Forum:Main Page design

Notice: Certain talks are relocated from recipients' Talk pages; you will have to check their Talk pages to see the actual conversation editing history prior to July 2015. This page is previously created as a user page, some edit history can viewed. -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 00:12, July 7, 2015 (UTC)

Discussion
(message initially posted on the Main Page's Talk page) Hey, Sammm. Know you're on break, so fell free to reply here whenever. When we get the new logo up I think that would be a good time to redo the main page (especially those fonts, I mean seriously). Anyway, what I mean to say is that I would love to be a part of helping with the changes, so could you notify me when you start to make changes here? Because I might request adminship then so that I can better understand and help with the main page design. Thanks! Katherine Rebekah (talk) 13:48, April 27, 2015 (UTC)


 * (message written after talks about other things) BTW, I did see your post regarding to a possible redo of the main page... While I don't think that's the best thing I could have whipped up, I still think you should check out the edit history and view them one after another (surprisingly it doesn't take long to go through them all), I do think I turned it less garish, but I realized I was trying too hard to work with what was there, instead of just do something better. On that note, I kinda want to do a simple monotone-ish theme of blacks and whites referencing paper and ink... b/w is pretty much classy/classic if handled right; and just let the images be the only ones with colors. I hope your okay with this? Again, this is least of my worries right now, and even when you do become admin tomorrow, I don't wish this to be the first and foremost thing you work on. -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 23:00, April 30, 2015 (UTC)


 * Oh, I feel like such a jerk now. I had no idea that you fixed that page up. I really need to learn to be cautious. I'm so sorry if I offended you. I made the assumption that you hadn't done the page because you have expressed you're distaste for fonts that are so curvy that they almost look like different letters. Hence that untactful comment about the fonts. Even if it wan't you I shouldn't say things like that, because someone made that page and put work into it. I'm sorry, please forgive me for being insensitive.


 * I think that the B and W is a great idea. It would look really good with the logo and the pictures would be more eye catching.


 * I undersand. I realize that is not the main thing to focus on. I was simply saying that if I hadn't become an admin by that time I wanted to become one so that I could help do the page, but I don't think it is the most pressing matter.


 * Again, I am sorry. I know you probably made quick changes to the page and there is so much to do here that you didn't have time to focus on that. I think you have a great eye for design. You definitely helped immensely with the logo. I hope I didn't hurt your feelings.
 * Katherine Rebekah (talk) 23:23, April 30, 2015 (UTC)


 * No worries girl! By fixing up, it really was just tweaking what was already there; I guess I would feel more defeated had I actually built that page from scratch xDDDD But no, I did not, so don't worry about offending me! In fact, it was precisely your input about it that made me realize I was going about it all wrong. When something doesn't work, maybe it just doesn't and should be cast aside (that is to say layout-wise I may not change them all that much later, but def. color scheme-wise!). BTW, I find it hilarious cuz I earlier I went to check the edit history, and found out someone actually copy the seemingly then-HPW main page and paste to our wiki to tweak it lmao. Apparently I'm not the only basing on that wiki. :3 -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 23:37, April 30, 2015 (UTC)


 * *sigh of relief* I'm glad I didn't offend you because that is the last thing I would want to do! BTW I looked at the old versions and you DEFINITELY made an improvement.


 * Lol looks like everyone is crazy about HP accept me. I really have to read those books so I can be in the loop. XD Katherine Rebekah (talk) 00:38, May 1, 2015 (UTC)


 * IDK if you have seen this yet but I am watching a vid right now about editing the main page: http://community.wikia.com/wiki/File:Mainpages_101_-_How_to_make_a_great_mainpage_for_your_wiki. It is proving to be pretty good so far. Katherine Rebekah (talk) 19:22, May 11, 2015 (UTC)


 * idk why I never thought about watching those video lol, I just absorb what I think appeal from other wikis lmao... Watching it right now. Three minutes into the vid I feel like they should FORCE every admin to watch it hahahaha. Why a lot of wikis don't work for me is because the navigation AND main page sucked which leave me clueless as to what the wikis contain. I've actually just came across something I'm tempted to try out from (totally by surprise) Ever After High Wiki, but we have to up our article quality or it'll be embarrassing rather than impressing xP.-- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 19:39, May 11, 2015 (UTC)


