The New Forum Logo(s) Project

[SinCity R/T]

There has been some discussion over the past few months regarding freshening up the graphics in the forum area. The main forum logo & forum navigation bar were recently modified so that they wouldn't interfere with revamped graphics.

A friend of mine who runs a local muscle car club I'm a member of recently revamped his website, and it reminded me of some ideas I've had for the website for quite some time but never implemented because of lack of free time & the fact that I know nothing about Photoshop. What he's done on his site is offer multiple skins that show different header graphics - you can choose from GTO's, Corvettes, Mustangs, etc. - attached to this post is a sample of two of his skins. I would like to do something similar here, but with different categories of Dakotas/Durangos.

Depending upon how many pictures are submitted, I think I'd like to break down the skins using these categories:
1) "Default" skin - shows a nice picture which should contain at least one stock Gen III Dakota and one stock Gen I Durango.
2) Gen I & Gen II (86-96) Dakotas
3) Gen III (97-04) Off-Road Dakotas
4) Gen III (97-04) R/T Dakotas
5) Gen III (97-04) "Slammed/Show/Bling" Dakotas
6) Gen III (97-04) Regular Cab Dakotas
7) Gen III (97-04) Club Cab Dakotas
8) Gen III (97-04) Quad Cab Dakotas
9) Gen IV & Gen V (05-08+) Dakotas (All Types)
10) Gen I (98-03) Off-Road Durangos
11) Gen I (98-03) Durangos (All Others)
12) Gen I (97-03) "Slammed/Show/Bling" Durangos
13) Gen II (04+) Durangos (All Types)

Now here's the catch... For this particular project, I want to restrict the nominations to people who are active or expired site supporters. These are the folks who have helped keep the site chugging along by reducing the dent this place makes in my pocketbook, and I am always interested in finding more ways to help give something back. Anyone who signs up for a new site supporter membership during the period of time it takes to create these graphics are welcome to participate - information about the site supporter programs can be found here: http://www.dakota-durango.com/membership.php

NOTE: At the moment I'm only opening up this section so people who are active/expired site supporters can post some pictures of their trucks. I am looking for volunteers to help draw up the graphics at some point in the future after everyone has posted their trucks.

If you have any questions about this project or would like to help out with the creation of the graphics, please send me a PM.

ADDITIONAL NOTE: I can't guarantee that every single person who submits a picture will be displayed in the graphic, especially if there's a lot of submissions for their particular category. I'm going to let the graphic artists jump in and grab whatever photos they think will work & look the best, and then there will most likely be some sort of poll for people to choose their favorite final logo for each category.

[Jarheadoo7]

cool beans man.. thanks for the time you put in this stuff..

[User2007]

Hey man if you need someone to create the banners for you i can do it. I have the resources and knowledge to do it, i created the new webpage for DFWDakotas and ive built and ran forums in the past and created and implemented new skins on IPB based forums. I had a company called Gal-XZ-Visuals basically just a forum for people to go to and chat about gfx and games, but i got a Dakota R/T and well here i am.. lol

What im trying to say is if you dont have anyone to compile the imgs from the users together into a banner i can do it...

here is a TAD bit of my old work Click Here (http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=47832326&albumId=1342295) - Its a myspace profile with pics of all my sigs, banners, and wallpapers ive made in the past and some random abstract shit.

also here is the site i recently did just so the site would be updated and working.. its still under construction as im waiting for the members to send me info on the trucks and img ect.. Click here (http://www.dfwdakotas.com)

[SinCity R/T]

Hey man if you need someone to create the banners for you i can do it. I have the resources and knowledge to do it, i created the new webpage for DFWDakotas and ive built and ran forums in the past and created and implemented new skins on IPB based forums. I had a company called Gal-XZ-Visuals basically just a forum for people to go to and chat about gfx and games, but i got a Dakota R/T and well here i am.. lol

What im trying to say is if you dont have anyone to compile the imgs from the users together into a banner i can do it...

here is a TAD bit of my old work Click Here (http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=47832326&albumId=1342295) - Its a myspace profile with pics of all my sigs, banners, and wallpapers ive made in the past and some random abstract shit.

also here is the site i recently did just so the site would be updated and working.. its still under construction as im waiting for the members to send me info on the trucks and img ect.. Click here (http://www.dfwdakotas.com)

Anyone who wants to help with this project is more than welcome to jump in with their contributions. If people "know someone" who can do graphics that's cool and I appreciate the help, but I want to make sure that those folks know that this isn't a commercial/paid project. I just thought it would be fun to offer multiple styles of header graphics on the site that people could choose from to match the type of truck they own.

[SinCity R/T]

FYI: I will probably wrap up submissions for this project within the next couple of weeks so people can begin generating the logos. If you are a current or past/expired site supporter, please submit some photos! If you have been contemplating signing up for a subscription now would be a good time to sign up just to get the extra perk of having your truck potentially displayed at the top of the forum.

[SinCity R/T]

Ok it's time to lock up the individual photo threads and have people begin work on making the new banners.

