Forum Upgrade planned - Early Jan 2025 - New Artwork? New Colours? Feedback.

[Sundog]

1) These old eyes can only handle dark mode. I have a large monitor, for gaming, and light mode is like a spotlight shining in my face. So, I think we need the option for both.

2) I think Galgot making a different banner for light mode and dark mode is ideal. Love the old SST theme myself.

3) Encyclopedia. I like the idea, but realize it would be a lot of work. What if there was a section that was just images, an image gallery? Something that distilled everything relevant within the thread? So, you wouldn't have the early poor images, just the latest best-est? I include drawings in that category. So, if I go to the AFTI page in the image gallery, I see all of the AFTI designs without having to scroll all of the pages? Or is there a check box for forum threads that would only show us posts with images? I'm just thinking of how sometimes I remember seeing an image here and I end up scrolling through tens if not hundreds of pages to find it, it might be easier just to see the collected images? I realize that could be a lot of work for you, so don't do if it is. But if you know a way to set the forum up that would make it easy, i think that would be great. hell, maybe we can even do that now and I just don't know about it, LOL!

4) Thanks for all of your and the moderators work on the forum.

 

[galgot]

It is, if I keep the two separate themes. With 2.3 it's possible to make one theme with light and dark colours.

Then maybe would be nice to have a plane at same angle for both modes, but one with the same kind a deep blue sky like the one you have now, which fits quite well with the light mode, and one with another kind of darker background and lightning fitting better with the dark mode.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Then maybe would be nice to have a plane at same angle for both modes, but one with the same kind a deep blue sky like the one you have now, which fits quite well with the light mode, and one with another kind of darker background and lightning fitting better with the dark mode.

Sounds great!

 

[dan_inbox]

What if there was a section that was just images, an image gallery?

I suspect this would attract all kinds of trouble, with copyright issues exacerbated by the loss of "educational fair use" loophole.
Lots of sites have been taken down by litigation over such issues.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Another change I am making is changing with this upgrade is that file uploads will be stored in Digital Ocean Spaces, which is a clone of Amazon S3.

The advantages of this are cost (its cheaper than storing them directly on the server) and expandability (it can expand to near infinite size). It should also offload some work from the server.

Xenforo 2.3 will also automatically scale down any images posted in too high resolution, rather than give an error.

 

[Scott Kenny]

Then maybe would be nice to have a plane at same angle for both modes, but one with the same kind a deep blue sky like the one you have now, which fits quite well with the light mode, and one with another kind of darker background and lightning fitting better with the dark mode.

Yes, please!!!

 

[galgot]

Sounds great!

Ok, I'll submit you a mockup in a few days.

 

[Hanse]

Then maybe would be nice to have a plane at same angle for both modes, but one with the same kind a deep blue sky like the one you have now, which fits quite well with the light mode, and one with another kind of darker background and lightning fitting better with the dark mode.

Like a sunset?

 

[galgot]

Like a sunset?

Yeah maybe... or a dark blue sky with stars, and the aircraft with navigation lights on, and the internal lighting, like a night cruiser. But not too dark either, just enough to fit well with the dark mode. Anyway, will test some few things and submit to Paul.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Another vote for Light Mode . . .

cheers,
Robin.

Come to the Dark Side....

 

[Archibald]

... we have cookies !

 

[VTOLicious]

I'm working on a forum upgrade. Test upgrade was successfully completed, so pencilling in 4th Jan for upgrading the forum.

Questions -

Do we want to keep the existing artwork, or switch to something new?

Any change in preference between light and dark mode?

I will be experimenting with new forum sections this week.

I like the current artwork and very much appreciate your effort to keep this site up and running!

What would be handy: If attachments were displayed not only for the current page, but for the entire thread. In particular, it could help users to have a better overview of pics already posted in a thread.

 

[Hanse]

I like the current artwork and very much appreciate your effort to keep this site up and running!

What would be handy: If attachments were displayed not only for the current page, but for the entire thread. In particular, it could help users to have a better overview of pics already posted in a thread.

Currently, if you click on a picture on a thread, all pics in the thread will be shown below. See here:

 

[scautomoton]

Currently, if you click on a picture on a thread, all pics in the thread will be shown below. See here:

View attachment 754134

For me it only shows the images for the current page

 

[VTOLicious]

For me it only shows the images for the current page

Exactly, it only shows the pics of the current page.

 

[robunos]

Come to the Dark Side....

Dark Mode makes my eyes ache . . .

... we have cookies !

. . . and I have diabetes . . .

cheers,
Robin.

 

[Dreamfighter]

Same for me, but I managed to rebuy what I disposed of and much more.

