Sent by Marilyn Matty on 29 August 2002 20:08
on 8/26/02 9:13 PM, Gail Cohen at [EMAIL-REMOVED] wrote:
> Learned Listers,
>
> There comes a time in everyone's life when you just have to hear it like
> it is.
>
> <http://www.hayrides.net/prices.html>
No need to go into panic mode - the layout seems to be working just fine on
my Mac (OS 9) in NS 6.2 and IE 5.1. However, it does degrade, but not very
gracefully in NC 4.7, and as many schools use Macs and have older equipment
and browsers, and many libraries have older stuff as well, you might want to
consider at least an @import, or an "upgrade your browser" or something.
>
> Every page validates as does the style sheet. There is no index page
> since the client and I haven't negotiated a fee for service yet.
>
> I've checked it in Netscape 6.1, Mozilla 1.0, Netscape 4.79 and Internet
> Explorer 6.0 all on a WinME box.
>
> I'd like to find out where the design really breaks down. Perhaps in
> Opera? I don't have that one for testing. I guess I should.
>
> Waiting with baited breath for the comments.
I do think it would be more effective if you spook up the design a bit, and
CSS should make some experimenting easier. I'd try orange w/black copy text
or a black BG with light grey type and lots of orange accents - headers,
subheads, bullets, etc. Some photo edges and/or effects would be a great
idea.
The page seems to be crying out for some focal points, and a strong,
Halloween or Fall/Harvest statement that hits the visitors right between the
eyes when it loads. And I'd definately go for a big logo in a goth or horror
font. Mason would be a good choice, but it's expensive if you don't already
have it, and there are lots of free options all over the web - Morpheus,
1979 (this is the Smashing Pumpkins' font, and they give it away for free),
Double Feature (The Rocky Horror Show Font) are great options. If you want
something less scary and more rustic looking, try ITC Beesknees (I think
this comes with ATM Deluxe, if you don't have it there's a free knockoff
called Beetlejuice), or another font that's not the overused Comic Sans. I'd
also throw in a tagline or some flourishes into the logo. If you go for
rustic rather than Halloween, you can try some autumn leaves, etc.
Here's a good source for free Halloween fonts. Most of them are awful, but
there seem to be lots of good options too:
http://www.gothic.net/~tygre/
HTH,
Marilyn
