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    • Idea for generating a custom css style from a photo / logo

    Posted by Marc Laporte on Thu 02 of Feb, 2006 23:04 GMT-0000 posts: 38 Canada

    copied from:
    http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?thread_id=9147766&forum_id=12569

    Hi!

    You want a Tiki-powered site but none of the bundled themes fit with the look & feel you want for a project? You would like an easy way to generate a style? Me too!

    I have a (crazy?) idea for a Tiki CSS generator. Before I explain it, please visit the StrangeBanana:
    http://www.strangebanana.com/

    Ideal end result would be: 1- submit logo or picture, 2- a corresponding CSS is generated, 3- result can be visualized from demo site and 4- then just use the custom css on your site!

    Todo list:

    1. Modify one of the current CSS (style) to have a small number (3-6) of basic colors.
    2. Turn these colors into variables, for example $background, $basecolor, $highlight, etc
    3. Generate colors from a photo / logo. There is a "Random From Image" button. So the user could try several times until he finds something pleasing. (like StrangeBanana) http://www.colr.org/
    4. Generate colors which contrast well (for text over backgound) http://www.barelyfitz.com/projects/csscolor/
    5. For cases where we need a gradient (example, calendar event importance), we could have a formula which generates them. Please see "Generating Palettes With PHP" from site above for an example. #Another possible tool: http://www.meyerweb.com/eric/tools/color-blend/

    For all the images, logos, etc in Tiki, we should try to make sure they are all transparent so they look good with different backgrounds.

    Am I missing anything? Any volunteers? Anyone see something similar in another CMS?

    Thanks!

    M 😉

    Reads: 49712
    Posted by cgc0202 on Tue 02 of May, 2006 17:16 GMT-0000 posts: 11

    Am I missing anything? Any volunteers? Anyone see something similar in another CMS?
    Thanks!
    M 😉


    Hi marclaporte,

    I hope you can do this for Tikiwiki, indeed.

    I posted some ideas — from the perspective of a non-techie — in another thread. I would suggest the folllowing.

    Instead of a randomized design, you should aim for targeted design. This would reduce the permutations from infinite randomness. Most likely, people would not go through so many permutations, if the choice is too random and it does not result to a desired goal, after trying another random layout.

    For example, how about including some preferences checklist:

    (1) Skeletal layout preference — single column; two-row single column (i.e., header, main section) three-row single column, etc.

    I have seen this done manually, but one of the challenges in a websign using pure CSS, not tab tags, challenged the designers to present the same set of information using various general skeletal layout formats. At present, there seems to be some semblance of flexibility in Tikiwki, but in reality it is quite rigid. It would be a great help if you can decouple this rigidity in the Tikiwiki, with your program.

    (2) Color scheme: monochromatic shades or "rainborw" choices or plain color (white, black, etc.) background. [This may require presentation of the colorwheel or better the color table.]
    (3) Fonts and Size restrictions.
    (4) Main background: white vs dark could target the direction of the "random choices" presented, as this will affect the color of the fonts used too.
    (5) Navigations and navigations sections preferences

    I know it is easier said than done, but, as the user restricts choices, there is a process of fine tuning to narrow towards the eventual page layout chosen. It would be a good idea to have a "store" system in your site so that users can store and pick from previous choices.

    I do not think that is possible right now with the http://www.strangebanana.com/generator.aspx

    Instead of submission of a logo, the best would be to have a logo generator — using also the scheme outlined above, and for the resulting choices in the logo creation help further narrow the choices for the main page and the footer.

    cgc0202