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Post by beth on Jan 23, 2013 6:42:59 GMT -5
a little at a time  Today's the start of getting revved up for the conversion to v5. Below is the address for our BETA practice site to familiarize everyone (admin, staff and members) with the changes ProBoards have created for the new version 5 message boards. Go, look, enjoy. Post all you want and play around with your profiles. Nothing there will be transferred to the new JT. It's for practice only. We have learned a few new things and are learning more ... mostly to do with the appearance of the site. We have a couple of new skins you may want to check out (now called "themes"). Also, you can practice a neat little trick called collapsing the Categories. Just left click on a Category (any skin) to see how that works. You can expand it again with another click and use whichever version you like best. You'll see other new features, particularly in your profile area and when you post or send a PM. Come back and tell us which you used and what you think about them. www.jenstapestry.freemessageboards.comps Don't worry about the ads. All the Beta Zone boards have them, but when we change over to v5, they'll be gone and things will be as usual. and you don't have to re-register. Just log in with the same name and password you use here. |
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Post by beth on Jan 24, 2013 17:16:58 GMT -5
Last night, I got the Lady Gaga theme I'd promised Lady G 3/4th the way finished. Tonight, I'll try to bring it home. It should be available on our Beta Board tomorrow (www.jenstapestry.freemessageboards.com) and moved here with v5 next week.
I hope you all like the new skins. It's been fun making them.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2013 8:06:40 GMT -5
I'm on and linked up the accounts.
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Post by beth on Jan 26, 2013 14:10:03 GMT -5
Sug, do you know whether Moon is going to keep her Purple Flowers theme? If it's on the discard list, I'd gladly import it and rename it, "Moonbeam's Purple Flowers".
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Post by beth on Jan 26, 2013 14:14:55 GMT -5
We're still having thinks about whether to change the address to our own domain or just request a new name to replace Jincin and keep it with proboards. Actually, both ways we'll be connected with PB but the pricing and terms are a little different. Give it a couple of weeks and we'll let everyone know what we decide.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2013 17:21:00 GMT -5
Sug, do you know whether Moon is going to keep her Purple Flowers theme? If it's on the discard list, I'd gladly import it and rename it, "Moonbeam's Purple Flowers". You'll have to ask her that Beth. I think a few use that one. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2013 18:27:38 GMT -5
I am not deleting any of them, and i'm happy to share any you want. I just made a new one called Flare, actually..
You would need to change the logo to your own, of course, plus there are some changes i made to the template that I have no idea if they'll come over with it..
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2013 22:49:51 GMT -5
And the newest one that Moon made today is GORGEOUS, it's called Water Lily.
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Post by beth on Jan 26, 2013 23:00:15 GMT -5
I am not deleting any of them, and i'm happy to share any you want. I just made a new one called Flare, actually.. You would need to change the logo to your own, of course, plus there are some changes i made to the template that I have no idea if they'll come over with it.. Have you tried to export themes? I exported all mine to my HD because it's 'way too easy to start working on a theme (especially if multi-tasking at all) and accidentally make changes not easily repaired. I'll go have a look at Water Lily first chance. I'm not very good with flowers, yet. Need to practice. No problem sharing with friends, but we'll probably stick a very small version of our alpha/omega symbol on them. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2013 6:00:18 GMT -5
Sugi - thank you.. you're very sweet.
Beth, for most all themes I do, I try to make sure I have a big enough picture to fill the screen to begin with (and make it fixed), or use a seamless tile so I don't see the start/end of things. I am also fortunate enough to have an image editing program that will make seamless tiles. That's what I did with Waterlily. I reduced the size of the picture by about half, then made it a tile. That same image program allows me to 'pick up' colors from areas in the picture so I know that the rest of the theme components match the background. Still can be hit or miss as sometimes things end up looking awfully garish, lol.
I did export all the themes I'd tweaked on my beta board though, so I wouldn't have to start all over with them. Made it a lot quicker. I made copies of the CSS sheets too, just in case.
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Post by beth on Jan 27, 2013 12:13:34 GMT -5
Do you notice differences when using Chrome vs IE? I do on some themes and not others. Am chalking it up to my inexperience and continuing to play around for the best look.
I'd like to have a little more flex with the banner, so that images don't look so square and blah. For example, it would be nice to be able to move things around to start above the banner and go over one corner (for instance), rather than have the sharp banner-boundaries.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2013 14:30:11 GMT -5
I actually never use chrome or IE unless forced to. I'm strictly a firefox girl. I suppose i *should*, just to check some of the rendering, but i don't go too crazy with stuff so I just assume (probably mistakenly) that it looks fine in all browsers.
on v5, you can make the header invisible so all you see is the logo (and not the solid background behind it). Maybe that would work for some themes? You could also ask on support and see if any designers there have ideas.
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Post by beth on Jan 27, 2013 15:39:48 GMT -5
Thanks!
I have made the header/banner invisible but need to play around with it more.
Hope all goes well tomorrow. Wish us luck!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2013 15:57:45 GMT -5
 One other thing to mention is that you have to do each theme individually as far as any CSS or template mods, or things like making headers invisible, etc. it's a royal pain in the rear when you are theme-happy like I am... |
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Post by beth on Jan 27, 2013 16:24:07 GMT -5
One other thing to mention is that you have to do each theme individually as far as any CSS or template mods, or things like making headers invisible, etc. it's a royal pain in the rear when you are theme-happy like I am... When I find myself making little stupid mistakes, I just pack it in and come back next time. Since there are no dead lines, I'd rather take it easy than have to re-do. Of course, some things jump out after the themes are up and need modifying. For example, the green on this Spring-01 skin looks more like seafoam than grass to me .. but it may be just me. lol Still, I won't be happy until I've tinkered with it a little more. Thanks for all the tips and hints. Always appreciated. Fortunately, our members don't have to worry about the backgrounds, etc., but just their profiles and some of the incidental posting changes ... then holding on for the ride until things seem familiar. Fret usually carries the keys and drives, but I've squirreled away a spare set, so questions can be directed to either of us. |
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Omega
