Alpha Centauri 2

Community => Recreation Commons => Topic started by: Buster's Uncle on July 27, 2015, 05:54:39 PM

Title: AC2 Themes/Skins (Attn: Uno)
Post by: Buster's Uncle on July 27, 2015, 05:54:39 PM

Not just for Uno; your input is needed: http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=4304.msg78232#msg78232 (http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=4304.msg78232#msg78232) -that post is just for reference; do go to the next post topping the last page for the themes under consideration to let live.

There's been a slaughter, and we're down to the 20 that (more or less) work, and Mayals.  I make pretty clear six already headed for the chopping block.  I want to get it down to 10, so the list I have to upload icons to feels something like finite.  More user feedback would be incredibly useful.

You can change themes from your profile>Look and Layout (left sidebar)>Top line ending in (change) - click that.

Title: Re: AC2 Themes/Skins (Attn: Uno)
Post by: Buster's Uncle on July 27, 2015, 10:37:11 PM

Please reply there, not here; I wanna keep it all in one place so by brain don't 'splode.

Title: Re: AC2 Themes/Skins (Attn: Uno)
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 02, 2015, 10:16:44 PM

I've made a lot of progress on themes and thought I ought to give everyone a heads-up.

All of these grow upon being clicked. ;nod


Curve:
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/default/images/thumbnail.gif)


Green Core:

(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/core/images/thumbnail.gif)


Enterprise:
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/enterprise_smf20final/images/thumbnail.gif)


Dark Blue Eyes:
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/blueeyes/images/thumbnail.png)


Gone Fishin':
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/GoneFishin/images/thumbnail.gif)


Astronmy:
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/astronomy_22/images/thumbnail.gif)


The Chilling:
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/The_Killing_SMF2/images/thumbnail.gif)


SMAX
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/minecraft_theme_ok/images/thumbnail.gif)


SMAC:
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/Black_Ops_2/images/thumbnail.gif)


Autumn:
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/happy-new-year/images/theme/thumbnail.png)


Ostara:
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/ostara1/images/thumbnail.gif)


Impulse:
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/impulse2_smf20final/images/thumbnail.gif)

Title: Re: AC2 Themes/Skins (Attn: Uno)
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 30, 2015, 03:24:27 AM

This is Gone Fishin, pretty close to out-of-the-box, near the beginning of this project:

(http://alphacentauri2.info/MGalleryItem.php?id=966)

It's a misleading image, 'cause I cheated and moved BE up over an inch in GIMP to get a category in the thumbnail to look good for the display on the choose a theme page.

(One dead giveaway that a theme is not going to save you a lot of scrolling down is when I have to clip some of the logo off the top in the thumbnail.)

It's a pig, out of the box.  A real top-space hog  ;no -Enterprise is bad that way, too.- and I didn't have the foggiest where to find the special main menu in the .css a month ago, and no idea how to unstack  of the news and greeting crap to take up less top.

Well, I've worked out a lot of how-to in the meanwhile, and today's revisiting was gratifying.  (The stuff I needed was tacked on at the very bottom of the code, Draz.)

Another big limit I was up against was needing to leave in enough of the sunset and lake.  Rusty Edge loves this theme - and we all love Rusty.  The illustration makes it look like the slot revealing the shore and sunset just fell in the same place - and let me assure you that there was a lot more to it than that.

And now, I can proudly present, Gone Fishin on a day they were really bitin':

(http://alphacentauri2.info/MGalleryItem.php?id=968)

Title: Re: AC2 Themes/Skins (Attn: Uno)
Post by: Rusty Edge on August 30, 2015, 04:05:40 AM

It's glorious.

I enjoy the way that I can seem to make the sun rise and set with it.

Title: Re: AC2 Themes/Skins (Attn: Uno)
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 30, 2015, 04:16:12 AM

You like the sunlit unselected menu items?  How about the cabin icons?

Title: Re: AC2 Themes/Skins (Attn: Uno)
Post by: Rusty Edge on August 30, 2015, 05:02:51 AM

Quote from: BUncle on August 30, 2015, 04:16:12 AM

You like the sunlit unselected menu items?  How about the cabin icons?

Oh! They weren't there until I went away and returned/ refreshed. Those are cool too.

Title: Re: AC2 Themes/Skins (Attn: Uno)
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 30, 2015, 05:09:09 AM

It'll save you a little scrolling down every. single. time. you. go. to. a. page. now ;nod.

-And I just a few minutes ago realized that I could make the wood pattern semi-transparent so you could see more of the background scene.  Wanna try that?

Title: Re: AC2 Themes/Skins (Attn: Uno)
Post by: Rusty Edge on August 30, 2015, 05:43:16 AM

sure.

Title: Re: AC2 Themes/Skins (Attn: Uno)
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 30, 2015, 05:46:10 AM

I'll try before I go to bed - let me know tomorrow...

Title: Re: AC2 Themes/Skins (Attn: Uno)
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 30, 2015, 05:50:34 AM

Okay; hit refresh.

I'm going to bed.

Title: Re: AC2 Themes/Skins (Attn: Uno)
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 30, 2015, 07:02:11 PM

I DID do that thing last night - but top is in front of sky, so nothing but some lightening of the color shows, and the forum title bars must be in a different file.  I'll investigate more, presently.

Title: Re: AC2 Themes/Skins (Attn: Uno)
Post by: Rusty Edge on August 30, 2015, 08:04:17 PM

Yeah I saw, it only affects the top.

Don't lose sleep over it. It's fine as is. Still, I imagine you'll continue to tinker under the hood until you figure out how it functions.

