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GlueBeard |
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Post subject: Junkphreak.com
 Posted: Aug 24, 2004 - 07:25 PM
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Pirate Critic
Joined: Aug 18, 2004
Posts: 344
Location: The Isle of GlueBeard
Status: Offline
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http://www.junkphreak.com/
My initial impressions are that this site is nicely done, one which has a sense of artistry about it. As one who is partial towards darker colors, as a general rule, the choice of colors for the theme meets with my approval, on the levels of color and aesthetics.
The left and right blocks are complimentary of one another, although the title bars for each embrace a different approach. The curvatures of the snake or vine like arms differ, from left block to right block, which enhances variety, but they are in thematic harmony, since they are of the same basic type.
The center blocks build upon this thematic harmony, even as the light and dark gray centers of the center blocks provide a really nice aesthetic touch of contrast to the site. The light gray stands out well against the dark gray, almost black, background, as the even darker gray block borders and black vine extensions weave a nice tapestry of dark-oriented thematics.
The dark borders of the left, right, and center blocks imbue the theme with a sense of strength, even as the vine extensions employ curvature to break the squareness of the standard left-center-right blocks common to many PostNuke sites.
In the upper left and upper right corners, the vibrant orange spheroids provide further geometric variety to the site, and their positioning inside of the vine extensions located there is a nice touch, in an aesthetic sense. I do like the vibrant orange, for this particular theme, over their pale counterparts that adorn the title bars of the left block. This paleness is due, I suspect, to the washing effect that is traceable to utilizing a gradient for those particular title bars. I dislike the white reflection/glare that accompanies the left block title bars, the white which sits directly under the black text lettering of the left block title bars.
The white of the text lettering, however, is a plus for this particular theme, and is legible, since the white contrasts well against the overall dark grays that dominate the background areas of this site. The off-yellow/off-brown text lettering used elsewhere in the blocks also suits this theme nicely.
The links at the very top of the page, the ones that lie just right of center, I have mixed feelings about. I very much like the fact that the theme designer utilized mouseover sound effects. This is a nice touch. The actual sound effects used, though, I am indifferent to. They are not bad, but rather, I am just unsure that they necessarily fit the overall dark tone of the site. Furthermore, the light gray top half of the links in question washes out the orange text lettering, reducing legibility of the text on those particular links.
I don't know what the graphic in the top right corner is supposed to be, but it is aesthetically appealing, nonetheless. The text lettering directly under it, however, is exceedingly small in size, and detracts from the aesthetics of the site. The font, itself, as used there, I dislike, as well as the small size, which I dislike enormously.
Redirecting my attention back to the center block section, to the Junkphreak.com logo that rests dead center in my monitor's screen, I like the wrench-like geometric shape that sits beneath the lettering of the logo. Both the shape and the gray wash look good. The lettering, itself, of the logo, however, I find to be unimpressive. I like the somewhat thick orange border of that logo's lettering, but while I like the dark gray interior of the lettering, I am left with the impression that the interior should be thicker. Otherwise, the border of the lettering trounces the weakling interior, rather than complimenting it.
I think that a more bold and impressive font would compliment the theme more than the one presently used. That particular font used in the logo, however, simply does not feel like the right font to use on this particular site, when the rest of the look and feel of the front page is taken into consideration. That particular font simply lacks the necessary strength and vibrancy to make an energetic impact on this particular site. It simply can't compete with the elegant and nicely done vine extensions, from an artistic standpoint, and it lacks the strength and boldness to carve out its own niche in this theme's environment.
Understatement, in and of itself, is not an inherently negative quality in a web page, provided, however, that it fits the overall theme in question. That theme, however, is not this theme. The rest of the front page, with its sense of strength conveyed by resort to dark colors, and appeal to the artistic senses, via the timely and well-positioned use of vine extensions, just cries out IMPACT!! Yet, the logo font, even though it is of a considerable size, size does not necessarily automatically translate into impact. They are not one and the same thing.
The site immediately grabs my attention, when loading it in my web browser, and rather than the logo, which is large in size driving the point home further, like a hammer slamming against an anvil, this particular logo, because of its lettering, alone, reminds me more of a silent movie. The logo is made the centerpiece of the front page, but, unfortunately, it does not live up to the high expectations imposed upon it by the rest of the theme's excellent presentation.
The small graphics used in the stories in the center block section I like very much, and fit this theme well. What I dislike about them, however, is the excess degree to which the white washes out some of the lettering. The green tile squares of these graphics is, again, a very nice touch.
The vibrant orange used in the title bars of the center blocks, on the right edge of the title bars, is also a nice touch, from the standpoint of aesthetics and geometry. The chopped off left edge of that vibrant orange section is a departure from standard square-ology, and sort of "points" one back to the lettering of the title bars, in quasi-arrow fashion.