 * Yeah, it's pretty informational, though later when it starts talking about coding I have to pay close attention to understand. I'm embarrassed to say that I actually read the first Ever After High book (my little cousin had it and I was born XD). I will go check out their main page and see what's up.
 * Katherine Rebekah (talk) 19:42, May 11, 2015 (UTC)


 * I think I might start looking at some things to do to the main page if that is okay with you. Just as a break from the summaries and something creative to do. I don't think there is anything wrong with the content, or even the lay out, it's just the colors that are throwing me off I think and that font. What do you think? Katherine Rebekah (talk) 20:11, May 11, 2015 (UTC)


 * If it's just a break from routine then it's fine; if you want to change the colors, try using what's on InkworldTrilogyNavigation. For the grays I used those shades http://www.w3schools.com/tags/ref_colorpicker.asp?colorhex=FFFAFA, though I would really still like you to go through stuff from the other wiki, but if you really want to try it out; go for it! =D -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 20:18, May 11, 2015 (UTC)

General wikis
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-expanded" style="width: 100%; border: 1px dotted Black; font-size: 100%; margin: 0; padding: .1em" !style="font-size: 95%; |Detailed discussion
 * Ever After High Wiki rekoned by S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 19:39, May 11, 2015 (UTC)
 * DC Database rekoned by Katherine Rebekah
 * His Dark Materials Wiki rekoned by S a m m m ✦✧
 * I like the simplicity, even though I think the book covers can be a bit bigger. never read them btw.
 * Alice Wiki rekoned by Katherine Rebekah
 * Although it is a horror video game wiki and has nothing to do with ours, it still looks pretty cool. I espicaly love the help section and the cat gif. I looked at the coding and I seriously have no idea how they go that there. The alice's corner section on the side bar is nice too.
 * Kingkiller Wiki rekoned by S a m m m ✦✧
 * I think it's safe to say that Ohmystars is absolutely fabulous at styling home pages!
 * Blue's Clues Wiki rekoned by -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 17:06, July 8, 2015 (UTC)
 * I'm not fond of that fluorescent-ish green for the background in the center, but if excluding that and the little issue on the right column, I think it's relatively nice and cute! :3
 * Not sure what went through my mind, I swear the background with all the characters simply didn't show up for me when I recommended its home page. Now, not so much. -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 23:18, August 25, 2015 (UTC)
 * Tron Wiki rekoned by -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 00:06, July 31, 2015 (UTC)
 * Another simplistic one; I think it really let me realize sometime lesser color works better!
 * Dragon Age Wiki rekoned by -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 00:06, July 31, 2015 (UTC)
 * This one just looks too professional that I just had to put it up here; I don't think their styles fit ours (aka I won't be trying to covert ours to look like theirs), but it's still something really refreshing to see; it looks like some sort of actual website, or idk, official tumblr layouts. I simply wasn't aware there's this kind of treatment so there you go! =D
 * WARFRAME Wiki rekoned by -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 01:30, August 6, 2015 (UTC)
 * Full explanation see its separate section.
 * Outcast Wiki rekoned by -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 01:30, August 6, 2015 (UTC)
 * Full explanation see its separate section.
 * Outlander Wiki rekoned by -- -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 05:51, October 7, 2015 (UTC)
 * The wiki has been on my radar ever since early May, but it just never hit the exact spot; I think that although I still prefer their previous tabber styling, changing the fonts def. brings up the level; I have never seen a wiki making "white" so stylishly appreciate-able! To me, it's very "clean" but not boring!

Re: Ever After High Wiki
Checked out the Ever After High page and IMO it's pretty obnoxious in execution but has some nice ideas. I especially like the Have you meat this character? section, though I don't know if this would applicable to our wiki. What did you have in mind? Katherine Rebekah (talk) 19:59, May 11, 2015 (UTC)


 * Oh fear not, I wasn't talking about their color scheme or formats lol. It's just that they used a code I probably did come across before but didn't stop to wonder back then, and yes it is in fact the character section; it has a selection so if you refresh you may get a different content. I think we don't necessarily have to only use characters, but whatever we use, like I said, it has to be presentable or it would just be embarrassing, that's why I'm holding off as of now... I really don't think we have much of those completely decent page to choose from.-- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 20:07, May 11, 2015 (UTC)


 * I agree, it's a good idea but, like you said, what page would we use? Dusfinger is the best as of now and even his page is not complete. So that will have to hold off. Katherine Rebekah (talk) 20:11, May 11, 2015 (UTC)

Re: Alice Wiki
It's a bit crowded imo, kinda like how I feel about The Shadowhunters' Wiki; I like that one up until the book section ended, then it just feel like too many boxes and my eyes don't know which box to look at first. But that's just me.

