My pirate re-enactment site

[ShaunMac]

Hi all,

I've set up a site for the pirate re-enactment group that I'm a part of and would welcome some some feedback. I've set up the whole site to look like all the text is handwritten on a piece of parchment with the parchment automatically expanding to fit any extra text that is added. Width wise it also auto-fits the browsers screen - I hope! - with the edge of the parchment still being drawn properly no matter what size screen you view the site on.

I've also used the @font-face css command to embed the font I want the site to be shown in into the site though only Internet Explorer currently supports @font-face in any form as far as I am aware. I've also given visitors the opportunity to download the font if they use one of the other browsers and install the font so that they can see the site in all it's glory!

There is a forum on the site that has been partially configured to the style I want with only the border to the text area to sort out and a problem over some of the icons not being displayed correctly but, apart from that, it's nearly there.

The site can be found at:-

http://www.sheppeypirates.org

so if you could let me know what you think I'd appreciate it.

[Waldovia PM]

Looks very nice, and certainly unique.
It also works well with Firefox

Just a few comments though:
My favourite gripe, there are no Alt texts for the images. Particularly the menu graphics and the page heading graphic 'The Sheppey Pirates'

Those menu graphics/buttons (gifs) have jagged edges. Make them on a black background before creating the transparency.

There seems to be a lot of white space (in this case black ) between the page title and the text area. The bit containing the little skull.

Every page is <title>The Sheppey Pirates</title> these should be descriptive of each page.

The text size is comfortable for me (using a 1280 width browser) but might be very large for those viewing in 800 (or 640 if people still do ) . Mind you, having a header graphic at 850 wide seems a little odd, you are effectively making the page too wide even for those viewing in 800.

Although the font is different in Firefox (don't ask me what it is) the font presented looked equally as suitable).

[ShaunMac]

Originally Posted by Waldovia PM

Looks very nice, and certainly unique.
It also works well with Firefox

Just a few comments though:
My favourite gripe, there are no Alt texts for the images. Particularly the menu graphics and the page heading graphic 'The Sheppey Pirates'

Those menu graphics/buttons (gifs) have jagged edges. Make them on a black background before creating the transparency.

There seems to be a lot of white space (in this case black ) between the page title and the text area. The bit containing the little skull.

Every page is <title>The Sheppey Pirates</title> these should be descriptive of each page.

The text size is comfortable for me (using a 1280 width browser) but might be very large for those viewing in 800 (or 640 if people still do ) . Mind you, having a header graphic at 850 wide seems a little odd, you are effectively making the page too wide even for those viewing in 800.

Although the font is different in Firefox (don't ask me what it is) the font presented looked equally as suitable).

Hi Adrian,

So it's got a few more issues than my website http://www.shaunsmodelrailway.net then?

I've had a look at some of the issues and I've sorted one or two out as far as I can. I've got rid of the black space between the skull and the text. I've tried to add alt tags but, for some reason, only 2 will display. I wonder if it's got anything to do with my using hotspots on the menu graphics?

I'll add more descriptive titles later on tonight. Not sure about the text size. There's something happening within Dreamweaver where, if I try and change the text size, it limits the sizes I can apply to really big or really small, both of which are unusable. Strange. I'll see what I can do. For some reason, if I try and reduce the size of the header file it distorts the text. Weird.

The main problem I've seen is that the whole design philosophy is that the site should look as though the main text area has been written on a sheet of parchment in black ink. That means that the background is made up of image files to represent parchment in the main table. If you don't - or can't - load the images, the text disappears into the background as the background of the site as a whole is also black! I wonder how I'm going to get round that as the background needs to be a really dark colour - preferably black - to set the mood for the site. We are supposed to be big mean nasty pirates after all!

[Waldovia PM]

Originally Posted by ShaunMac

Hi Adrian,
So it's got a few more issues than my website http://www.shaunsmodelrailway.net then?

Good job you're not after an award for this one then (Don't worry, I haven't forgot about it. I'm just trying to clear the decks before starting on it).

The parchment/text works fine in both Firefox and IE.
If I remember correctly, a table background image takes precedent over a table background colour, so you could try making the tables holding the parchment images have a lighter background colour. That way those viewing wthout images would be able to see the text.

<td height="601" align="left" valign="top" background="Images/pagemiddlecenter.gif" bgcolor="#FFFFCC">

Unless of course, the parchment images you are using are gifs and have a transparency. In which case replace the transparency area with that of the background colour (black).

[ShaunMac]

Originally Posted by Waldovia PM

If I remember correctly, a table background image takes precedent over a table background colour, so you could try making the tables holding the parchment images have a lighter background colour. That way those viewing wthout images would be able to see the text.

It does. I've changed the background colour to #FFCC66 and the text is readable now should you choose not to load the images or are unable to. Cheers for that tip Adrian, I'll have to remember that.

[Waldovia PM]

OK, I've actually just got to reading the aforementioned text and found it all very amusing. Full marks for putting together something that made me smile.

Those that haven't yet taken a look should do so without delay.
Here it is

AND I found the forum as well. Should have known it wouldn't be labelled as such

[ShaunMac]

Originally Posted by Waldovia PM

OK, I've actually just got to reading the aforementioned text and found it all very amusing. Full marks for putting together something that made me smile.

Those that haven't yet taken a look should do so without delay.
Here it is

AND I found the forum as well. Should have known it wouldn't be labelled as such

Glad you liked it. It is meant to be, long term, a serious site but I just couldn't resist adding a touch of humour to it as well. Wait until you see the photographs of us firing our fully functional 3-pound cannon!

Oh, and you need to get your mindset into the late 17th/early 18th century. Then you'd have found the forum straight away!

[Waldovia PM]

Originally Posted by ShaunMac

Oh, and you need to get your mindset into the late 17th/early 18th century.

That bit of code I gave earlier then, that would be the pirate code would it?

Shouldn't 'telescope' be 'spyglass?

[ShaunMac]

Originally Posted by Waldovia PM

That bit of code I gave earlier then, that would be the pirate code would it?

It would.

Originally Posted by Waldovia PM

Shouldn't 'telescope' be 'spyglass?

Not too sure. It's open to interpretation. That means that you could be right but I know I am!

OK, done all the work on the site that you've pointed out needs doing that I can. A weird one is that the colour for the text for the alt tags is in black and I can't find how to change it so it is lost in the background which is also black. Though the menu graphics alt tags show up in blue on Firefox due to them being links to other pages on the site. Hmmmm.