Deskthority header images v2

matt3o · 03 Jan 2019, 19:57

If you wish to suggest a header image for Deskthority please post it in this thread, just follow few guidelines.

There's not a fixed size. 1200x480 is a good starting point. Width can be a bit bigger, height can be either a little smaller or bigger
The point of interest must be vertically centered. No matter the size, the image will be always centered vertically, so the action must happen in the middle. Anything on top and on the bottom can be cropped (approx 80 pixels per side) or only visible on mobile in portrait mode
JPG only and quality can be rather low (in the 60-70 range)
The DT logo is always on the left and white, but certain measures have been taken so that the logo will be (almost) always readable. Anyway try to avoid too much complexity on the left side.
Be sure to have the rights or permission to actually use the image

You can preview a list of active headers here headers.php

Thanks for your help!

Below some examples

Spoiler:

Muirium · 03 Jan 2019, 20:39

The suggested aspect ratio is much less landscape than the classic style. Like 3X as big vertically, at a glance. Vertical screen space is at a premium these days with 16:10 displays. I would not suggest going that direction. (Indeed I even read DT in landscape on my phone.)

Plus: I think the extra wide headers we insist upon have made some very artful compositions. You just can’t drop any old keyboard pic in the current box, instead you’ve got to think creatively, which is just the right demand for photographers.

matt3o · 03 Jan 2019, 20:56

190px height is what you will normally see. don't start complaining just yet

Muirium · 03 Jan 2019, 23:03

Not complaining, but seeking to understand! (And get my influence in early…)

matt3o · 04 Jan 2019, 00:15

I would get rid of the whole banner... but it's a kind of DT tradition and I'm not ready to let it go... yet

Hypersphere · 04 Jan 2019, 00:35

I like the banner, and I tend to agree with Muirium regarding aspect ratio. I also trust the aesthetic judgment of matt3o. It will be interesting to see the new site up and running.

Findecanor · 04 Jan 2019, 07:38

I just hope that the header won't be too "responsive". I browse with windows around 900 pixels wide, and I don't want anything to be hidden, anything to be relegated to any "hamburger" menu, anything to get higher or ridiculously bigger.
Having to zoom out to 90% would be OK but that's it.

This is Deskthority, so the site should be optimised for desktop, not mobile. Also, we are power users, not n00bs who use one app at a time maximised.

andrewjoy · 04 Jan 2019, 12:29

Please no. Don't have it scale when you zoom.

Prefer it how it is now where its locked to the correct size

kbdfr · 04 Jan 2019, 15:04

matt3o wrote: ↑[…] the header (and the whole site) will resize based on your browser window or screen resolution. The image will resize accordingly and will always fill the whole header. […]

I see rough times coming

Until now header images have an assigned size, with the effect that
- they already "always fill the whole header" and
- they are made to fit following human visual criteria and not by a mysterious and ignorant algorithm.

Besides, I may be an outsider, but I don't want my computer to decide for me which size is best.

Please keep it plain and simple!

matt3o · 04 Jan 2019, 15:13

thanks for your help and support, I knew I could count on you!

depletedvespene · 04 Jan 2019, 15:23

I have to agree with kbdfr. Also, 480px (even if cropping it a bit) may be too much. Do remember that monitors nowadays are... vertically challenged, to put it mildly (heck, I'm right now stuck with my work-issued laptop with a 1366×768 monitor). Current images on the DT header are less than half that, so...

IMHO. YMMV. HAND.

kbdfr · 04 Jan 2019, 15:25

matt3o wrote: ↑thanks for your help and support, I knew I could count on you!

Sounds like you're pissed off, sorry if my remarks offended you, that was not my intention.

matt3o · 04 Jan 2019, 15:40

This thread is for posting the new headers. please discuss forum updates in the update thread. I have a very limited amount of time that I can dedicate to this rather challenging task (new server, forum software upgrade, wiki upgrade and new layout), I'm sorry I can't discuss every little aspect of the update but it would take forever and I need to work on this fast.

That being said. Responsive layout is not an option. The layout will resize, so the header image will resize. It works very well, you wouldn't even notice, the image doesn't look stretched or constrained. The site is optimized for desktop, it is usable on mobile but certainly not optimized for it.

Once the transition to the new system is completed we can discuss on how to improve what we have. At the moment I'm concentrating on getting this thing started.

madrobby · 04 Jan 2019, 16:10

I'm gonna post a bunch. All pictures made by me and licensed under the terms of the do the fuck you want with it license (aka public domain).

: IMG_1801.jpg (391.22 KiB) Viewed 95784 times

madrobby · 04 Jan 2019, 16:13

: IMG_2514.jpg (394.26 KiB) Viewed 95781 times

madrobby · 04 Jan 2019, 16:17

: IMG_2515.jpg (389.59 KiB) Viewed 95775 times

madrobby · 04 Jan 2019, 16:21

: IMG_2516.jpg (330.61 KiB) Viewed 95770 times

matt3o · 04 Jan 2019, 16:32

great! thanks madrobby

Myoth · 04 Jan 2019, 16:40

why not use a common ratio ? I doubt anyone has some 5:2 pictures, 21:9 should be close and normalised

madrobby · 04 Jan 2019, 16:50

matt3o wrote: ↑great! thanks madrobby

You're welcome. I'll try to add some more later, of some switches and stuff. I think it would be good to delete all replies in this thread that aren't suggestions for header images for clarity. Keep a link to the discussion thread in the OP.

Muirium · 04 Jan 2019, 17:37

Deleting posts!? That would be a DT first (besides spammers and the occasional account suicide). Moving them to the right thread would be my suggestion. This one and yours too!

kbdfr · 04 Jan 2019, 17:39

madrobby wrote: ↑[…] I think it would be good to delete […]

Ninja'd by Muirium

Myoth · 04 Jan 2019, 17:40

madrobby wrote: ↑
matt3o wrote: ↑great! thanks madrobby
You're welcome. I'll try to add some more later, of some switches and stuff. I think it would be good to delete all replies in this thread that aren't suggestions for header images for clarity. Keep a link to the discussion thread in the OP.

If you can't see pictures through posts, you might have some checking to do. That might improve with your "clarity".