Which part of the help section do you like?

I'm not sure which cat gif you are talking about, but if it's the Cheshire Cat whose smile will widen if your mouse hover it, it's not actually a gif. It's the Template:Home-Images located on Template:Alice corner (now being used directly). I actually do plan to use the same code on our books, haven't used it because I haven't scanned my copy lmao; the ones on the Net are all horrible quality of the 2009 special gift edition. But YO! If this isn't what you were talking about, thanks for making me feel that way anyways, because I first got the idea from Arrowverse Wiki (the character section,certain characters' images will change when your mouse hover over it) THAT is the one I look at the code and could not figure out how to do it LOL; because one of their main admin used to be here, I figured I'd just ask him about it later, but now I don't have to hahahaha. So yeah! Thanks! -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 22:03, May 12, 2015 (UTC)


 * Yeah, I agree that it's crowded. I don't like everything about it, mainly just the things I mentioned.


 * The section I was referring to was actually labeled Helping Out. It shows a percentage bar and lets you know the main things the the wiki needs help with, which I thought was a good idea.


 * I know, I felt like such a dummy when I figured out that it wasn't a gif and that it was only happening when I hovered my mouse over it. *face palm* But cool to know that you like that too. The one on the Arrowverse Wiki is nice, so you can see them in costume. (I also like the fact that on the Arrowverse Wiki there is a pop up asking you to review their policies.) Good idea to use it for the special editions of the book covers. Nice! Katherine Rebekah (talk) 03:34, May 13, 2015 (UTC)


 * Oh I know it was the Helping Out section, just what specific part. I did think it was the bar but I figure I shouldn't assume. I looked it up, it's a combination of both those two: Template:Help/count and Template:Progressbar; I did wonder if they just randomly came up with the number (they didn't), what we eventually have to do to make this work is to create a template for clean-up that also includes a category for pages that needed to be cleaned up. For this, when you reread the books, I hope you can pay attention if you see a quote that can be use for describing this moment; I feel like the part when they were looking for Fenoglio's manuscript may have something we can use.


 * Yeah the Arrowverse Wiki has some good stuff. That wiki is actually the reason why I got my account lmao. Was told to get one. xP
 * -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 04:15, May 13, 2015 (UTC)


 * Is it just me or did this wiki have a major redo on their main page? xDDDD IDK why, but I actually like it a lot more now lmao. I mean, sure, it STILL looks hella busy (if not more, with those maddening colors), but before I think each little box has the same background or something and it just made it look overall with bad taste (sorry, that's just how I felt), now at least it's a bit more interesting, kind of like why I named both Dragon Age Wiki and Outcast Wiki
 * -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 23:47, August 25, 2015 (UTC)

WARFRAME Wiki
I came across this wiki because of Battle of the Fantasy Foods; like the Dragon Age Wiki, it is very inorganic but geometrical, and even though that's a route this wiki is unlikely going to take, I still think it's undeniable that this wiki got styles and is super pro-looking. I however think that there is in fact something to take from the layout, the "MAINTENANCE" section; I think it's a very smart idea to explain the changes like policy and templates specially, since apparently a lot of people don't follow Special:Recentchanges. I have yet looked into whether they just manually insert what to be on display, but I'd just like to let my opinion on this to be known. Also, again, not necessarily suitable for this wiki per se, but they really have some bamf-looking infoboxes...! It almost fooled me into thinking that they are using the portable ones (that Wikia are trying to advocate) cuz it's so clean and simple looking. -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 01:30, August 6, 2015 (UTC)

Outcast Wiki
I've actually known about this wiki for quite some times (believe I was first introduced to it in either March or April, 2015). Since the wiki is still in its early stages, it's actually only until a few days ago that I find its main page truly become one of a kind and standing out. Now, I do think that on first glance it can seem really busy and some of the words aren't necessarily easy to read. But I think it's the fact that it took a chance to use images with really flamboyant coloring and still look overall cohesive. Anyhow, whether you like the effect, that's actually not why I decided to list it, sure the colors and different background for each box impressed me (albeit having a hard time to read the content), we've seen similar technic in a more subtle way on the Dragon Age Wiki; the real reason I'm listing it is because I see the potential of using Template:Slider, which can be seen as used in Template:Affiliate on the main page. Personally I think although it is fairly reminiscent to Wikia's own "Slider" function, this one is slightly closer to looking "pages from a book"? Ideally the main page eventually should include not just the characters but if having some locations, that'd be even better. Originally I thought about simply using Wikia's slider if/when I do get to that point, but now I'm thinking perhaps this can be the extra icing on the cake. Let me know your thoughts! -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 01:30, August 6, 2015 (UTC)
 * }

