Need critique on this template for my site

Well I have recently started delving into Photoshop in order to create templates for my websites. This is my first real attempt at getting something that looks professional.

It will be used on this site -> http://www.metalsanctuary.net. The site design that is currently up there is extremely basic because I started developing the site mainly to learn XHTML and CSS and was therefore not concerned with design. However this is a serious attempt at designing something that looks pleasing.

So please critique it and post any suggestions you may have. Thanks

#306367

Nice layout, i like the colours.

Some suggestions I've had in mind:

The header and the font. Perhaps flip the image horizontally so that the white header won't merge into the snare,

The gradient background seems a bit odd, perhaps because it's fading into black..

my two cents

Keep up the good work, looking forward to it

#306372

the way the shadow distance is so far is kin of awkward. the the shadows for the header and the sidebar kinda "blurr" the edges

#306390

Nice layout, i like the colours.

Some suggestions I've had in mind:

The header and the font. Perhaps flip the image horizontally so that the white header won't merge into the snare,

The gradient background seems a bit odd, perhaps because it's fading into black..

my two cents

Keep up the good work, looking forward to it

Thank you very much, but I do not understand what you mean by your suggestion on the header and the font. Perhaps if you could elaborate.

the way the shadow distance is so far is kin of awkward. the the shadows for the header and the sidebar kinda "blurr" the edges

What would you recommend?

#306400

I apologize for my english :slant:

I meant it like the pic below:

So maybe the title's a bit more readable, but that's just a suggestion

#306404

Turn to background gradient (black to blue) and change top of the page banner color, and my last idea, don't use shadow inside element (right sidebar left edge)

#306414

I apologize for my english :slant:

I meant it like the pic below:

So maybe the title's a bit more readable, but that's just a suggestion

I see what you mean. I like your idea. I updated my template with your idea.

Turn to background gradient (black to blue) and change top of the page banner color, and my last idea, don't use shadow inside element (right sidebar left edge)

I tried the no shadow on the left side of the bar and I don't like the way it looks. I will keep the shadow. On the other hand please explain what you mean by your first two suggestions.

@pwnzrzpat: I cleaned up the corners a little and the shadow doesn't make the corners as blurry as before. What do you think?

#306422

Your template is very nice

For the header: what do you think about a bottom-border thiner like this?

#306451

Your template is very nice

For the header: what do you think about a bottom-border thiner like this?

Bottom-border? Do you mean the thin white border above the header?

#306527

Updated first post with some shadow improvements.

#306564

For some reason, the black bold color on the rightbar doesn't do much for me. Not only is it the only black text on there, it stands out even more because of the bold. I know they're headers, but they're too "out there."

And looking at it now, maybe even the same comment goes for the white.

-NC

#306573

This isn't a design I would expect to see on a metal review site .. haha.. but it's definalty cool..i will bookmark the site, big metal fan myself!

#306597

This isn't a design I would expect to see on a metal review site .. haha.. but it's definalty cool..i will bookmark the site, big metal fan myself!

That is exactly what I was going for. I've seen too many metal sites black and red etc. I wanted to go for something that looks elegant even if it doesn't look "metal". I don't look "metal", so why should my website. It's the content that matters anyway. Look at Aqua-Soft

#306721