Title: Re: AC2 Themes/Skins (Attn: Uno)
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 30, 2015, 08:11:26 PM

-Wood-plank textures in main_block.png, which I -maybe- can't semi-transparent without ruining something else.  Also, the title bars probably have background colors that would mask the lake.  I haven't had a look yet -a new issue came up with the Firaxis theme that I'm trying to fix- but I might be able to overcome those.  It's a tear I'm on.

How much do you care about being able to make out more lake -also more sunset and shore as you scroll down- in the index?

Title: Re: AC2 Themes/Skins (Attn: Uno)
Post by: Rusty Edge on August 30, 2015, 09:29:04 PM

I got enough lake right now. The horizon is the important part.

Title: Re: AC2 Themes/Skins (Attn: Uno)
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 05, 2015, 03:08:42 PM

The current lineup of 14 diverse forum themes, and member use standings (you'll want to refresh if you've looked at the last lineup post):

Quote

Forum or Board Default
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/default/images/thumbnail.gif)
This is the default theme, which means your theme will change along with the administrators' settings and the board you are viewing.

11607 people are using this theme.

Quote

SMF Default Theme - Curve
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/default/images/thumbnail.gif)
The default theme from Simple Machines.
Author: The Simple Machines Team

11607 people are using this theme.

Quote

Enterprise
 (http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/enterprise/images/theme/thumbnail.png)
These are the voyages of AC2. -Now with more starships and strange new worlds.
Author: Blocweb, modified by BU

5 people are using this theme.

Quote

GoneFishin
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/GoneFishin/images/thumbnail.gif)
You have done your share; now is time to relax and enjoy the sunset.
Gone Fishin by PixelMansion.

1 person is using this theme.

Quote

Astronomy
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/astronomy_22/images/thumbnail.gif)
A mixture of purple and indigo colours that gives your forum an astronomic ambience.
Author: Aäron van Geffen.

2 people are using this theme.

Quote

The Chilling
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/The%20Chilling/images/thumbnail.gif)
A dark theme, but not TOO dark - and very mellow.

2 people are using this theme.

Quote

Firaxis AC Website Old School
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/Firaxis/images/theme/thumbnail.gif)
Inspired by the Firaxis Alpha Centauri webpages (that we rescued and host a mirror of, now that the original has been retired) and offered with nostalgia & pride.
Author: BU (& Firaxis Games).

6 people are using this theme.

Quote

SMAC
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/smac/images/thumbnail.gif)
A theme dedicated to that game to which we are, in turn, so dedicated.
Author: BU

5 people are using this theme.

Quote

Winter
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/Winter/images/theme/thumbnail.png)
A stark but beautiful theme celebrating winter.
Author: BU.

1 person is using this theme.

Quote

Ostara
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/ostara1/images/thumbnail.gif)
Sunny Spring skies and fresh air

0 people are using this theme.

Quote

Thanksgiving
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/thanksgiving/images/thumbnail.png)
An autumnal theme. There is always plenty to give thanks for - if you look around and notice.
By SMFHacks - SMF Mods

0 people are using this theme.

Quote

Lazy Summer
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/Lazy%20Summer/images/thumbnail.gif)
Evocative of the green days of the hot season, a sophisticated look , with abundant border scrollwork, for sophisticated tastes.

0 people are using this theme.

Quote

Halloween
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/Halloween/images/thumbnail.gif)
Hallowen theme based on the default theme of Smf 2.0 Gold enjoy it !!!!!
 Designed by enik

0 people are using this theme.

Quote

Redsy
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/Redsy/images/thumbnail.gif)
Theme from SMFTricks.
Author: Daniiel

1 person is using this theme.

Quote

FakeCFC
(http://alphacentauri2.info/Themes/FakeCFC/images/theme/thumbnail.png)
Because we thought it would be funny.
Author: BU (& whomever made CFC Modern).

4 people are using this theme.

Well, you can see what's seeing use and what's not.  Some of the numbers will probably change profoundly as people find the themes, which is thousands of people.  These themes haven't been at a reasonable number and all working for very long, and most pay no attention to chatter in Council Room...

Firaxis seems to be well-received; it was doing half the business of SMAC before.  There's a poll  in the Themes/skins (http://) thread in Council Room on whether to mix in some green and X symbols and make the SMAC theme SMACX.  Go vote - and be sure to try on some themes.  Your profile>Look and Layout>first line.

I've been spending all my time on this for over a month, and need to talk about it with people.  Feedback appreciated - but comment there, please, to help me keep track.

Title: Re: AC2 Themes/Skins (Attn: Uno)
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 07, 2015, 06:47:15 PM

Check out the bottom of the right sidebar.  Please.

Our Founder and Emissary really came through overnight on an idea I only threw out yesterday afternoon while he was asleep.  I had to do a little fixing, but it works for lurkers interested enough to find it and try it, so HUGE benefit in the long run as a site asset/feature that shows for the public, and about two hoops signed-in members don't have to jump through anymore to change/try themes.  It really adds value to all the time and squinting I've put into the themes lately.

Now, instead of the three-stage profile thing we had to do before, you can simply go down to Select your theme right there on most pages, pick, look at the thumbnail and decide whether to click on it and change.  I was only thinking of a simple pulldown with a text list, but this gives you a better idea before you commit to trying one.

Title: Re: AC2 Themes/Skins (Attn: Uno)
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 20, 2015, 07:22:56 AM

Fair warning: at midnight on the first day of autumn - 3 days from now- I'm making the default Halloween for 24 hours.