Foreign wikis

 * Wiki Arrowverso rekoned by -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 23:18, August 25, 2015 (UTC)
 * (The Spanish Arrowverse Wiki)
 * The most elegant and chic Arrowverse Wiki out there, as of now, imo. =P May ask the admin CSS tips from now on.
 * Wiki Harry Potter rekoned by -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 05:41, October 4, 2015 (UTC)
 * (The French Harry Potter Wiki)
 * Honestly, the best HPW I've seen so far (though the es one comes to a close second imo.) Could pass of as a website.
 * Wiki Artemis Fowl rekoned by -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 05:41, October 4, 2015 (UTC)
 * (The Polish Artemis Fowl Wiki)
 * Best AFW I've seen so far; though I do think the color scheme (text and background) sometimes is a bit painful to the eye (lol), I still think overall gimmick-wise, it has a few good tricks!
 * Il Trono di Spade Wiki rekoned by -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 05:41, October 4, 2015 (UTC)
 * (The Italian A Song of Ice and Fire [book series] & Game of Thrones [TV series] Wiki)
 * I have no idea why I think it worked...Like the oriental background with the graphical red dash lines shouldn't work together... but for some reason I just think it does? xDD
 * Wiki Le Voleur de magie rekoned by -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 05:41, October 4, 2015 (UTC)
 * (The French The Magic Thief Wiki)
 * The English counterpart is nowhere on a par with the fr version; though I don't particularly think the chosen font suits the series, I think overall the layout works and it has a nice usage of the collapsable boxes.
 * Śródziemie Wiki rekoned by -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 05:51, October 7, 2015 (UTC)
 * (The Polish Lord of the Ring Wiki)
 * I think it won me over due to its refreshing-ness; cuz I think when you think of LotR, you'd think about earthy tone first, but it went a complete unexpected route and picked such a pastel-ish color for the overall theme. I think it paid off, especially the logo, such a pro design!

Wikis designed by CDT
The following seems to all have been helped by CDT at some point. {| class="mw-collapsible mw-expanded" style="width: 100%; border: 1px dotted Black; font-size: 100%; margin: 0; padding: .1em" !style="font-size: 95%; |Detailed discussion
 * Glee Wiki rekoned by Katherine Rebekah
 * A Court of Thorns and Roses Wiki rekoned by Katherine Rebekah
 * Even though I am not a fan of the over all look I am drawn to the blog, help, and create buttons, which I think are great resources for newer users. I am also noticing a lot of book wiki's doing an interview with the author for their fetured video.
 * Recipes Wiki rekoned by S a m m m ✦✧
 * Not sure why I forgot to mention this one first. Def. one of my favorites for some reason! It just looks clean and homey... Right now the social media section is acting funny (I think it's happening somewhere else too not just this wiki) most of the time it looks really fine.)
 * John Green Wiki rekoned by S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 02:58, June 20, 2015 (UTC))
 * Found this cuz of the Books Hub! Another nice work by the CDT, I believe! I think the last two portal buttons and their content pages are simply brilliant!
 * Frozen Wiki rekoned by S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 22:52, July 6, 2015 (UTC)
 * You know I'd hate to admit it, but yeah, I think their main page is decent and cohesive.
 * They've recently changed the background and imo, it broke the cohesiveness, so don't judge my sanity of recommending it by how it currently look xP.-- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 00:06, July 31, 2015 (UTC)
 * The Zodiac Wikia rekoned by S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 00:12, July 7, 2015 (UTC)
 * Another simply yet cohesive design.

