forum redesign

[#1]

I've been working on implementing some improvements to the readability of the forums. Anyone interested in giving some feedback, could you take a look at the first two concepts below and make your comments?
i'll be working on these throughout the rest of the day so i'll take your comments on board as im developing the concepts further.
thanks in advance.
p.s remember these are graphical concepts, for you to get an idea of the style. so please ignore the content used for posts and forums etc.

[#2]

They both still have icons washed out colours and I would avoid using the darker grey background because of those users with poor eyesight.
I like the fine lines between the sections.

[#3]

I really like the coloured buttons, particularly the blue ones, but some sort of definite division is needed in between each post. As it is now, each post appears to merge into the next.
Regards .....

[#4]

Quote from: Oldjim

They both still have icons washed out colours

I'm not sure what you mean by that.  Which icons?  They all seem strong to me on my laptop screen?

[#5]

Quote from: lingbob

As it is now, each post appears to merge into the next.

Does the dark grey line and the lighter grey body of the post not separate it enough?  The separation looks very clear to me.

[#6]

No it doesn't 
My own personal opinion is that there needs to be a slightly bigger contrast between the background colours and the border needs to go all the way around each post. I feel that if there was a thin border at each end of each post, that would make a tremendous difference.
Regards .....

[#7]

Quote from: mitch

could you take a look at the first two concepts below and make your comments?

I like the strong-colour buttons (graphic 2).  I realise the "split" button would only be seen by a mod, so would it be possible to have a "reply" button on each individual post also?
Regards,
Penny.

[#8]

thats right, a normal user would now only see reply and quote, as in the new concept below.

[#9]

Quote from: Kelly

Quote from: Oldjim They both still have icons washed out colours I'm not sure what you mean by that.  Which icons?  They all seem strong to me on my laptop screen?

I was looking at the new posts/no new posts buttons but looking again that may be the graphic as opposed to the original
Just did another check and it's my monitor - I have the contrast and brightness turned down 

[#10]

Doh!
So, you current feeling right now with that design is?

[#11]

As I am running the present layout modified so that the column fills the screen I don't have too many problems with the old layout (when I put my monitor back to default settings) except that the white background is a bit overpowering - I have modified Firefox to show the column at 100%.
Just had a look at it in IE7 and then the white within the column is fine but there is an enormous background in white (monitor running at 1680 x 1050).
If the forum is to be modified to show the column at full width I would prefer a muted colour as the background and if it isn't can you add the code to the style sheet to make the whole background a soft muted colour.
With respect to the buttons for reply etc. I find them a bit overpowering.
Are you intending to modify the whole reply logic so that a reply is to a specific post as opposed to the thread as in TBB because that isn't how it works at the moment.

[#12]

Quote from: Oldjim

Are you intending to modify the whole reply logic so that a reply is to a specific post as opposed to the thread as in TBB because that isn't how it works at the moment.

no the concept is purely design adding extra functionality, by cloning the reply button on every post to reply to the topic. rather than quoting/replying to individual posts.

[#13]

The page background is a huge improvement. But having the white background on alternate posts which is the same as the main table background makes the posts in the dark rows appear to be contained within the light rows. If the light rows had a pale background with the side margins staying white that would be improved. (See the middle post from Liam in http://www.elvin.plus.com/misc/Suggestion.gif to see what I mean).
I also think the new posts/no new posts look rather washed out - particularly in contrast with the buttons.

[#14]

OK Mitch - understood. In which case I think the buttons should be a lot less obtrusive. if you look at the usergroup forums I find those buttons very clear and obvious with hitting me in the eye.

[#15]

Another vote!
We need new alternative themes as soon as possible
The colour is problematic for me I am Dyslexic
Can you have the text on top of the buttons, in sted of the text tag, a number of text readers can not read tags.