Anyone with Photoshop/Graphics skills are encouraged to participate.

I would like these banners to fit on 800x600 or 1024x768 resolution monitors (have to keep 20+ pixels free for margins on the sides), and the height of the banner should be proportional.

At a minimum, the banner should include:
www.Dakota-Durango.com
Internet Resource for Dodge Truck Owners

Beyond that the sky's the limit, as long as everything is legible and is restricted to the photos that were submitted for each category. If the photos that were submitted are not good enough to be used, please contact the people who sent photos to see if they can provide some better shots.

[midnite]

11) Gen I (98-03) Durangos (All Others)
12) Gen I (97-03) "Slammed/Show/Bling" Durangos

**hope its not to late...

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/4/web/2344000-2344999/2344233_159_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/4/web/2344000-2344999/2344233_155_full.jpg?323815-271

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/4/web/2344000-2344999/2344233_152_full.jpg?323815-271

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/4/web/2344000-2344999/2344233_166.jpg?112518-273

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/4/web/2344000-2344999/2344233_153_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/4/web/2344000-2344999/2344233_160_full.jpg

[ddrt00]

I'm probably way too late but just saw this....oh well.

[Jarheadoo7]

how is this coming along by the way?

[dakoturrr]

can i submit some?

[SinCity R/T]

how is this coming along by the way?

Nobody's ever sent me any header graphics... :huh:

[bill_j]

Good luck guys, If I can help any I will. I am decent with photoshop if no one submits anything earth shattering.

I'm laid off so I have a little time to waste here and there. I am thinking there needs to be at least 6 total banners unless we combine pics of daks and dangos in each banner we could cut back to 3. As far as I'm concerned there are three overall catergories, show, race, and offroad. Of course there are stock ones but who cares about those, lol. My wifes dango won't stay too close to stock very long.

EDIT, I also just noticed you guys are wanting to separate by gens as well, so how many banners are you wanting?

[AndrewR/T]

I'll see what I can do, I know i'm not a supported member but Ill just mess around with it for the hell of it

[oxygen454]

Just a start... what do you guys think?

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo44/oxygen454/BANNER-DODGE.jpg

[oxygen454]

No feedback... so much potential on these banners...:feedback:

[Cmucky]

not too bad, i like it

[02dakotadrvr]

bump?

[oxygen454]

Im going to try and make a similar idea to what sincity was showing at the first of this thread. Any chance in getting a free membership for this work? lol

Any ideas from you guys here?

[oxygen454]

STAGE 2 (playing with ideas... has a long way to go yet....)

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo44/oxygen454/Banner-Project2png.png

[Silver Bullet]

ya so i must have been on a different planet when all of this was talked about...so im guessing im to late to submit a picture?

[oxygen454]

I dont think so, I just posted these a few days ago...

[InTeNsE98RT]

So whens the new look gonna get applied? I cant wait for a new theme :mullet:

[AmberFireDaK]

STAGE 2 (playing with ideas... has a long way to go yet....)

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo44/oxygen454/Banner-Project2png.png

I like it.... but the larger pic needs to be a cutout not just a square pic

[oxygen454]

ya I was just playing with ideas... it looks out of place I agree.

[AmberFireDaK]

ya I was just playing with ideas... it looks out of place I agree.

you could try it with this.... :jester:

[oxygen454]

you could try it with this.... :jester:

Looks cool, only problem is, apparently you have to be a forum subscriber to have your truck in the banner.

[AmberFireDaK]

Looks cool, only problem is, apparently you have to be a forum subscriber to have your truck in the banner.

Shhhhhh..... don't tell on me :jester:

[94Dodge]

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a299/taz501/banner-1.jpg
:/ I could have done better but cutting stock images is hard
and no real inspiration

[Blue Basher]

so we dont have to be a site supporter to make a banner but we gotta use supporters pics?

in that case il give it a try in
3) Gen III (97-04) Off-Road Dakotas
7) Gen III (97-04) Club Cab Dakotas

should have them up tonight after i finish my speach 0.0

[SilverDurango]

Here's my attempt that I did while bored at work...
I'm not a graphics artist by any means.. Just play around with PS to edit family pics usually.

Wanted an engine to put in the background and that's the only decent image google came back with..

I did two to show that different trucks can be inserted.. I also did not have the patience to perfectly cut out the individual trucks but you get the idea

[Blue Basher]

Plop...
i can do more il probly edit these out of boordom
probly make buttons tonight =D

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j133/Del_ereious/Rtkotabanner6-1.png

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j133/Del_ereious/Rtkotabanner.png

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j133/Del_ereious/Rtkotabanner2.png

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j133/Del_ereious/Rtkotabanner4.png

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j133/Del_ereious/Rtkotabanner5.png

[DaKoTa 35-2]

Dont get me wrong, They look good, however you are forgetting some 4x4 pics...Theres a bunch on the site, Not just RT's

[Blue Basher]

look in the other posts there is a 4x4 banner
infact it looks alot like my sig, only not as cool

[96BlkDak]

shouldnt there be more than the Gen3's in the logo????

