Forum:Re-theme for Island Paradise

I wanted to get this discussion going early enough in advance, so I'm starting it now.

As you may recall, when Supernatural was released last year, the wiki temporarily changed to a relevant theme. This re-theme included modifying the wiki wordmark (see File:WikiLogoSupernatural.png), the colors of the Wikia topnav bar and bottom bar, and the wiki background image. We didn't do a redesign for University Life, but since we still have a couple months before the release of IP, the time seems right to start planning a related theme, assuming everyone wants to do this.

Additionally, I've seen some comments from people on the IRC that the wiki's background could stand to be changed. While I don't care one way or the other about it, we could possibly use the IP-themed background as a longer-term background for the wiki, from before the expansion's release, and for a few months afterwards. Otherwise, the background could revert to our standard design when the re-theme period ends.

So, do you have any thoughts or ideas? --  LostInRiverview talk ~ blog 00:35, April 24, 2013 (UTC)

Discussion
I think that this is a great idea. We could add replace the Plumbbob in the wordmark with the palm tree from the positive Loner moodlet and get the wiki a bit more blue and orange-reddish (like the Island Paradise logo) and change the background to a Sunlit Tides panorama or try to find images of the expansion pack's world. 20:03, April 25, 2013 (UTC)


 * I agree with the above. Plus, this wiki's theme could use a refreshment. I think that either Island Paradise or the Time Travel pack (when officially announced) could be used to enhance it.  Cavia (  wheek  •   speak  ) 20:21, April 25, 2013 (UTC)

Island Paradise would be good for a summer theme. Plus a fresh coat of paint wouldn't hurt so I'm all for the change. I reckon something scenery-based would look nice. 20:23, April 25, 2013 (UTC)


 * I really like this idea. 06:55, April 26, 2013 (UTC)

I thought the change of the theme was for Halloween theme, but I forgot when it was re-themed actually. I think it would be nice to have some little visual change with the design. IP logo also use 2 shades, orange and light blue, so it can really suit since the majority of the wiki's color is dark blue and green. I think this sunbathing icon looks good for the logo.  Nikel  Talk  –  Vote!  12:21, April 26, 2013 (UTC)

There's something we should keep in mind regarding the logo. Since we don't ourselves design the logo (usually Erry does it), we need to be able to accommodate his needs. So the design for the icon in the center of the logo should be simple enough for him to add without difficulty. I think that this would be accomplished by using a sun in place of the plumbbob, or in leaving the plumbbob in place but changing the word colors. --  LostInRiverview talk ~ blog 15:30, April 30, 2013 (UTC)

Or, you know, we could change the theme to celebrate my birthday the day after IP's NA release. ;) Just kidding! Though, I do think this is a good idea. I support changing the theme for a longer period of time, as the EP is being released in the summer and is (basically) summer-themed. As for the logo, I like DanPin's colour suggestion and LiR's suggestion for the sun to replace the PlumbBob (if possible). -- Bleeh (talk) (blog) 22:42, April 30, 2013 (UTC)

Moving ahead
Seeing as we have 1 month to do this, we may as well try to get a move on. I've made a provisional background that we could possibly use for the reskin. Installation instructions are as follows:
 * Click here to install the background to your personal CSS.

I drew inspiration from a UL reskin as well as the photograph-like presentation of the skin used by the Half-Life Wiki. Basically I wanted to show scenery with some of the features of the expansion.

My main concern with this skin is readability and with the "photographs" taking up a lot of screen space, particularly on monitors with a resolution lower than 1920x1080 (I'm using 1366x768); I do have an earlier version of the file I used to build the background in case I need it. I haven't thought on colour scheme we should move the wiki to just yet though I think DanPin's idea of blue and orange would work nice. The logo appears to be the most complicated part as we don't handle that ourselves and it's not easy to get ahold of the user who does make it.

So feel free to comment on my proposed background (even if you despise it) and anything else. 11:52, May 12, 2013 (UTC)
 * I despise it No... It looks very good, honestly. However, a minor thing... we're going to need to increase the opacity of the content space, so that the content is easier to see in front of the sailboat. --  LostInRiverview talk ~ blog 12:16, May 12, 2013 (UTC)
 * That crossed my mind. Fortunately it can easily be done. 17:00, May 12, 2013 (UTC)
 * The photographs should be shrunk in size and (as LiR said) the sailboat should be easier to see. Otherwise, great job on the background Lab! Ѧüя◎ґ (talk) 17:05, May 12, 2013 (UTC)
 * Agreed. Also, in order to keep us from bugging Erry everytime something like this happens, one of us should probably ask him for the files he used to make the logo (for example, a .psd file) or something like that. 17:10, May 12, 2013 (UTC)
 * I've uploaded a version which shrinks the photographs and it should take the place of the original file once Wikia's servers catch up. Better or worse? 17:21, May 12, 2013 (UTC)