[WIP] SRF Neutra

[strangelove]

Been wanting to try making an [alternate] SRF theme for a while but haven't really had the time. I tried my hand at one today since I had nothing else to do and overall I'm pleased with the results. My objective with the theme was to rid the forum of the large amounts of wasted space and make forum elements have a much cleaner look and feel. The color palette is neutral for the most part and that was just a personal preference because I enjoy more neutral colors.

Section View

Spoiler!

Video Posts

Spoiler!

Audio Posts

Spoiler!

Still working on more forum elements which I'll post here as I move forward with the project, but this should give you a general idea of the theme. It's unlikely that it will ever be an actual working theme for the forum though, and I never intended it to materialize into one. Oh well. Back to eating this tasty pomegranate!

Edit: To avoid any more confusion:

This is only a personal project and I am not suggesting this be used as the main SRF theme. Yes, I am aware this is a forum for the Silkroad game, however, I did not intend to make a theme for that purpose or considered the theme of the game. Should I have the intended the theme to revolve around the game, it would look a lot more different. I don't mean to be churlish, but this is not very difficult to understand.

[dom]

+love/+fav

Perfect example of tasteful design. For online communities people might valourize signatures that have anime cutouts and tutorial effects but this kind of project is something that would attract attention in professional circles.

I also creamed when I saw the linkin park reference, I love that hardcore shit \m/ rawk on

[Shomari]

I don't really like the contrast between the bg and the body...
Maybe I'm just used to this light theme.

Looking good though!

[Skyve]

It dosn't get any cleaner than the theme we currently have. But I really do like the idea. As long as you can promise me to keep Signatures & "View your Post" I'll be supporting this

[strangelove]

+love/+fav

Perfect example of tasteful design. For online communities people might valourize signatures that have anime cutouts and tutorial effects but this kind of project is something that would attract attention in professional circles.

I also creamed when I saw the linkin park reference, I love that hardcore shit \m/ rawk on

Thanks!

Yeah, I agree. Personally not a huge fan of sigs (especially really large ones), so I just got rid of them.

YEAH LINKIN PARK \m/

I don't really like the contrast between the bg and the body...
Maybe I'm just used to this light theme.

Looking good though!

Thanks, I thought about making a lighter background but it wasn't very practical and looked like it was part of the body if viewed from certain angles. Plus, the hard contrast between the BG and the body creates clean lines and divisions which add to the look I wanted to achieve.

It dosn't get any cleaner than the theme we currently have. But I really do like the idea. As long as you can promise me to keep Signatures & "View your Post" I'll be supporting this

Sigs are gone! FOREVER!!

I don't have plans to include sigs in the theme because they're an unnecessary feature. The current design is good, but it isn't very efficient and there's much wasted space that serves no purpose. I tried compacting all the necessary elements of the forum and did away with the unneeded extras. I'm aware that many people would prefer the extras, but I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on that point.

[Deadsolid]

I've been toying with the idea of bringing this up in Site Discussion/AC, and now is as good a time as ever (actually now is probably the best time seeing as the site is probably getting reskinned).

I have to agree that sigs are a bit of a nuisance especially ones that are formatted all to hell (kinda like mine). So, my proposal is to get rid of both signatures and avatars, and go with one unified system of either a larger avatar, or a signature, but not both.

I really don't like the idea of just an avatar in a forum like this, and I have a feeling that we would lose some people if we made such a change.

On your design, I love it! However, I am worried that it does not stick to the site's roots. A large number of visitors of SRF still play the game, and I am afraid as much as I hate to say, that they will be alienated when they see absolutely no Silkroad imagery. I know SRO sucks, and they don't give you much to work with, but I think we can work something in there.

[strangelove]

Thanks!

I should probably mention once more that I don't have plans to code any of this, haha. I could try I suppose but I never intended to have this considered as a replacement theme for SRF. Now, having said that, I agree that having this as a theme would alienate the purpose of the forum, which is the Silkroad game. In an alternate universe where I did code the theme and it was being considered for use, I would only suggest that this theme be available as an alternative to those who maybe do not play Silkroad or prefer a Silkroad-less forum. (i.e; most people in this section and OTL)

I disagree that having only an avatar would have that large an impact though. The content of the community is the real deciding factor if someone stays or goes. There are many communities that thrive without the need for any user graphics at all. It might not sit well with some members but I highly doubt it would be enough to drive them away if the actual content of the forum is interesting.

[Shomari]

Thanks!

I should probably mention once more that I don't have plans to code any of this, haha. I could try I suppose but I never intended to have this considered as a replacement theme for SRF. Now, having said that, I agree that having this as a theme would alienate the purpose of the forum, which is the Silkroad game. In an alternate universe where I did code the theme and it was being considered for use, I would only suggest that this theme be available as an alternative to those who maybe do not play Silkroad or prefer a Silkroad-less forum. (i.e; most people in this section and OTL)

I disagree that having only an avatar would have that large an impact though. The content of the community is the real deciding factor if someone stays or goes. There are many communities that thrive without the need for any user graphics at all. It might not sit well with some members but I highly doubt it would be enough to drive them away if the actual content of the forum is interesting.

