The quest for the perfect layout

[matilda36]

 How do you pick the perfect layout ? This thought crossed my mind this morning for 2 reasons: heroes_gleeweek is in full swing ( it is a lovely place, go and join the fun) and one of the things people can request are layouts. Now I have been restless for a layout for a while, and I'd like  an Heroes one, but I am uncertain about what I want.

Apparently, at least according to people who still remember my 2005 Christmassy layout (yes I am looking at you joereaves )  I am a bit colourchallenged, and after being blinded by an all red layout this morning while looking for fic, I can see their point about too bright colours and how they put off readers.

Also I love my layout to be functional. Banners that fill the screen so you have to scroll down annoy me. as do those layouts where you do have to look for the writing in very small boxes hidden amongst beautiful graphics. 

However the layouts that appeal most to my reader oriented nature are to put it mildly, boring. All beige and grey and all that. And I am a lot of things, mostly negative, but I am not boring. Yet.

So my layout needs to be functional, colourful but not blinding and with nice but not too dominering graphics. Is it too much to ask for ?

So, dear flist, how did you pick your layout and why ? What are your criteria? How often do you change it ? What does make the perfect layout ?

Comments

[herbmcsidhe.livejournal.com]

A clean font, contrasting colors, and a font size that I can adjust if I need to - and no taking over the size and shape of my cursor, I need to be able to find the damned thing!

I don'[t personally care for either black or white backgrounds, they are too harsh on the eyes on a computer; I generally go for a soft green or brown, or very rarely grey. I like a sidebar with a page summary, so that I can scan quickly and see if there are new posts/comments without having to scroll down the page.

That's the short of it, anyway.

[matilda36.livejournal.com]

I actually tried a white background for a while... but it just gave me an headache, so even if I liked the layout I just changed it in the end. Once again.

[joereaves.livejournal.com]

Bold colours are fine as long as they're accents and highlights rather than large panels. It's large blocks of bright colours that smack you in the face. Co-ordingating colours, with a fairly neutral background of some king. Make sure the font colour isn't too glaring but is sufficiently contrasting to be able to read (I've seen some really horrible combinations, purple background and deep red text for example). Unless people *really* *really* want to read what you've written they won't bother if they have to put too much effort into it. A sidebar is definitely good although the summary is only really necessary, IMO, if you're prone to longer entries without cuts. And personally I don't much like pictures as a background. I've seen it done well occasionally but too often you find it keeps pulling your eye away from what you're trying to read.

And remember your journal should be about what you've written. A fantastic layout is great but if it's too distracting it can detract from the entries.

[matilda36.livejournal.com]

And remember your journal should be about what you've written. A fantastic layout is great but if it's too distracting it can detract from the entries.

That's a really good point... When I saw that black on bright red layout this morning I didn't even attempt to read the fic that had lured me in the first place... it was just... too much.

[japewierd.livejournal.com]

I start with the picture... every single time *g* From that the rest of it re colour scheme just evolves.

And I nearly always choose Flexible Squares or Smooth Sailing cos they are easy for me to fiddle with :)

[matilda36.livejournal.com]

Mmmmh after having checked out your Jensen banner I cannot disagree with you...

The man is so pretty. I just wish for more Jensen as a drag queen fics.

[japewierd.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately I have no idea which particular Jensen banner you're referring to. You might want to hop back over to my LJ and press the refresh key a few times (normally F5) ;)

[matilda36.livejournal.com]

*snickers*

all of them ?

[japewierd.livejournal.com]

Hehe, well yes, he is rather gorgeous isn't he *drools* ... hence the lack of being able to choose just one ;)

[matilda36.livejournal.com]

I still have to find a pick in which Jensen isn't droolable...

Mmmmh maybe I should look into one of those revolving banners for myself too.

Not mentioning learning some coding. And some Japanese.

[japewierd.livejournal.com]

There's an easyish way at http://babytest.livejournal.com/9923.html on how to do it via php - which isn't as hard as it may sound ;)

Or I know there are codes out there for paid users but they may depend on which layout you use in the end... let me know if you need help finding something.

Good luck with the Japanese. Coding really isn't that hard ;)