I think I´ve read before a post where you mentioned losing your aerospace collection. Was it caused by some kind of flooding, or am remembering incorrectly?
With me, it was when the house of my dad needed some 'cleaning out'. Almost all my stuff was there. The people responsible cleaned out ... the wrong room.
Glad to hear you managed to get everything back. That must have been a serious undertaking.
I got a few things back, but not much. Lack of time, and several other interests which absorb attention and money as well.

 

[Dreamfighter]

My original intent was a Wiki section of articles distilled from the topics, but it is just too much work to create and maintain without dedicated paid staff.

That´s a kind of thought I was having as well.
Instead of deleting 'speculations', 'jokes' and all other non-valuable content, copying what is regarded as (really) worthy for an 'encyclopedia' to a special (new) section of the site. I can imagine it would indeed be a lot of work though.

If too much would get 'deleted' (e.g. rumors or speculation without proof about the existence of a certain project / aircraft) and then later on things would turn out to be of (some) value after all, then it´s gone.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

I think I´ve read before a post where you mentioned losing your aerospace collection. Was it caused by some kind of flooding, or am remembering incorrectly?
With me, it was when the house of my dad needed some 'cleaning out'. Almost all my stuff was there. The people responsible cleaned out ... the wrong room.
Glad to hear you managed to get everything back. That must have been a serious undertaking.
I got a few things back, but not much. Lack of time, and several other interests which absorb attention and money as well.

I did get some water damage on some Air International issues, but I was referring to when I dropped out of Aero Engineering course, I binned most of my aviation books and magazines.

 

[Archibald]

Dark Mode makes my eyes ache . . .



. . . and I have diabetes . . .

cheers,
Robin.

My grandmother and my sister got it too. To the great delight of my mother...

 

[Dreamfighter]

I did get some water damage on some Air International issues, but I was referring to when I dropped out of Aero Engineering course, I binned most of my aviation books and magazines.

Ah, I see...
Air International, I too had loads of them. Every week a trip to the bookshop to get them, and several other aerospace magazines as well. English language, German language and French language ones.
I now only have some handful left, from the ´90s and a very few from the early 2000s.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Looking for a plugin to show all images in a topic - I saw this:


See the age of this post.....

apparently its a longstanding issue

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

So work is progressing but I am sick today.

Galgot has done some renders for a new header, still Boeing 2707. I'm playing with layout and text:

Light mode:

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Dark mode

 

[Hanse]

So work is progressing but I am sick today.

Galgot has done some renders for a new header, still Boeing 2707. I'm playing with layout and text:

Light mode:

View attachment 754718

Wonder what it would look like in maybe a 20 degree bank away from the camera? Too busy?

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Up to @galgot if he wants to try that.

 

[Hanse]

Up to @galgot if he wants to try that.

For sure. Love his work.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

A new typeface, I think this looks pretty good.

 

[Scott Kenny]

I dig it!

(Though I admit I would really like some stars visible for the Dark Mode banner pic, what is here is fine)

 

[scautomoton]

They work for me!

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

I like that its not a complete change, more of a light refresh.

 

[scautomoton]

Agreed, it's not a case of fixing something that's not broken, more giving it a good polish.

 

[dan_inbox]

View attachment 754757
A new typeface, I think this looks pretty good.

It does look good.
To complete the dark theme's non-glow effect, the white type of SECRET PROJECTS could be slightly toned down. Maybe towards a very light blue or light grey.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Okay, how about this - bluish grey text.

Personally I prefer the white.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Playing around with the test forum:



(theme colours are a bit off, need to customise that orange to red).

Migration is a still a few days away.

 

[galgot]

Wonder what it would look like in maybe a 20 degree bank away from the camera? Too busy?

Like this ? :

Nice too. But I don't like the reheat flames reflecting on the ailerons... Anyway, could play with it again later.

For now, here two wallpapers of renders #168 and #169, my new year greetings. Cheers Gentlemen.

 

[Scott Kenny]

For now, here two wallpapers of renders #168 and #169, my new year greetings. Cheers Gentlemen.

View attachment 754796

View attachment 754797

Oh, you nailed what I had in my mind for the Dark Mode! *chef's kiss*

 

[sublight_]

Galgot, my I ask what lens you are using to render with? Can you try some 35mm down to 17mm and get closer to the plane where it takes up a majority of the frame?

 

[galgot]

Galgot, my I ask what lens you are using to render with? Can you try some 35mm down to 17mm and get closer to the plane where it takes up a majority of the frame?

Here the camera settings :


Sure, I could try at 17mm, Sir. But, I could also spend hours trying settings that people ask me ;p . So, sorry, but I'm gonna stop here for this one.

 

[sublight_]

I use blender too, but it's your show my friend.