New logo?

[kc]

On the front page, at the top, you will see the current logo for the site. It's not very good, I made it in five minutes on the day I set up the site and I think it is time for a change.

If anyone fancies having a go at a new logo to replace it, I would like to see your efforts.

When I did mine, I tried to get in the old and the modern, the ships and the crews, the big ships and the small ships, and the idea of it being a world forum, although clearly we are naturally (as an originally UK based site) edging over to the British or at least western side of the world if you could call it that (just check the number of threads / posts in each section)

The size of the logo must be 900 pixels by 80 pixels and must have somewhere, fairly prominently, "World Naval Ships Forums", although I would expect that is fairly obvious.

There is no promise to select a new banner, but in all probability, the creativity on this board must be up to more than what I can put together in five minutes. Equally, there is no guarantee how long a new banner would stay there, although we have had that one there since July when we began, so I would expect it to be at least that sort of timescale.

I 'may' be able to arrange a small prize, most likely a big digital image of a ship emailed to the winner(such that it could be printed out and framed), but again, no promise of this.

You may use images from the site pages (non-forum) or any others that you can get permission for, or have yourself. I managed to cover up most of the pictures I put on with a big grey box which was supposed to be transparent, but never mind that. :o

If you do decide to have a go, have fun!

[herakles]

A worthy challenge!

I would hope that a logo would:
a) reflect the new and the old
b) have an international flavour to it.

But you've really said all this Kc.

[The Sailor]

Banners are hard work Kc. I have done two before but used aircraft because they are long in the pic.
I will give it a try though.
I am keen to see a new coloured banner up there.
Don't know why you mentioned that we are now an allied nations site as that seems another issue. However I'd like to see the Russian, Austro Hungarian and Italian ships thing deleted, as the small interest there can be covered in 'other ships'.
If a replacement is needed I'd like to see a Fleet Air Arm and Coastal Command section.

[romft1945]

Blimey I would not know where to start, anyone got any pointers, it seems a great challange shame not to have a bash,in the words pf the prophet Isiah:eek: (HELP).
Rom

[Commodore Armiger]

I would also suggest that a masthead (newspaper term for that bit at the top - stolen from guess where!?) with national flags is inappropriate. Which do you leave out? Which gets precedence?

While it is, to date, true that the vast majority of members are from "allied" nations, it would I feel be a pity to suggest that others are somehow unwelcome. Would we not be interested in a German's view on aspects of the World Wars, a Russian's on the Soviet naval build-up post WW2, or a Turk's on the Dardanelles campaign? OK so they would need to be written in English, but it is the language of the Net.

Let's not forget also that the breadth of interest among the membership stretches back beyond the age of the trireme and through the age of sail. Doesn't the masthead need to reflect all interests?

[herakles]

Very sound points. Only recently a German member contributed some excellent material.

My passion is the day of sail so I would want that reflected too. Hmmm, it could end up being a very big display!

[The Sailor]

Thats why it would be good to be in Kc's position and not listen to anyone....LOL

[tomsam]

Hi KC.
I think the format is fine and the grey/blue scheme is pleasing to the eye and indicative of all things naval. The only thing I can suggest is to change the pictures to give a greater time span and decrease the size of the writing so one can see more of the pictures. Of course these are only my views and suggestions.
It is easy to sit back and say this and that about someones work when you are not "putting in" yourself. Not being a whiz kid with the design of all things computers I for one appreciate all your efforts.
Tomsam.

[The Sailor]

In fact, the only thing I think is wrong about the present logo is that the words need to be seperated from the pictures.

Wouldn't mind seeing a couple of other blue tones for the page colours.
In other forums a member can choose between several colours to suit his taste. But only one stays as the default colour

[tonclass]

Just having a play around with a banner creator. The size limits what you can put into a banner, so to put ships & or flags of all nations is nigh on impossible. The banner should reflect the content and the name of the website to which it is being used.
I've created one or two. Some good - some not so good.
So here is what I've knocked up so far.
Rgds
Rik

[tonclass]

A couple more...

[kc]

Good efforts Rik, I like that last one! :)

[tonclass]

It's only when I finished it did I realise it matched the colour scheme of the forum, kc.
Rik
PS. Here's another

[romft1945]

Ok well how did you do it, I have asked this once,or is this some trade secret between computer buffs,:mad:

[kc]

rom, I use photo editing software/ graphics software for all the work with images I do. There are many out there but to give a few names Photoshop and Paintshop are two of the leaders. It does take some getting used to to use these programs, but if you work with images every day like I do, it becomes second naure.

There are some set programs out there, like the banner creator Rik used, so if you are really wanting to have a go, the software is available on the internet for free.

It's not a secret between computer buffs, but I'll admit it is an advantage to have some experience with these often complicated programs.

[kc]

Regarding national flags etc, what I was saying is that although we are a world forum (hence the name) it is inevitable that most of our members will come from the UK, US or 'the colonies' (:)) due to the origins of the site as a UK based warship directory. I personally would welcome any members from anywhere else as much as I welcome those from those places mentioned above. I noted, for example, herakles' thread on the Thai navy, which was a very enlightening piece for, I'm sure, a lot of us.