[InTeNsE98RT]

shouldnt there be more than the Gen3's in the logo????
You gen 2 guys always complain :blahblah: :jester:

[Blue Basher]

lol if you want i could make a gen 2 and 1 logo but wow its been a while since anybody has posted on this lol

[oxygen454]

sincity hasn't given any feedback so Im not sure whats happening with all of this?

[Blue Basher]

been a while i sent him a pm asking if he wanted anything specific like 2 months ago no responce maybe hes wating for more people to try?

[Blue Basher]

is anything ever going to become of this? I can make more??

[SinCity R/T]

<< edited >>

I am very interested in seeing this project come to fruition. I didn't realize that creating the alternative style pages was so easy or I would have kicked this in a long time ago. I promise that if people start submitting some good graphics for each header page, I'll get them implemented as soon as possible.

I would still like to see multiple options submitted from each person - that way people can determine which banner they like the best for each style, instead of just leaving it up to the one and only default that was submitted.

[SinCity R/T]

Here's a suggestion - can someone make a generic header (eg: don't specify R/T or 4x4 or whatever) that incorporates the 12 TOTM winners from 2008?

Here's the TOTM page - I have 80x40 pixel mini-pics of each truck you can use, or you can click on each winner's page to get larger graphics to work with.
http://www.dakota-durango.com/totm.php

I like Blue Basher's general design, am not sure if I like the stacked polaroids - I sort of like the organized pics on Oxygen's graphic.

[SinCity R/T]

oh and btw - I don't need buttons for the various forum functions - it makes it a lot easier to just leave the links down in the forum bar as they are now, that way I don't have to reprogram the buttons for each vbulletin style page.

[SinCity R/T]

I'd like to see someone do something with this group photo from the Atlanta DRTC meet...

http://www.sincityrt.com/photos/drtc2006h/Group2a_sm.jpg

eg:

WWW.DAKOTA-DURANGO.COM along the top, and
INTERNET RESOURCE FOR DODGE DAKOTA R/T OWNERS at the bottom

but only about 800-900 pixels wide

[Blue Basher]

il take that as an invitation to make more.

[Starscream]

Here's a suggestion - can someone make a generic header (eg: don't specify R/T or 4x4 or whatever) that incorporates the 12 TOTM winners from 2008?

Here's the TOTM page - I have 80x40 pixel mini-pics of each truck you can use, or you can click on each winner's page to get larger graphics to work with.
http://www.dakota-durango.com/totm.php

Something like this...

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/203/dakdurbanner.jpg (http://img12.imageshack.us/i/dakdurbanner.jpg/)

I can change the fonts if you like provided I have them on my new comp or you supply them.
I made the over all design so it flows exteremly well with the rest of the website, so if you were looking for something radically different sorry. I placed the TOTM pictures similar to that of the dak-dur tshirts.
And yes I edited your truck, I would of prefered a similar picture of it on the strip with the Draven headlights and no offense but I darken your mug out of the picture too.

Any thoughts, concerns, input?

Oh and just to be clear to those who may get upset, the TOTM are in order of January-->June on the top row, July-->December bottom row. No one's truck was purposely put behind Steve's truck.

[oxygen454]

I like it! :clap2: An update would be good for the site.

[NPelletier]

i gave it a go lol :huh::wave:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y95/TermJr/dakdur_bancopy.png

[Hustlajustin]

Hey thats pretty good.

[oxygen454]

Wow! I REALLY like! Nice man!! :goodjob:

[SinCity R/T]

i gave it a go lol :huh::wave:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y95/TermJr/dakdur_bancopy.png

I like this a lot - can you revise it a bit to not include the links at the bottom? In the near future I will be revising the site and the front page layout will drastically change - will have links outside of the graphic bar.

[NPelletier]

alright, revised a little lol:

Blue
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y95/TermJr/dakdur_ban.png

Red
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y95/TermJr/dakdur_ban2.png

Both
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y95/TermJr/dakdur_ban3.png

[Hustlajustin]

ooooooo I like the all red one :mullet:

[SinCity R/T]

The recent banners have been added as options - can choose an alternative style down at the bottom-left corner of the forum window.

[NPelletier]

awesome. i love opening the forum and seing something i made lol:woot:

[Will.]

nice, guy! :mullet:

[oxygen454]

Nice work, Im a fan of the blue on top. It works well with the shadows of all those trucks!

Only critic would be, the banner looks great but pushes the forum down quite a bit. (But does show the sites banner off well.)

[2k1AmberR/T]

That blue top / red bottom looks sick!

[NPelletier]

i thought the same thing so i threw this together:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y95/TermJr/dakdur_forum.png

[rollers888]

aww there needs to be at least one durango :(

[NPelletier]

you cant tell the red one isnt a durango lol..i couldnt find any rango pics i liked lol:wave::huh:

[sunike32]

Ohhhh I liiiiiiike :D Nice job!

[Blue Basher]

hmm I should make more now im jellous.