Clean Navigation, Opinions Please

talk design
1

Hi,

I made this navigation in fireworks mx, not completely finished, still needs some tweaking, just would like some general opinions like how it can improve, its good points etc.

I wanted to go for a modern, clean, fresh, metalic but professional effect.
Please forgive the little, transparent ‘‘preview sample only’’ it just took me quite long to make from scratch, so try and egnore it best you can :wink:

I will Flash animate it soon.

Thanks.

Kill Bill

2

change the font, this is too boring, make something like a pixel font or somthing more modern looking. Also the little gradient circles…they kinda look too fake and flat, make them more realistic…otherwise, good job

3

I agree with the font, it’s pretty bog standard and dull so you might want to change that to something a bit more exciting. It might also help if you can make the circles and text appear to be more part of the button, rather than just sitting on top of it. Kind of like they’re embossed into it. There’s some tutes on spoono somewhere that tell you how to do that. :slight_smile:

I’m not totally convinced about the look of the metal either I’m afraid. It’s like the lighting is wrong on it… Again I think spoono has some good tutorials on how to create a metallic texture. :slight_smile:

4

i agree with kit and xperiment_22, metal is not convincing. Think you need to add more gloss to the highlights, maybe even a slight reflection, at the moment looks a little less than a mat finish.

Font needs work and i would really advice you not to use a outer glow (especially do not use the outer glows default colour) with the type, it really suffocates the type, maybe a change of font, maybe a different treatment of the font such as squash it down and add some tracking.

spheres follow the bar as being a little off mat, Why not try to pillow emboss the spheres and spice them up along with what you do to your bar.

5

Hey,
Thanks for opinions.
I’m using Fireworks MX actually…so if you can please base your improvements on stuff using that software.

Do you actually like it though? Or do you think i should scrap it?

Thanks.

6

I like it, i suggest a different typface like all the rest said, maybe making the type smaller in pt size aswell, but i think it looks great, just keep trying different things on it. The kerning is wrong aswell the letter spacing needs to be closed in a bit

Jay

7

is that regarding me kill bill? i dont use fireworks much, so off the top of my head i wouldnt know what to tell you, and what do you want me to tell you, what button to press? Think of my ideas/comments as general concepts and implement them in your own methods in fireworks, if you need assistance getting a specific look search for a tutorial.

its incomplete at the moment so i cant say if you should scrap it or not, work on it a little more with some suggestions mentioned and you will know if you should scrap it or not.

8

Kerning and letter spacing is the space between ur letters, in photoshop u can set it to -100 dunno if u can in fireworks, nbever used it

9

Ok. No i know what button, just didn’t understand what you meant fully.
Can sum1 write me sort of a ‘‘to do’’ list of things i should do to make it better to help me.

Cheers.

10
  • Change type
  • Improve metal texture/ map (maps from various 3d design sites good ref)
  • Is metal chrome? stainless? brushed? Wrought iron?
  • Improve light perspective, to more “truly” reflect 1 point perspective

Is that what your after?

11

Yes, Cheers.

It’s hard really, because i rely on Fireworks for these things.
Some reference tuts or sites would be nice if you know/can find any, i’ll google it.

Thanks.