New header...

[fajrdrako]

If anyone has been paying attention (and no reason they should), I've been playing with my LJ headers lately. Making some - lacking both talent and good software, but having fun anyway. I love the original Jack/Nine header that isagel made me, and I'll use it again, but I felt experimental.

The current header banner is by deedeedee123. I'm loving it.

Comments

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

Pretty - I've been viewing my f-list in my own journal style this week so I'd have missed that...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I usually read my f-list in my own style, but I make a point from time to time of going to my f-list's pages to see if I've missed anything (yes, invariably) and to see what they look like. Some people change their design, some keep it the same. It's fun either way.

And frankly, when I look at the designs the designers are making for offer, some of them are incredibly ugly. There must be a lot of colourblind designers around.

There are, on the other hand, lots of beautiful Buffy designs, some of which I covet. I wish there were more Torchwood designs. There are some, but none of them so far are romantic enough for me. And of course what I really want is a romantically designed Doctor Who/Torchwood crossover design.

On the other hand, I like simplicity.

Seems to me the TARDIS would be a good theme. Hmm.

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

I'd love to give making a Who or Torchwood or even (Nine/Jack) themed design a go but I don't know enough about style sheets and such...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

No, neither do I. And I'm half-tempted to learn but don't really have the time or, I fear, the talent. But I shouldn't let that stop me!

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

so... and I think I am insane for even attempting this (especially in my current frame of mind) but I am attempting to build a layout...


Just shoot me!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

No, I applaud you. Do you need further encouragement? Help? Chocolate?

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

Help and chocolate both sound good :D

Could you point me at some of the Buffy ones you like?

I'm currently thinking neutral shades and fonts with serifs... a slightly deeper than usual full width header image with the links centred beneath it and maybe a very faint lineart background image...ER yeah I think I might be over stretching myslef but I have paid for 6 months time on a new journal so I can work on it (of course it might actually take me that long to figure it out :O).

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Help and chocolate both sound good :D

Happy to be of service.

Could you point me at some of the Buffy ones you like?

Um... sure. I was thinking of some of the layouts on freelayouts. It looks as if the picture site most people were using for the previews has changed or erased things, so a lot of the previews are not showing now.

http://community.livejournal.com/freelayouts/1100764.html - which isn't great, but it's the kind of thing I was thinking of and looking at

Ones I liked:
http://community.livejournal.com/freelayouts/1093632.html
http://community.livejournal.com/freelayouts/1084800.html#cutid1
http://community.livejournal.com/freelayouts/898163.html#cutid1
http://community.livejournal.com/freelayouts/685261.html#cutid1
http://community.livejournal.com/freelayouts/881081.html#cutid1
http://community.livejournal.com/freelayouts/781790.html#cutid1
http://community.livejournal.com/freelayouts/897366.html#cutid1
http://community.livejournal.com/freelayouts/896360.html#cutid1
http://community.livejournal.com/freelayouts/1072820.html#cutid1
http://community.livejournal.com/freelayouts/1060774.html#cutid1 - this isn't one of my fandoms, but they've given it a lovely, moody look. I have a problem with white print on black background, though: I like reading it fine, but if you want to copy it or go to print, you have to go through extra steps to make it legible.

http://community.livejournal.com/freelayouts/997783.html?mode=reply

These maybe appeal mostly because I like Spike - what, objective, me?

http://community.livejournal.com/freelayouts/996229.html#cutid1
http://community.livejournal.com/freelayouts/761864.html#cutid1
http://community.livejournal.com/freelayouts/993073.html#cutid1
http://community.livejournal.com/freelayouts/978506.html#cutid1

And oooh:
http://community.livejournal.com/freelayouts/900988.html#cutid1

(Picturing that with Captain Jack and/or the Doctor... mmmm.)

Another "ooh":
http://community.livejournal.com/freelayouts/881746.html#cutid1

Again, not my fandom, but nice:
http://community.livejournal.com/nox_gfx/2911.html

This is a really nice Doctor Who one:
http://community.livejournal.com/photoshopranger/36930.html

One of the nicest layouts I've ever seen was for "The Professionals" but I can't find it now. Maybe I'll ask on my LJ.

I'm currently thinking neutral shades and fonts with serifs... a slightly deeper than usual full width header image with the links centred beneath it and maybe a very faint lineart background image...

Sounds beautiful!

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

Coo ta
Yes I've been in Freelayouts myself a fair bit recently and had to bite my lip a couple of times when the layout I've wanted to look at further hasn't been there *howls*


*goes to look at goodies*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think freelayouts is a terrific community. Though I'd be happier in general if people offering previews of their designs did it a little larger, and it's frustrating when the preview is just... gone.

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

UM may I beg for concrit on a Nine header I started this morning?? It's WIP...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, of course! Send it on.

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

http://pics.livejournal.com/mad_jaks/pic/002tw3z0

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It's beautiful. I love it. I am in awe. And not just in awe of Nine's striking looks: your talent in putting it together too. It's magnificent.

Should I be saying something besides "It's beautiful"? What more did you intend to do? I'm tempted to say, "Don't touch it, anything more would ruin it," but I don't know what you have in mind.

Can I ask how you did it, if it can be simply described? What art/photo program are you using?

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

Hee! you can say it's beautiful as much as you like I shan't mind a bit :D

I don't know is it too yellow? Or anything like that? Or maybe it is very pixelly in places I haven't noticed? I don't know *flails*

Background texture layer, a couple of layers with a differnt images of Nine (the ones on the right), another different texture layer, and then a final image of Nine - which was a happy accident if I am being honest.

Okay, so there was a chunk of fiddling with the texture layers and there were mask layers and the eraser tool was involved as well :D

I am using Corel's Paint Shop Pro X2 (or in proper language 12 *sighs*) I recently finally updated from my very old copy of PSP 8 which I've been using the last couple of years.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on the new program. It looks as if it's paying off in results!

I don't know is it too yellow?

It is very yellow, but I wouldn't say 'too yellow'. It had me thinking of the sunshine of other worlds. Not an unpleasant look. No pixel problems that I can see.

I really like the shadow behind the image of Nine on the left.

The one in the middle - there's a bit of grey behind his head that doesn't quite look right as a shadow or effect and should maybe be removed or blurred or brightened. Also a similar grey line from his cheekbone to his lapel just to the left of his face - it should either be more transparent or removed, as it distracts.

I also really, really like the blurred effect at the bottom of the picture under the left-hand image of Nine.

Thanks for explaining the process. I really really would love to get Corel Paint Shop Pro now that I have a nice new computer that it would work on. But... it would take time, and I keep wailing that I don't have enough time to write. What's a person to do? (Rhetorical question: don't bother answering.)

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

Okay that shadow is *easily* fixed it is part of the layer that has the Doctor propped up against a wall in it. Thi sis why you need other people to look :D

I like yellow - especially when the days start getting darker earlier.

What's a person to do?
I know you said don't answer but- Ask for it for Christmas?? ;-)

http://pics.livejournal.com/mad_jaks/pic/002txye0

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear my shadow-spotting was helpful!

I like yellow, too. It works well in this case.

Ask for it for Christmas?? ;-)

Good idea. (Does Santa Clause read LJ?)

http://pics.livejournal.com/mad_jaks/pic/002txye0

Oh, nice.

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

With all us good little girls and boys in here; he is *bound* to.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I hope so!