My new menu layout

[monkeydlu]

Ok, I've decided to customize my menu layout, using moghunter's of course.

these are only the first stages, but I don't really like it, so I need suggestions and ideas on how it could look better.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x268 ... nuMain.jpg[/IMG]

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x268 ... nuTest.jpg[/IMG]

I'm thinking I should do something about the boxes for the character display.

 

[Kraft]

I would suggest a border of some sorts around the Items, skills, party. etc... boxes. something a little more than just a black line though...

 

[monkeydlu]

thanks, I need to put some thought into designing a border....idk.

I need some suggestions, I don't really know what would fit here. The most important thing is color, idk, I think my colors are a bit off ~_~

 

[Jeronimus]

The picture on the background looks nice, but then again half of the background is white, which makes the menu look a bit empty-ish. Next to not being evenly spaced, the borders for the characters aren't brilliantly beautiful, but they're not that bad; though maybe they're not necessary when there's no character in that location.

 

[monkeydlu]

hm...alright, I'mma see if I can come up with a border design for the bars on the left side.

The back groudn picture I'm not really set yet, but maybe when I find something more fitting. Idk

 

[Venetia]

Owwwhhhh, a terrible font ruins yet another decent menu. Or, atleast the workings of one.

That really isn't a very nice font, sorry.

I'm not liking the menu selections on the left, either. The borderless wood pattern, I mean. It doesn't go with the information boxes at the bottom (orange gradients).

And lastly, the information boxes at the bottom are orange and the background is predominantly brown and white ... That's a big clash. I'd recommend a contrast color instead.

 

[monkeydlu]

Thanks Venetia, I didn't like those either, but I really don't know how to fix them.

The color contrasts I don't really get, can you help me with some suggestions for the colors?

As for the font, I thought it was cute, lol. I'll change that though, cuz my artistic feel is minimal. Should I go with something calmer?

 

[Colormagix]

If I were you I'd revamp the whole project and start over from scratch!

 

[monkeydlu]

yup, I'm going to just ignore this for a while, and think of something new. Idk, the menu is a problem, but oh well, I'll think of someway to deal with it.

 

[Fate]

Very elegant and suffisticated, although i'm really not like the battler.

~~Fate

 

[monkeydlu]

Can't help the battler. tis the best I can do with photoshop.

 

[Mascarpone]

as venetia mentioned.. font. font font font get rid of it.

You gain nothing from having decorative fonts. It doesn't add to the visual appeal and it certainly doesn't help people understand your menu better. Never use a decorative font in your main interface.

Tone down the background. It's too white and stark and distracts from the rest of it. Background are an ambiance not a center piece.

Get rid of the step counter no one cares about how many steps they've taken unless its Pokemon and u can reset the counter 9_9. Find something more meaningful.

FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY! do not use Mog Hunter's HP bars... they are just So! soooo!!! appalling to look at... just no! Same with the Status Indicator fonts. Its just such a no-no! ><

Those little black line borders ... ditch 'em. thats just not a good idea no matter how u slice it.

When all else fails, look to S-E. I'm not a fan boy but they have always managed to have simple, elegant interfaces. The trick is to not go over board, don't make it too flashy. and function is always more important than fahsion.