Make no mistake about it, the theme, overall, I like very much. But, with that said, there are a few things about it that I think could be improved upon, to yield an even better theme. Nowhere is this more true than with the lettering of the logo graphic that sits center stage on the front page of the site. Don't tease me with hefty portions of impact, only to let me down with such a dominant-sized logo that lacks the strength to drive its point home.
Accordingly, I rate this site's theme, in its incarnation when I viewed it, to be a 7.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
#1 - The vertical space of background area visible on either side of the center block section is not the same, with the area of background space on the right side of the center block being wider than the area of background space on the left side of the center block.
#2 - The horizontal bar located in the footer section at the bottom of the front page is a work of art, in itself. |
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xcat |
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 26, 2004 - 04:45 AM
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Joined: Aug 23, 2004
Posts: 67
Status: Offline
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Hi GlueBeard I am the admin of junkphreak.com, I am impressed with your detailed criticism you have an elligant way of pointing out deficiencies in a very neutral and non abbrasive tone which is refreshing and informative. As I cannot take the credit for the wonderfull theme thats was created here and PT I will agree with you on your observations and comments.
I do thank you for the comment on the logo I did not spend the amount of time I should have creating it since I was so excited about getting this theme instaled. Sometimes spur of the moment creating is not allways the best. I will take you comment to head and work on that as soon as possible.
Thanks again for your comment and sugestions check back soon and reevaluate the logo. |
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GlueBeard |
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 26, 2004 - 05:34 PM
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Pirate Critic
Joined: Aug 18, 2004
Posts: 344
Location: The Isle of GlueBeard
Status: Offline
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I have stopped back in to your web site again, xcat, in order to see if you have changed your site logo, which you have.
I do think that the new logo is an improvement over the old logo. I remain unconvinced, however, that the changes to the logo rise to the level sufficient to do the rest of your theme justice. Understand, your logo is not ugly, it just still lacks the degree of impact which I feel that your theme is deserving of.
While I did not really intend to conduct a new review of your theme, per se, I would like to share a few additional comments about your site, as it looks as of this particular date and time that I visited it.
NEW COMMENTS
#1 - As far as "Donation" type blocks are concerned, I think that the one in use on your site is one of the more nicely done ones that I have encountered.
#2 - I would encourage you to reconsider the amount of information overload to which you are subjecting your users, where the front page of the site is concerned.
#3 - You might wish to consider making the text in the title bars in bold, to enhance contrast and to increase definition in those criticial points.
#4 - While browsing your site's front page, I noticed in the "Shout Out!" box on the left side the following comment by one of your site's users:
"VMax
Still can't upload an avatar from my local machine...sigh
Aug 17, 2004 - 03:17 PM"
If this is still a problem, you might wish to consider trying out the EnvoAvatar module for PostNuke. It makes uploading or changing avatars by users a piece of cake. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 26, 2004 - 06:17 PM
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iv never heard of EnvoAvatar i'll check that out, thanks. We modified an existing donation block to suit our needs, I think it turned out fairly good although im not to excited about the php thermo graphic, but it serves the purpose. ahhh the logo the cursed logo, that will forever be a work in progress i feal  |
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GlueBeard |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 29, 2004 - 06:26 AM
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Pirate Critic
Joined: Aug 18, 2004
Posts: 344
Location: The Isle of GlueBeard
Status: Offline
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I stopped by the site again today. I notice that you have replaced the previous logo graphic with a vibrant green one.
That's a very nice logo, and it is certainly very eye-catching.
I commend you for the change. |
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xcat |
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Post subject:
Posted: Oct 03, 2004 - 02:29 AM
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Joined: Aug 23, 2004
Posts: 67
Status: Offline
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| Thanks mate! |
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GlueBeard |
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Post subject:
Posted: Oct 14, 2005 - 03:42 AM
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Pirate Critic
Joined: Aug 18, 2004
Posts: 344
Location: The Isle of GlueBeard
Status: Offline
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| I dropped back in, today (October 13th, 2005) to see how your site was doing. That's still a great looking theme, Xcat. |
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xcat |
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Post subject:
Posted: Oct 14, 2005 - 09:38 PM
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Joined: Aug 23, 2004
Posts: 67
Status: Offline
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| Thanks, looking to change it soon. Trying to find something that will live up to the current one. |
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GlueBeard |
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 10, 2007 - 10:55 AM
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Pirate Critic
Joined: Aug 18, 2004
Posts: 344
Location: The Isle of GlueBeard
Status: Offline
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| Your site would not load, today, when I tried it. I tried it, twice, but no cigar. |
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