Finished my first website! Critiques please!

[Sin.dc2r]

I just finished a bit ago and could use the MR members opinions. What do you think?

http://www.chondroforums.com

-Michael

[Mydriasis]

It's good.

The green and neon blue color is hideous, but I guess it fits to the topic at hand.

I don't know much about snakes but when I was little a freind and I would catch some down by the river. We would put them into a shoe box and carry them home. We wanted to see them eat stuff. So we collected grass hoppers and such, but they never ate anything we gave them. I guess they were affraid of us.

Kids can be so mean!

[Sin.dc2r]

Would you recommend another color pattern?

-Michael

[dpaanlka]

I actually think the striking green and blue go well with your snake theme. But it's a bit much green. Perhaps keep green elements (like navigation, borders, etc...), but make the background like white or something.

[dpaanlka]

Also, I would do away with the obvious "powered by PHP" and MySQL stuff... ditto with the validate. On a snake forum, nobody is going to care if it validates or not.

The titles for the forum categories, such as "Chondro Forums" and "Breeding" - try making the font color a dark blue. There is just soooo much neon green going on there.

Like this:

Breeding
Pairings, clutches, and reproductive husbandry.

[knackroller]

Site design = good
Green color overdose = bad


hahahah....is the color really that bad? I actually lol when I read your post. So, it does fit the topic (they are green, with blue accents etc) but would you recommend another color pattern? One of the reasons I started the forum (beside to learn basics and have fun) was because the other python sites were so gaudy. I appreciate your sincerity. =)

-Michael

[Sin.dc2r]

Thanks dpaanlka for your consideration and tips. I have removed the buttons from the bottom and am considering removing the search box as well. Which of the two color schemes do you like best? Thanks again.

[iJaz]

The green is more original and interesting, but the grey is better for my eyes.

[DEXTERITY]

the green is interesting and does fit the mood. Is there a way the person viewing the site can choose between the green or the gray one you posted?

Also and maybe you are going to do this, but you should actually start some topics so people have something to initally read and comment on..

If you post good information then others will hopefully follow and realize the value of the site.

[dpaanlka]

Are you actually making these? Or are these just templates you found somewhere?

Also and maybe you are going to do this, but you should actually start some topics so people have something to initally read and comment on..

If you post good information then others will hopefully follow and realize the value of the site.

Very good advice. That's what I did at my site, and now I have almost 1,300 posts and over 200 members (of course nothing compared to MR, but still impressive for me).

[Sin.dc2r]

That is good advice about the content......it will take awhile to add alot so I am doing it as I go.

I would like to thank everyone for their advice and also MR for this experience. You guys really are great~ =)

-Michael

[abbottpc.com]

I do agree, the green color is hard on the eyes, but it is better than the Grey.

[emorydunn]

Well, personaly I like it. But that being said, it is A WHOLE LOT OF GREEN!!! But that has been stated in almost every post. The thing I think needs work is the usability of the site, for example: the nav bar, only the text itsself is a link where the whoel image area should be. And change the nav bar rollover color, it should be a bit more stiking.

And now before I get an attack from someone about how this is just a modified template: I know- and it can still be changed but just requires a bit of diving into the HTML code itsself (if that is not what you have already done)

[ThunderLounge]

What about a mix?

Maybe the green up top, even the main menu, and then gray for the rest?

For a simple way to find color blends, that generally work together, try this site (http://hlrnet.com/colormatch/).

Maybe use the blue from the snake for the category/title backgrounds or something?

[Sin.dc2r]

Thanks guys for the continued support and critiques. You guys have given me a lot of great ideas and I will continue to try and incorporate them into my site.

-Michael