Topic: We Need Your Banner Submission

[Michael Vandeven]

it comes down to this:  we need a banner on this site.  i am no artist.  as a matter of fact, i'm the anti-artist.  i couldn't draw a pencil.  i need your help.

i know there is lot of graphic design talent out there just waiting to be discovered, and i hope to take advantage of some of that talent.

if you think you can create a banner for use on this site, we would love you to get crackin' and submit it to us.  here are some guidelines:

1) don't include any pictures of snoory in the banners.  i know it would be great, but there might be some "likeness misappropriation" issues there, which i would prefer to avoid.  however, a caricature of snoors in the banner would be absolutely fine.

2) rather than email your banner to us, it would be best if you attach it in a post inside this thread.  that way we can get feedback from all board members as we decide which banners to use.

3) there is no prize for the creator of the selected banners other than the pride of knowing your banners have been chosen to represent quite possibly one of the greatest contributions to the internet since the electron...  coastgab.com!

4) perfection isn't necessarily what we're looking for.  if that's what we were seeking, we would go to the professionals and hand them a couple ben franklins.  we're more interested in seeing banners that incorporate humor, originality, and uniqueness.  based on the literary prowess of our members, i have no doubt you guys are perfectly capable in this area.

5) obviously the banners should identify the site in some way.  you decide how to execute this.

6) don't worry about wasting your time creating a banner only to have another banner chosen over yours.  we will use each and every banner we deem worthy and place them in rotation.

7) if your banner isn't chosen, please do not drive to my house in your ford f-150 to kill me.  thank you.

[Max]

let me add some more....

8) consider using some text quotes that are outlandish and make no sense...

9) flash banners, (Fair use applies) 5 seconds of george saying something stupid. can be used.   - Fair Use applies. This is for Criticism.

[EvB]

it comes down to this:  we need a banner on this site.  i am no artist.  as a matter of fact, i'm the anti-artist.  i couldn't draw a pencil.  i need your help.

Size/orientation preference? 

[PhantasticSanShiSan]

Just having one would be a good first step. Design could be modified later.

[EvB]

Just having one would be a good first step. Design could be modified later.

Can you tell I'm in technical communications?  Any time I'm asked for anything - my response is usually "Specs, please?"

In this case it was just a knee-jerk reaction.  After all, this was just a basic request to all-and-sundry - but can you imagine, when you do this kind of thing for a living - how aggravating it is to come up with something (usually something MUCH more involved than a banner) only to hear "oh yes, very nice - now we'll just change - um - EVERYTHING."

[EvB]

Okay - sloppy job - and as basic as it gets.  Nothing terribly original. But then I'm SUPPOSED to be getting ready for a linguistics final (less than 12 hours to go) - Which my explain why i sound cranky even though I enjoyed doing this.

Repeat after me . ..  It's ONLY a concept!


people.umass.edu/ebarney/gns/sucks .html

Maybe it will give others better ideas.  And hey - it can't get a whole lot worse. 

BTW - the last frame is slow to load - wait for it.

MV - you want this idea tidied up - I'd be glad to do it over the weekend.

That link is gone now - I only put that on the school serve because my personal domaine host was having some kind of meltdown that night.

[Michael Vandeven]

evb... i love the concept.  with a bit of further development, your concept is definitely a keeper.  also... love the artistic rendering of snoors.  very nice.  had you done this with pencil and paper rather than in a digital environment, i'm sure you'd have run out of pencil lead when it came time to fill in the dead rodent beneath his nose.  however, we would certainly have contributed charity pencils as a means of furthering your cause.

regarding specifications, i think max would be the appropriate authority on this matter since 1) he is the catalyst behind this project and 2) he knows more than i about the technical nature (size, etc.) of what will work best within the confines of this message board template.

[PhantasticSanShiSan]

Can you tell I'm in technical communications?  Any time I'm asked for anything - my response is usually "Specs, please?"

Ummmm Yeah.  It was a fair question though.  I wanted to forward you some dimension ideas at the time, but after some analysis, I decided to revise the post and just say let's get a visual CONCEPT ( I'll say it with you) ....... out there.  As far as your design, I think it's a fine start.

[EvB]

evb... i love the concept.  with a bit of further development, your concept is definitely a keeper. 

regarding specifications, i think max would be the appropriate authority on this matter since 1) he is the catalyst behind this project and 2) he knows more than i about the technical nature (size, etc.) of what will work best within the confines of this message board template.

Okay - so - feedback please:

Here is what *I* will change on my own:

Get the timing and alignment more in sync

Make sure the colors are a better match

Remove the black outline from the banner so it "floats free"

and, if you want - add the URL to the messages - (though that would be more for putting the banner as an ad on other sites)

So - to anyone who has an opinion - what would you like to see? 

[EvB]

But then I'm SUPPOSED to be getting ready for a linguistics final (less than 12 hours to go)

Yep - I just quoted myself -- BUT - I had to say I'm quite sure I aced this class!  If you're not familiar with analytical linguistics - think "black-belt Suduko with sounds - not numbers"  and weird symbols for those sounds - everything you write ends up looking like Russian gone berserk - no matter what language you are transcribing. (since it's all based on sound - you can do any language, even if you've no idea what people are saying to start with - we worked with a Cree language spoken by fewer than 2,000 people in the whole world, and some that were just made up - as well as English, Korean and a host of others.)

