Hate to ask, probably afraid of what i will hear back. But just would like to ask the FW community what they think about a site i am pretty much done with. just have to add some content. I know it is pretty meaty in Kilobytes.....
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Tell me what you think so far...
- Thread starter natedeia
- Start date
I really like the looks of the site... but I have to tell you that on my 1400kb/sec DSL connection here at home, it was still taking a while to load up -- it was bearable, but at 56k... I'm afraid no one will wait around that long.
There is good news, however... if you want to do a site that is that heavy in graphics, pop on over to macromedia and get yourself a copy of flash -- it will be MUCH easier on the bandwidth -- and if you can use FW (which you obviously can), then moving to flash won't be too terribly tough. Not to mention the fact that once you get up to speed, you will have actionscripting at your fingertips to move on to some really really really nice effects. All this with vector graphics, so that pages load nice and fast.
Like I said, though... I do like the looks of the site, and anyone who is promoting local music is doing a very good thing.
KILL RADIO!!!!!!!!!!!
There is good news, however... if you want to do a site that is that heavy in graphics, pop on over to macromedia and get yourself a copy of flash -- it will be MUCH easier on the bandwidth -- and if you can use FW (which you obviously can), then moving to flash won't be too terribly tough. Not to mention the fact that once you get up to speed, you will have actionscripting at your fingertips to move on to some really really really nice effects. All this with vector graphics, so that pages load nice and fast.
Like I said, though... I do like the looks of the site, and anyone who is promoting local music is doing a very good thing.
KILL RADIO!!!!!!!!!!!
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks Link9, I know exactly what you mean. I had to move one of my sites i made with FW to Flash already because of size. I have Flash 5 right now. The site was not all too big at first until i took it down and kept making it look the way i want it, i probably will transfer it to Flash like the other one. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BANDS!
- Thread starter
- #4
Guest_imported
New member
- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
I agree with the previous reply. I think fireworks is best used as a image design tool and for navigational aids. For a complete site you should go with flash... so much more potential...
aboustayyef
Technical User
I disagree with all of the previous posts !!
first of all, Natadia, I have to tell you that your site needs to be improved and please consider this a positif feedback between peers (i'm right next to you on the top experts list ).
first of all, I think the effect is pretty cool, and the whole idea is nice too, but :
the problem with the page is that it's too band-width exhausting and the reason is that :
- you have entirely relied on fireworks to LAYOUT the page, which is not how it should be done, it's like doing a 300 page publication using illustrator or freehand instead of quark. (if this sounds alien forget it )
what you should do is :
- decrease the size of the buttons because, not only visually they are big (and take it from a professional graphic designer, I garantee that they will look much nicer if they where smaller), they are also very hungry for bandwidth.
-treat them as Elements and do the layout on dreamweaver. You see, the problem is that all the gray space is consuming a lot of band width while it could be treated as a gray filled cell that doesn't consume any memory, to illustrate, in your particular page, the file "h_r3_c1.jpg" which is to the left and consists of 2 screws flanking a big gray space is eating up 72 unnecessary kilobites.
you only need one screwdriver that you repeat 4 times (especially that they don't interact with the mouse) and the rest should be html tables (done in dreamweaver).
-DON'T USE FLASH !! not everybody has the pluggin, especially if it's a website that is meant for public use , and moreover, your MP3s can be much better managed and less of a headach for you and for your listeners if you manage them from a static website (of course I don't oppose flash in absolute, but in your case, flash will only create later problems).
tell me if you think I was helpful, if not, tell me also
first of all, Natadia, I have to tell you that your site needs to be improved and please consider this a positif feedback between peers (i'm right next to you on the top experts list
).first of all, I think the effect is pretty cool, and the whole idea is nice too, but :
the problem with the page is that it's too band-width exhausting and the reason is that :
- you have entirely relied on fireworks to LAYOUT the page, which is not how it should be done, it's like doing a 300 page publication using illustrator or freehand instead of quark. (if this sounds alien forget it
)what you should do is :
- decrease the size of the buttons because, not only visually they are big (and take it from a professional graphic designer, I garantee that they will look much nicer if they where smaller), they are also very hungry for bandwidth.
-treat them as Elements and do the layout on dreamweaver. You see, the problem is that all the gray space is consuming a lot of band width while it could be treated as a gray filled cell that doesn't consume any memory, to illustrate, in your particular page, the file "h_r3_c1.jpg" which is to the left and consists of 2 screws flanking a big gray space is eating up 72 unnecessary kilobites.
you only need one screwdriver that you repeat 4 times (especially that they don't interact with the mouse) and the rest should be html tables (done in dreamweaver).
