Gallery design

[Tugstar]

I have been looking around for inspiration for a nice web site/gallery background design. I'm noticing a lot of the members gallery's are very dark and a bit gloomy. Any of you seen a site that enhances the images without distracting from the content.
I'm working on a site design for my Mrs Tugstar and need some help.
This is the basic template I'm working on at the moment, what do you think ?
I'm aiming for bright, cheerful and professional.
http://morrisonphotographic.50megs.com/site_header.html

[DrebelHobbyist]

I have a gallery in my signature (ignore the actual pictures - they're just point and shoot family crap)

It's all dynamically generated and exif compatable. If you like it, check out the software section for a post with more info. I'm offering it as freeware right now.

PS - It's all based on a style sheet, so you can change any of the colors, backgrounds, link colors, etc yourself.

[ssim]

Tugstar wrote:
I have been looking around for inspiration for a nice web site/gallery background design. I'm noticing a lot of the members gallery's are very dark and a bit gloomy. Any of you seen a site that enhances the images without distracting from the content.
I'm working on a site design for my Mrs Tugstar and need some help.
This is the basic template I'm working on at the moment, what do you think ?
I'm aiming for bright, cheerful and professional.
http://morrisonphotographic.50megs.com/site_header.html

When I click on your subjects on the left I just keep getting a bunch of boat racing. The heading does change.

[Tugstar]

DrebelHobbyist wrote:
I have a gallery in my signature (ignore the actual pictures - they're just point and shoot family crap)

It's all dynamically generated and exif compatable. If you like it, check out the software section for a post with more info. I'm offering it as freeware right now.

PS - It's all based on a style sheet, so you can change any of the colors, backgrounds, link colors, etc yourself.

Looks ok but a bit functional, Im thinking of a layout thats more arty farty.

[Tugstar]

ssim wrote:

When I click on your subjects on the left I just keep getting a bunch of boat racing. The heading does change.

Sorry Im still working on the layout and havent loaded any images appart from power boat and bike racing yet.

What about of the look of the site.

[barnold999]

Well, I have given a lot of thought to what makes a GOOD gallery...

Not saying mine is the best in the world, but take a look at mine: http://www.barnold.net/photos/ It is a portfolio, but it has the same concept... you have a few points to consider to determine what kind of design YOU need.

COLORS:
What emphasizes YOUR particular style the best? I use a white background to give the typical matted image appearance... other photos look good around darker colors. I would stray away from blues, greens, reds, etc anything not neutral. To look at why, go in to Photoshop look at a photo you like, place it against different color backgrounds, notice how the colors tend to change dramatically.

LAYOUT:
(Now this is my primary downfall)
You want something easy to navigate, with thumbnails (for loading time.) And make sure it is easy to get back to the thumbnail screen to look at the other photos. (I personally like square thumbnails, but that’s me.) Simple is the key here. -- I think that’s it for Layout let me know if you want to know more of my philosophy.


IMPORTANT POINTS TO CONSIDER:
It is a photo site but it is CRUCIAL to have QUICK loading time. Thumbnails should be no larger than 6-8kb (at the most), and if your photos are larger than 35kb, have a 640pxl preview, then have it larger, or warn your visitors of the file sizes. (my 56k friends kill me when I send them images that are 250kb)

Pretty, at times, is the key for a nice design, but don’t let technology take over your site. You want the site accessible to all visitors, not only ones with broadband connections (I will be on dialup when I am out of town after Christmas, I will complain more about dial up then haha)

FINAL THOUGHT:
(Isn’t that what Jerry Springer calls his final saying?)
Anyways, take a look at http://journal.barnold.net which is my photo journal, though it isn’t a gallery; look at how the images appear against a grey background, TOTALLY different.

-----

Anyways let me know if you have any questions, I am not an expert my any means... but I have opinions haha

[Tugstar]

barnold999 wrote:
Well, I have given a lot of thought to what makes a GOOD gallery...

Not saying mine is the best in the world, but take a look at mine: http://www.barnold.net/photos/ It is a portfolio, but it has the same concept... you have a few points to consider to determine what kind of design YOU need.
Anyways let me know if you have any questions, I am not an expert my any means... but I have opinions haha


Nice and clean, not sure about the menue bar on the right but pretty good all round.

[barnold999]

Tugstar wrote:
Nice and clean, not sure about the menue bar on the right but pretty good all round.

yah I am never happy with anything, I dont really like my site... but it is a way to go heh... I want it more simple, but I want more info