text area and centered the layout then maybe it wouldn't look so sloppy. It feels like you're trying to shove a bunch of stuff into the text area when the text area is very minimal.

If I were to move the picture ontop of the text area then that would make the layout look very rectangular and weird.

Here's a screenshot of when I did that:


I think it looks really weird but that's just my opinion.

How about you take out all those blue bars in the background, and let the white border of your image blend in with a white canvas.

Okay, Check it out now.



Like that? I think it looks weirder because the content area blends into the background but I'll just see how it turns out.

Change the font you used for "scenic" for sure. And be more discrete with your watermarks. What if you add a like blue fading into white gradient for your background? Iono.

Of course white looks worse. Just that choice of background was awful. It too square. Next time, I suggest spend at least an hour.

O and on your edit, the header, is way to tall. People will have to scroll so much. Try mimiking another website. But don't submit it, and then try and make your own design. You really aren't taking any of our advice. Even if it's not annoying others, it's annoying me how you post new things you made in ten minutes in the showcase booth everyday. How is someone supposed to critique something that took you an hour. Making a layout quick doesnt make you look skilled, it makes you look lazy.

Golden rule: work harder.

I agree with Nat. Try using a white to blue gradient background that goes down vertically and the reason it looks weird centered is because the image is tall so adjust the height of that. Change the font that says "Scenic" too. Otherwise, it's alright.

If that's the updated version, then why the *censored* are the headers still black? o.o

What watermark? If you're talking about the "© marinshe" on it, like I said in the start of this topic, the reviewer said I had to give credit to where I got the image and that's what that is.


Okay, I'll take what you say into consideration witht my next layout.

I took like 3 months for a break and didn't post anything in the showcase booth so don't say I post things everyday. This was going to be the last one. GEEZ.

Not if the layouts I make quick are REALLY good. I'd rather be quick and really good than really good and REALLY SLOW.



Okay. Check it out in about an hour and see how it looks then.



If you look at the time that I edited it then you'll figure that part out.

That's just it. There is no such thing as "quick and really good." Good things take time, as evidenced by the plethora of critiques given to you on a design that took 10 minutes.

I thought you were going to edit the size of the image

Are you making your layouts in Window's Paint?




edit: The live preview is extremely misaligned.