Skin Design Underway, Requires Some Help

[Mindlash]

Previously I posted: http://www.directadmin.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=253
which displays a design I developed a while back, but seems to have lost intrest in coding partnership (As I am not a DA Coder).

I've just recently found myself acquiring a DA license for a new client of mine, and would much rather design my layout which reflects the professionalism of the company...

At any rate, I've started... and before I get to far in the design aspect I wanted to get some feedback.

1) How does it look... feel...
2) The direction of the design do you feel it will easily be navigation-friendly
3) Does anyone have time on their hands to accept a PSD file to begin slicing it as needed... etc etc.

Feedback is always great. :-)

Thanks.

.:. Mindlash
location: http://www.mindlash.com/images/directadmin (layout 02)

[ProWebUK]

prefer layout002 over layout001, neither are colours i would personally select, i would try a contrasting colour mixed in with layout 002, everything in different shades of orange seems very bland to me. Apart from that, the font used at the top:

> DirectAdmin
> Home
> Logout
> General
> Email
> MySQL
> Domain
> Stats
> Advanced

all seem blurred.. make sure you have anti alias enabled on the fonts :)

Chris

[UltimeWWW]

Your 002 would be nice if you could change the colors to it :)

:)

[Mindlash]

UltimeWWW,
Logicly the 'color schemes' should be changeable, once the inner code work has been written.

Would simply be a matter then of changing hues/tints/etc...

Thanks for the compliments and comments

ProWebUK,
Thank you for your tips. That's actually a 'look' I was going for on the fonts (non aliased)... gives it more of a techie feel... Though I get your point.

Thank you as well for your comments.

Please keep them coming. As well, if someone can contact me that is interested in working with me on making this skin a reality, I would greatly appreciate it ;)

AIM: house98
MSN: house_98

Take care.

[Andrax]

I actually liked both skins quite a bit.

Both are very functional. But I think that readability is a primary concern in a skin as far as the text goes. Don't forget that many of the people who will be using the DA CP will have little idea what they are actually doing :D

Them being able to clearly read the menus is top priority.

[Mindlash]

Point taken...

I'll revise.

[Andrax]

I just wish I could offer more help. Would love to see those as production skins!

[Mindlash]

*blush*

Thanks!

[Andrax]

Slightly OT:

I just ran a Google search for "Direct Admin Skins" and "DirectAdmin Skins" and the results were not pretty. :)

So if anyone is looking for skins, it looks like this is the ONLY place atm where you will have a prayer of finding them.

Unfortunately, most of my skinning experience (from forums) involves using another skin (completed) and then hacking it up a bit to make it what I want. Never built it from the ground up.

Guess I better get started fooling around with the hows and whys of making a skin so I am of some use at some future date. :)

Any tips on getting started, getting the basics of skinning the interface etc?

[Mindlash]

Taking a few suggestions into consideration:
http://www.mindlash.com/images/directadmin/layout002/layout_02_continuation-c.jpg

Clearer, crisper, some color-mods....

Thoughts?


Remember, this is just the 'user' view. Appropriate headers would be modified for Admin/Reseller.

[ProWebUK]

like the contrasting colour idea you followed, you need to continue it i think...... the top bar ( > DirectAdmin Home Logout) and the top bottom of the content section along with its border should all, i think should be continued with the blue :)

The menu text also looks 100% better :)

Chris

[Mindlash]

Thanks for that suggestion. I have played with it, and I think you may be correct with the contrasting views for the 'bars'.

I've made those changes, as well as created a sample rollover. Most of it is still images, but the rollovers work (upper menu, normal menu)...

Feedback welcomed and encouraged.

.:. Mindlash

http://www.mindlash.com/images/directadmin/layout002/layout_02_continuation-d_PREVIEW/

[Andrax]

That deffinitely looks sharp.

Keep up the good work.

[Two_A_T]

Very nice skin idea!

But then again, maybe I'm biased! ;)

(have no idea why I could be though!) :D

[Mindlash]

Thanks to everyone that's given pointers and encouragement.

I've found someone to begin coding this and future skins I develop.

I'll post here when development is complete, and testing is ready :-)

.:. Mindlash

[Seth]

Any idea when it will be ready? Looks great!

-Seth

[Mindlash]

Thanks,

Actually, I have a partner working on it now, as I give final slices to him ...

Will keep this thread updated.

.:. Mindalsh

[Andrax]

Which one did you decide to go with? Or are you working on both?

[Mindlash]

The second one for now. It has been given the title: Florida Sun

[interfasys]

Will it be :
-available for free?
-available for a fee?
-available only to your customers?

[Mindlash]

This design will be released for free. I will be posting shortly a call for beta testers. I will make a new thread just for testing the skin.

;)

[interfasys]

Nice!

[Mindlash]

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up.

The programmer has the majority of the 'user' section developed.

I'll keep you updated as the skin nears its beta testing phase.

Thanks for all the comments, and feel free to keep them coming.

.:. Mindlash

[Gadget]

Where is the Action tree? Thats a nice feature of DA too nice for it not to be included in such a killer skin. BTW can you email me I would like to speak with you. BBryant(at)brycopc(dot)com