I went into the final with a 98.5 - brought in an extra credit assignment I did last night because I had serious insomnia - hence the banner concept between 2 and 3 am) didn't have much trouble with the exam so far as I could tell - and had enough time to do the extra credit on that as well.

If I get any lower than a solid A here - it will be one major blow to my ego. At the moment - my GPA is 3.6 and change - so anything I do that isn't EXCELLENT between now and December when I finish the degree - can only serve to mess that up.  Weird position to be in - but I was in the same place when i got my AS in Electronics too . . . It may seem greedy - but who wants to lose any part of what they've worked hard for?

AMENDED to say:  I DID IT I DID IT I DID IT!

Linguistic Theory    3.00    A    12.000
   

[Max]

this is the design specs I am looking for all these sizes

http://www.simplygraphix.com/banners_sizes.html

[Michael Vandeven]

this is the design specs I am looking for all these sizes

http://www.simplygraphix.com/banners_sizes.html

to elaborate on that, max has told me we need as many as you can pump out in as many sizes as possible.  as you create multiple sizes (if you choose to do so), they can all be variations on the same premise if you like, or they can be completely different from one another.  you proceed as you wish.  no rules here.  thanks again people.  if i could, i would arrive at all of your homes at a time of your choosing in order to carry out any number of household duties you'd prefer not to do yourself.  alas...

[Camazotz Automat]

(Jackass photograph taken by Camazotz Automat in 2007)

CAMAZOTZ AUTOMAT

[Michael Vandeven]

(Jackass photograph taken by Camazotz Automat in 2007)

CAMAZOTZ AUTOMAT

OMG this is classic.  way to go, bro.  couldn't be better.

[Spikegirl]

(Jackass photograph taken by Camazotz Automat in 2007)

CAMAZOTZ AUTOMAT

BRAVO!

[EvB]

Hehe!

KNEW I'd be outdone by Cam!   

[Camazotz Automat]

Hehe!

KNEW I'd be outdone by Cam!   

I created a banner with an ass, a blinking arrow, and a catch phrase.

You dominated an analytical linguistics class. 

It may be apples and oranges, but your apple kicked my orange's ass nonetheless.

Congratulations are in order for your hard work. Well done.




CAMAZOTZ AUTOMAT

[EvB]

Thanks Cam --

Well - here's take 2.

Wish I'd aligned the text better - but otherwise this is what I've got for now.

http://test.elbarney.com/gnspage.html

BTW - it does link.

[Michael Vandeven]

cam... might i have your permission to make "We Are Aware of the Problem" this site's official slogan?  it's so appealing on so many levels.

by the way...

one more request, everybody.  if/when you put the domain name in your banner, could you format it as such:

coastgab.com

the capitalization of each word helps in terms of word separation.

thx again people.

[Camazotz Automat]

cam... might i have your permission to make "We Are Aware of the Problem" this site's official slogan?  it's so appealing on so many levels.

by the way...

one more request, everybody.  if/when you put the domain name in your banner, could you format it as such:

coastgab.com

the capitalization of each word helps in terms of word separation.

thx again people.

Permission granted.  Full speed ahead ...

(Excellent point regarding capitalization.  I will retool.)




CAMAZOTZ AUTOMAT

[EvB]

one more request, everybody.  if/when you put the domain name in your banner, could you format it as such:

coastgab.com

Done.

[Camazotz Automat]

Camazotz Automat Banner 1.0 has been retooled incorporating capital letters in URL.  If you do not see the change, please refresh your browser.

CAMAZOTZ AUTOMAT

[Michael Vandeven]

hey cam... is it possible for you to make that banner 600x160?

also... just to appease my obsessive compulsive nature as you continue doing free work for this website...

can you place the URL above the slogan?

[Michael Vandeven]

Thanks Cam --

Well - here's take 2.

Wish I'd aligned the text better - but otherwise this is what I've got for now.

http://test.elbarney.com/gnspage.html

BTW - it does link.

it's coming along nicely.  when you feel you have reached the pinnacle of perfection, please let us know.

[Camazotz Automat]

hey cam... is it possible for you to make that banner 600x160?

also... just to appease my obsessive compulsive nature as you continue doing free work for this website...

can you place the URL above the slogan?

600x160 rewyrk

CAMAZOTZ AUTOMAT

[Max]

wow... I like those...


now can we get you to play around with it in 728x90, and 468x60?

[Michael Vandeven]

now that i actually see the 600x160 in action, 728x90 sounds like it would be interesting to take a look at.

[Max]

one donkey on each side..

on the left.. the donkey as shown

in the middle the text..

and on the right a mirrored donkey...

random idea...

[Camazotz Automat]

wow... I like those...


now can we get you to play around with it in 728x90, and 468x60?

Affirmative. Will be later tonight.

CAMAZOTZ AUTOMAT

[Camazotz Automat]

728 x 90 rewyrk

(Banner appears smaller and less crisp due to the size limits and consequential compression of message window itself.  Actual banner file if copied will be a clean 728 x 90.)

CAMAZOTZ AUTOMAT