Getting rid of the Russian etc navies sections is out of the question. While they may have very few posts just now, historically these countries are very significant naval powers and since we are, for the most part, dealing with naval history, these deserve sections of their own. Malta has one of the largest pages on our site, but it is still a minor navy - the page is made up of lots of photos of their patrol boats dashing about the Grand Harbour.

Anyway, I would prefer the logo to ignore specific countries as such, and concentrate on the different ships, their crews, both in the past and recent past, and if possible a 'world' theme. I know that is asking a lot in such a small area, but that is what we are about.

[romft1945]

Thanks KC Ill have a go but wont admit to it,:confused: lol

[Stan.J]

Tonclass, I liked the last one, But a little section of sail may be needed. Only my opinion however,
Stan

[tonclass]

Will have a go and add some sail just for you Stan :-)

Rik

[herakles]

For me too Rik. The RN's great history has a huge chunk gained from the days of sail.

It was during the age of sail that Britain gained world dominance of the sea.

It was during the days of metal that she lost it.

[The Sailor]

Eureka! I've done it. Here is my entry. A Banner to suit everybody. The Brits, septic tanks and all the rest love our flag.

When the cheering ceased, The Sailor was carried shoulder high to the dias by an admiring crowd, where he accepted the award from the Admiral of the feet.

[herakles]

I'm sorry but I'm not in favour of it. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with navies. Except the banner. It's nice though.

[The Sailor]

Gee Herk, you can be a spoil sport. You're supposed to second my motion.

[tonclass]

Perhaps the logo should include soldiers as well as we seem to have drifted into an 'Armed Forces Forum' rather than a 'World Naval SHIP' forum ??

Just a thought.........

Rik

[The Sailor]

You seem to be in a bit of a bad way this morning Rik. Letting the ladies have it for spelling and others for calling HMS ,The HMS.
Now you don't want the navy included in the naval forum.

[tonclass]

'Oh Contrere' Sailor. It's quite the opposite. It's ONLY the Navy i want on this site (as the title suggests) Not a free-for-all amongst the rest of the Armed Forces.
Rik

[The Sailor]

Where is this free for all Rik? It looks naval to me. Everyone tries their best. However, please give an illustration of where the non naval stuff is tainting the forum.

[astraltrader]

Rick -It is only my opinion but I think you are almost there with the best solution so far - which is of course your last one.
IMO if you leave Grand Fleet bit where it is then centralise and slightly reduce F114 -then as Stan and Herk are rightly saying put a picture of an old HMS Victory era ship to its right so you then have the correct symmetry.

That just leaves the Banner heading which should be in a slightly darker blue and centalised so it fits above the reduced F114 and runs across the mast and top bit of the funnel - but please use a capital N for naval...
Could you humour me and try that for everyones inspection. I am sure you could knock up this in a short time! I have a good eye for layout and I feel it would work!

[herakles]

We do seem to be edging forward! As I've said, something from the Age of Sail is to me self explanatory.

And I think we are sorting out just what the forum is for. There are enough forum rooms to satisfy anyone. One doesn't have to visit them all.

:)

[astraltrader]

I hope so, Herk...

[Maritime Michael Ian]

What about this one then?? and She's afloat too!

Ian

[astraltrader]

Could well work, Ian. We will have to see what Rick can cobble up!

[gunnersmate]

As I'm relatively new to the site, I would not have a clue as to how to change the Forum for the best. The wording does need to be less conspicuous, to allow the pictures at the back to be seen. However, having looked at what Rik has produced, some masts and sails would'nt go amiss.
But all the same for that, It's a pretty good effort.
Baz

[kookaburra]

I see this discussion goes back almost a year, but since it has been bumped ... I think the present banner is quite a good effort, in that the typography and the field are elegant, readable, and somehow suit the generally measure tone of the forum (that's right, it's 'measured isn't it).

The first and last pictures are good in that both look into the field. The tones are also good, and we should be careful with any tampering with that.

However, the residual problem I see is that pics 3 and 5, particularly are totally lost and rendered meaningless - and pic 2 to a lesser extent. Also, we have a boat (the sub) but only a hull and partial superstructure of a ship.

Is the width and depth of the banner fixed ?. A fraction more wriggle room either way would help.

All that said, a banner needs only be suggestive of the forum's purpose, and not specific in all it's content, and this one (Rik's work?) doesn't do a bad job.

[mik43]

I've read the posts above with interest, but to be honest this thread has been the only time that I have actually 'looked' at the logo. IMO the only 'look' or more likely 'glance' that the logo gets from everyone is just to make sure that they have got the right internet page they were looking for! Now if someone was going to go the whole way and redesign the website with an all singing all dancing home page then it would be a different story. But even then most people would set their PCs up to open at the 'index' page!
So my vote goes to the 'if it ain't broke then don't fix it' brigade.
Mik

[CYLLA]

Hi Rik ,
I do like the "Leander " one ,pity it can't have wavy water around it ,as like on the "ton class" site.
But unfortunately there is not enough space for the hogging :(:(

CYLLA

[Kevin123]

It might be a good idea to just put the words underneath the pictures. Kevin.