New metal mood light website

[Robert]

Here it is guys. The latest website. I drew from many things you have said to me in my trials to make a good site. So here is my good college effort. Let me know what you think.

www.c2ilights.com (http://www.c2ilights.com)

Robert

[spoon]

just change the main menu buttons, the rest`s ok. interesting stuff your doing there.

[MoodsR4Cattle]

Looks great! Really like your designs too.

about page ... Quote by the shoulder ... Typo - UNKNOW(N) /emoticons/smilewinkgrin.gif

Moods

[Robert]

Thanks for you input guys. If you don't mind me asking spoon, why don't you like the menu buttons?

[D-Frag]

Great job on this, you have come along way since you first showed us your lights. My only suggestion is that you somehow try to incorporate the actual light. Most of these (try not to take offense) look like paintings, if I didn't know it was you I would have never guessed they weren't.

If you can't get the photography done right to show the light when its turned on, maybe try doing it digitally. That is all I have for a critique, very nice job!!

http://img15.exs.cx/img15/7863/nufrag2nk6zq.jpg

digitalcamwhore (http://digitalcamwhore.deviantart.com/gallery/)

Thanks to vend3r (http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/profile.aspx?f=35&m=97279&p=4762) for the sig

http://img167.exs.cx/img167/9269/xtroll7ae.jpg http://img167.exs.cx/img167/9269/xtroll7ae.jpg

[in shadows]

lovely site you got there.
i like yer gallery too.

[TBdesign]

great work,
two things I think could be improved
In your gallery keep the photos more uniform, from the first pic to when the piece is lit up, as d-farg stated some look like paintings.
type could use a little work, more so the buttons

... Have no fear of perfection - You will never reach it ...

[reuber1]

Have to agree with spoon on the menu buttons. I'm not a big fan of the blue hue around the type, and the type itself kind of bugs me.The blue glow around the rollovers just seems out of place in asitewith few vibrantcolors (with the exception of yourdetailed samples, but those open on seperate pages sothey don't count). And just the way they look kind of bugs me.

I'm just offering some advice to make your site even better, by no means is it bad or just "OK"; I think your site is very well done and is a perfect case ofa portfoliosite not being too flashy or too dull; it compliments your work very well. Good job.

I hate trolls.

[Robert]

First off guys with the pictures. As soon as I get space set up where I can take all of my pictures uniformly,till then I'll have to live with them. It's very hard to shoot in the dark with a digital camera. I even have a tripod which helps, put still, as you can see, some of the pictures don't turn out as well. I shoot at least 10-20 pictures of each light in the dark. If anybody has some suggestions on how to take better night pictures please let me know. You can see in some of the night pictures they look great. Ie Kokopelli

Second, with the menu buttons, I was trying to go for a lit up look like my lights. If you guys have some suggestions with type or rollover effects, through out the whole site please let me know. What do you guys think would be a bettter font to use. It really isn't hard to go through and change it all.

Thanks again for your comments.

Robert

Post Edited (Robert) : 2/1/2005 7:48:02 PM GMT

[TBdesign]

You dont have to take the pictures in the dark, you can take the pictures and do the light part of it yourself in photoshop. What type of camera are you using??
The blue light thing behind the letters could be dimmed a little more and blurred a little more to make it look more like your lights, it could even go behind the light grey square in stead of ontop of it, then you may need a little more spacing between buttons.

... Have no fear of perfection - You will never reach it ...

[Robert]

I'm using a kodak 5mp camera. It takes really nice pictures, just not as well in the dark. So you think I should just add the lights in photoshop. I never thought of doing it that way. Interesting, the only problem is that at night the art becomes black, and you only see a the outline of it. So some of the pieces that are colored, I would have to black them out.

robert

[D-Frag]

Robert, I would highly recommend picking up this book 'The photoshop CS book for Digital Photographers' by Scott Kelby. It will help you make your images a ton better, and will solve all of your problems with lighting. Their are ways to add 'flash fill' and 'Soft box' effects in PS, that book will teach you all you need to know.

http://img15.exs.cx/img15/7863/nufrag2nk6zq.jpg

digitalcamwhore (http://digitalcamwhore.deviantart.com/gallery/)

Thanks to vend3r (http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/profile.aspx?f=35&m=97279&p=4762) for the sig

http://img167.exs.cx/img167/9269/xtroll7ae.jpg http://img167.exs.cx/img167/9269/xtroll7ae.jpg

[TBdesign]

Yah I used that camera before, never had to take photos like you are doing though, the quality are pretty good on those kodak for how inexpensive they are, very easy to use to.
You would not have to nessecarilly black them out if you do the lighting in Potoshop, Iwould start taking photos of your pieces and make clipping paths for all of them, and start playing around with lighting effects in photoshop, you can achieve that light effect you are going for pretty easily. Having all your work with clipping paths will not hurt you anyways. I am not sure how much you played around with your photo either for the dark ones but just selecting your sculptures and trying some things with that might help. I would have to see a pic in photoshop to be more help.

... Have no fear of perfection - You will never reach it ...

[Robert]

Thanks d-frag, I have thumbed through that book at barnes and noble. I will definitely pick that book up. And TB, I don't know to much about different lighting effects in photoshop, therefore if I pick up that book maybe it will solve both the problems. Thanks for your guys' feeback. Have a good one.

Robert

[morea]

I like the overall design of the site. Nice work!

Your art is very impressive.

Power to the Old Schoolers! and btw, if you can't say something nice, shut the hell up.

[uncle carbunkle]

i'd still poke my eye out.

the site is much better though. right on.

::just a feeling::</font>

[max_nhk]

Great site Robert! It's very interesting.

about the main menu buttons, I find it funny as well and I think it's the box that's causing it.

Maybe you can try breaking the button's shape by adding the 'cracking rock' texture? Just some very small amendments will do.

[Robert]

Max_nhk, that is a good idea. I might have to do that. And sorry uncle that your still going to poke your eyes out.

Robert

[daleharris]

man i want some of those lights...

work (http://www.daleharris.com) | play (http://www.renega.com)

http://www.channel42.net/forum/Data/20052504056_c42.forum-button.gif (http://www.channel42.net/forum/)

[Robert]

dale, I check out both of your sites. Your very talented, I especially like your photoshopped work. I'm working on learning that now. If your interested in a light just shoot me an email. I can also do custom work as well.

Robert