Something like that alt dark theme?
I think it was stealmysoda's theme if I remember correctly.

[Skyve]

@Deadsolid: I'm sure AC can work something out. After King of SRF is done, we could start some project on re-skinning SRF. Everyone could contribute ideas.

Maybe aim for modern/simple(strangelove's idea) + have some SRO elements to it. Oh and of course, keep signatures I'm actually excited at the idea, AC could come up with the looks and Ryoko or anyone good with coding could do the rest of the work. (Think Amarisa and Gaige got some experience).

[Hostage]

Looks terrible.

Plus you're a filthy liar.

Spoiler!

It's unlikely that it will ever be an actual working theme for the forum though, and I never intended it to materialize into one. Oh well. Back to eating this tasty pomegranate!

At least, you've taken my heed on eating more fruit. That should make for some fun later on.

[Doron]

It's nice, but one itsy bitsy thingy...

Since this is SILKROAD forums, the website does have to radiate it.

So the current logo and the thingy on top should be taken with it.

Then again, I don't know if you're familiar with AllKpop.com. It's a celebrity news and gossip website, and everything gets a random new background when opening a new article.

They use pretty cool designs with all kinds of colors, and have an awesome design on the front page.

For example:
http://www.allkpop.com/ and http://www.allkpop.com/2010/09/miss-a-r ... breathe-mv

They have different background, and they just stay simple, but give the site a different feel in every article.

Maybe that's an idea.

And oh, about the sigs thing: Maybe make it something optional, like quick reply. So you can either take off all sigs, or show all sigs..

[Deadsolid]

Since this is SILKROAD forums, the website does have to radiate it.

So the current logo and the thingy on top should be taken with it.

1)We understand, and we've already discussed it.

2)HTFN, the only thing worse than the Silkroad typeface is Comic Sans, and only by a hair.

[poehalcho]

Too classy for me
And indeed does not radiate SRF anymore.

[strangelove]

Something like that alt dark theme?
I think it was stealmysoda's theme if I remember correctly.

The only one I recall is Cruor's Dark Style Stylish theme. [link] But yes, I'm only suggesting an optional alternative to the main skin.

Looks terrible.

Plus you're a filthy liar.

Spoiler!

[color=#000000]It's unlikely that it will ever be an actual working theme for the forum though, and I never intended it to materialize into one. Oh well. Back to eating this tasty pomegranate!

At least, you've taken my heed on eating more fruit. That should make for some fun later on.

That is ridiculous and that image has been photoshopped!

Also, itlooksreallygood.jpg

They have different background, and they just stay simple, but give the site a different feel in every article.

Maybe that's an idea.

And oh, about the sigs thing: Maybe make it something optional, like quick reply. So you can either take off all sigs, or show all sigs..

The thing about adding signatures to a theme like mine is that it defeats the purpose of conserving space by having a ton of images on a such a small space.

Let me use your current signature just as an example of what I mean;

The image on the left is 4.7MB. The image on the right is 2MB. The image inside your spoiler is another 4.7MB.

A user's browser has to load 11.4MB of your signature alone before it completes loading the page. That's the equivalent of 3-4 average bit rate MP3s being downloaded on just your post alone. Granted it's only loaded once (or once per session depending on your browser settings), but it's 11.4MB too much for simply browsing for text content and not images. But again, that isn't considering other people's signatures which would add substantially more unnecessary loading time.

Pros of signatures
- Unique user content

Cons of signatures
- Slows down loading for other elements in the page
- Inefficient use of space

Other
- Signature material is sometimes of questionable nature, although that would apply to avatar images as well

Maybe adding customizable profile pages with user content would be a better alternative.

And indeed does not radiate SRF anymore.

1)We understand, and we've already discussed it.

[Hostage]

Looks terrible.

Plus you're a filthy liar.

Spoiler!

It's unlikely that it will ever be an actual working theme for the forum though, and I never intended it to materialize into one. Oh well. Back to eating this tasty pomegranate!

At least, you've taken my heed on eating more fruit. That should make for some fun later on.

That is ridiculous and that image has been photoshopped!

Also, itlooksreallygood.jpg

Oh, is that so? Shall I post the un-shopped version then?

So you saw through my deceit? You've come to know me to well, strangelove! We end this now with one final battlle. Hiya...HO!..HEH!..HA!....screw it, I'm taking a nap. -.-

[Key-J]

Thats pretty awesome man, like a very legit and professional looking style, i would keep at it, you never know commercial value could lie around the corner.

[*BlackFox]

Doesn't looks too bad.
But meh, the design is a bit boring.. xD