-DON'T USE FLASH !! not everybody has the pluggin, especially if it's a website that is meant for public use , and moreover, your MP3s can be much better managed and less of a headach for you and for your listeners if you manage them from a static website (of course I don't oppose flash in absolute, but in your case, flash will only create later problems).
tell me if you think I was helpful, if not, tell me also
- Thread starter
- #7
yea guys, i do enjoy the feed back and i was doing 3 sites at once and since new to FW4 and DW4 back when i wrote that i understand alot more about using instances of things and know it takes forever to load. once i get this Flash site out the door i am going to give it an overhaul like a MOFO.
i would like to take it down but why bother.....until then....i will probably redo it in flash, but i like the big buttons on the first page.
i would like to take it down but why bother.....until then....i will probably redo it in flash, but i like the big buttons on the first page.
natedeia,
the concept is pretty groovy, but it's far too large. i need to listen to some of the music to get an idea of how the site should 'feel', but i would use the same graphical theme, just size it down. bear with me as i will critique it then offer the best advice that i can in a short period of time:
why this is poor design:
1. relied on graphics to create the page
2. it's far too large
3. huge text screams of the vanity h3y d00d! pages that we all shake our heads at
4. the design prevents a flow
5. there's nothing to hold interest
6. takes too long to load
what you can do to improve:
1. rethink the design. you have an excellent concept. stick with it, but avoid the 'overdone' traps that scare surfers away
2. size it down. put the text in a justified position and allow for a main body of text to be inserted. this gives a surfer a more comfortable experience because it's a familiar interface without being unoriginal.
3. instead of using huge fonts, use smarter ones. in other words, don't upsize a font to fit an effect, rather look for one that better suits your needs.
4. intro pages like this with no greetings, etc, generally kill a sites traffic
5. see above.
6. use html or css to fill in the colors and use images sparingly. this will increase performance 10 fold.
there is a ton of potential with this site, and if you are anything like me, it will always be in a state of revision as it's never actually 'perfect'.
Flash is a viable option, just allow users to choose another backup page should they not have the plugin. But only use flash if you can do it well.
I'm going to use this as an example of over the top, insanely well designed and developed:
The last tip i would give is this: be as creative as possible everytime you have a chance. All my design is for a company that gives me very little creative license. This basically means I generally don't have the opportunity to design killer sites anymore. Do it cause ya love it.
btw, i deal with reporting on website traffic, successes and failures almost everyday. this post was meant as constructive criticism, not a slam of any kind.
"It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission." - Rear Admiral Dr. Grace Hopper
the concept is pretty groovy, but it's far too large. i need to listen to some of the music to get an idea of how the site should 'feel', but i would use the same graphical theme, just size it down. bear with me as i will critique it then offer the best advice that i can in a short period of time:
why this is poor design:
1. relied on graphics to create the page
2. it's far too large
3. huge text screams of the vanity h3y d00d! pages that we all shake our heads at
4. the design prevents a flow
5. there's nothing to hold interest
6. takes too long to load
what you can do to improve:
1. rethink the design. you have an excellent concept. stick with it, but avoid the 'overdone' traps that scare surfers away
2. size it down. put the text in a justified position and allow for a main body of text to be inserted. this gives a surfer a more comfortable experience because it's a familiar interface without being unoriginal.
3. instead of using huge fonts, use smarter ones. in other words, don't upsize a font to fit an effect, rather look for one that better suits your needs.
4. intro pages like this with no greetings, etc, generally kill a sites traffic
5. see above.
6. use html or css to fill in the colors and use images sparingly. this will increase performance 10 fold.
there is a ton of potential with this site, and if you are anything like me, it will always be in a state of revision as it's never actually 'perfect'.
Flash is a viable option, just allow users to choose another backup page should they not have the plugin. But only use flash if you can do it well.
I'm going to use this as an example of over the top, insanely well designed and developed:
The last tip i would give is this: be as creative as possible everytime you have a chance. All my design is for a company that gives me very little creative license. This basically means I generally don't have the opportunity to design killer sites anymore. Do it cause ya love it.
btw, i deal with reporting on website traffic, successes and failures almost everyday. this post was meant as constructive criticism, not a slam of any kind.
"It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission." - Rear Admiral Dr. Grace Hopper
- Thread starter
- #9
Yea i know, i really meant to take it down untill i finish up a site i have been working on in Flash. I got Fireworks 4 and Dreamweaver 4 and used it for the first time. Not realizing that I wasn't supposed to make the whole site in FW! I just thought it was cool as sh%t. I wasnt going to, until later but now i am going to redo it, maybe you can do a before and after! Ha! Do i get a metal for having it appear on the worlds worst built sites!!!! Thanks for your opinion and time to check it out. Oh, and do check the music out, its good.....
World's worst? You wouldn't come close!!
How good do you feel now? heh. "It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission." - Rear Admiral Dr. Grace Hopper
How good do you feel now? heh. "It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission." - Rear Admiral Dr. Grace Hopper
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