This is only a front page but I'm after your impressions.
The client really wants that picture on the front page as large as possible.
As the client wanted it redesigned it has been re-done with accessibility in mind - opinions on the focus effect of the skip links (just TAB through the page to see what happens above the Sea Eco logo)
As always, general readability, design / layout and colours
Thanks
Freddy
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I like the picture as well as the skip links, very slick.
My only suggestion is just a tad bit more contrast for your navigation and your links in the paragraphs.
Nice work Freddy!
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Thanks n8gz4ez
I have just posted a little article on using skip links on my blog
Yes it does need more contrast
What did you think of the general layout? Somethings not quite right for me but I don't know what
cheers
Freddy
another one for review please
Freddy
The skip links do not gain focus in IE6 (do they behave in IE7?)
Because IE6 does not understand a:focus, you add * html a:active at the end of the other link states to make it behave, that is if you IE7 experimental types are still shooting for IE6 compatibility
In FX1.5 as focus is gained on the Sea Eco logo the text "Adventure sailing etc " squidges to the right a bit
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Hi Freddy,
Just a question: do you really have to box the content? I think what you have inside the white box is beautiful enough as it is and the light blue border (bdoy's background color?) sort of ruins the entire elegance of the page.
Additionally, a wider margin between hx'x and paragraphs would be great.
Cheers!
another one for review please
The skip links do not gain focus in IE6 (do they behave in IE7?)
I hadn't tested that, I dl'ed IE 7 and of course it overwrote IE 6, I'll have to reinstall it and give your method a try - Thanks
The adventure sailing squidge - yes I know, I added aborder so that the logo would show some reaction on focus - basically, it adds a 1px border then moves the log up and left 1px so the logo doesn't move - I obviously forgot to add a permanent white border to it so that the adventure stays in the same place - will get onto that.
Just a question: do you really have to box the content? I think what you have inside the white box is beautiful enough as it is and the light blue border (bdoy's background color?) sort of ruins the entire elegance of the page.
Maybe that's what was not sitting right with me, will have a try
another one for review please
Personally I enjoy the accessibility features and your blog on the subject. The site itself has a nice feel, although the comment about the blue surrounding the white box is something you could work on. Consider something like a gradient out into the blue (similar to a drop shadow effect) or just eliminating the blue or toning it down.
Also, have you thought about scaling down the size of the text a little bit? From a graphic design standpoint it's a little large, although I understand if you made it bigger for the purpose of accessibility. Maybe it's just the font and/or letter spacing throwing me off, try adding a little bit more spacing and see what happens.
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OK I canned the Blue background for the html and it looks loads better.
Increased letter spacing a tad, I wanted to use a serif font for a change but personally, I'm not that keen on the way it looks on screen ...?
I've just changed it so that headings and Nav are in Georgia , serif whilst normal body text is in verdana, sans-serif. to me this is much more readable whilst still having pointier, stand-outier (must work on these descriptive terms eh) headings but a readable main font ... your thoughts please
Freddy
another one for review please
Hi Freddy
It looks really nice without the background.
I think the elements just need a bit more breathing space - between the sections of text and the following headers and particularly between the main content and the navigation.
'Part from that the only thing I think needs attention is that I personally don't like the way the text changes size in the navigation once visited.
Edit; oh and I agree with n8gz4ez that the links within your text need to be stronger or darker.
another one for review please
Hi Freddy,
It looks much better now.
Cheers again!
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I've managed to get the skip links to work in IE by using :active but how do you get them to behave in Opera?
Freddy
another one for review please
How are you trying to invoke them in Opera?
Opera don't do tabs except to cycle through inputs. It prefers you to use CTRL+direction arrow or SHIFT+direction arrow to go through links but it is mighty sniffy about some link styles. However, I confess, I have never seen it play fair with (initially) offset links, not even on the sites of some of the afficionados of the technique.
In case of interest, Mike Cherim has his own variation of the "now you see it, now you dont" idea on his latest offering in the Site Checks forum. But still Opera does not display the focus/active (I think) style in the same way as Fx and IE.