Re: Recipes Wiki
It really is a beautiful main page. I think it has the clean feel going for it, like the Glee wiki does. It also has those nifty buttons on the side bar that I like so much: blog, help, create, ect. All in all I really like the simplistic and clean style. I think we could go for that, though still be a little more old world in keeping true to Inkheart. Katherine Rebekah (talk) 03:43, May 13, 2015 (UTC)


 * What do you think about parchment paper-like button? I actually wanted to have the quotes to have some sort of background that can look like they are on a piece of paper, but that's harder cuz there's no guarantee of the size and shape the quote box will end up like, for those buttons you are talking about however is a given size, so it should be considerably workable. Just a thought.-- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 04:15, May 13, 2015 (UTC)


 * I looked on the Recipes Wiki and I couldn't fine anything that looks like parchment. Where is the button located exactly? Katherine Rebekah (talk) 19:13, May 13, 2015 (UTC)


 * I meant, if you want buttons on our main page, what do you think about them looking like parchment paper. Haven't been made yet. Asking your opinion.-- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 19:20, May 13, 2015 (UTC)


 * I'm actually a fan of the quotes as they are now but I would be open to seeing the parchment. I think it would look best if it were a more subtle look though, because if it's too obvious it could look kitschy. Katherine Rebekah (talk) 02:22, May 14, 2015 (UTC)

John Green Wiki
OMG I'm soooo stupid! I was thinking way too ahead, but KR, idk how I missed it; the CFW actually IS the perfect place for you to test layout for our main page; if you are still in to it!! Look at http://johngreen.wikia.com/wiki/Portal:LookingForAlaska! It honestly looks like a regular main page! I've created one using what you were working on but switching information so that's it's benefitting their wiki at the same time! http://corneliafunke.wikia.com/wiki/Portal:Inkworld_Trilogy the weird thing is, I don't think right now it's recognizing the Portal namespace, like it's not really doing the awesome thing we see on the example I just showed, or like http://recipes.wikia.com/wiki/Portal:Food_Fiction, I'll perhaps ask around. But yeah, just want to let you know, unless the admin of CFW decided to delete the page (that'd be weird, honestly), that's a legit place you can work on! -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 21:53, June 21, 2015 (UTC)


 * I see. Well I will have the link if I ever get around to it. :) Katherine Rebekah (talk) 18:26, June 22, 2015 (UTC)


 * It's just another place, though I only found out last night that "Portal" is a custom namespace that needed to be sent in as a request; I did so last night/early this morning; but dunno if the staff will pass it considering I'm not an admin there. Pity. Anyhow... that idea is kinda halted atm.
 * -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 18:43, June 22, 2015 (UTC)


 * I'm not sure if you ever went checking, but the Portal function at CFW has been enabled for awhile and here's the page again: Portal:Inkworld Trilogy (I know it's up there, but just putting it using wiki links this time =D) Please don't hate me for deleting the experiment page just now, if you want to work on it, work on it there* so that you can preview it properly.
 * -- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 07:05, July 6, 2015 (UTC)


 * Lol Sammm, not mad at all. Thank you for moving it that page is way more appropriate.
 * Katherine Rebekah (talk) 14:19, July 7, 2015 (UTC)

Community Development Team
Wikia apparently has a Community Development Team, you can see what they do here: http://community.wikia.com/wiki/Community_Central:Community_Development_Team

I figure, the example they showed is most likely what are considered "good" main pages, so I'll put up the links.

http://community.wikia.com/wiki/Community_Central:Community_Development_Team/skins http://community.wikia.com/wiki/Community_Central:Community_Development_Team/skins2 http://community.wikia.com/wiki/Community_Central:Community_Development_Team/skins3 http://community.wikia.com/wiki/Community_Central:Community_Development_Team/skins4

-- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 23:55, May 12, 2015 (UTC)


 * K, I feel awful for the team, because some of the wikis def. modified their main pages afterwards and they now looked nowhere near as cool as the sample images showed on the CDT page. The ones that still looked alright to me are:


 * Park Pedia (Jurassic Park Wiki)
 * The Bourne Directory (Bourne series Wiki)
 * American Pie Wiki
 * Vintage Patterns Wikia


 * Not saying they are the best main pages I've ever seen, but they def. have the cohesiveness going on.-- S a m m m ✦✧ (talk) 00:25, May 13, 2015 (UTC)


 * Alright, I will check them out. Thanks! Katherine Rebekah (talk) 03:36, May 13, 2015 (UTC)


 * Checked it out and IMO the only one that's still looking good is the vintage patterns wiki. It's really cute but I don't think I see anything that we could use.
 * Katherine Rebekah (talk) 19:13, May 13, 2015 (UTC)


 * }