City Lights Reviews

Okay, so I have let this site go postless for almost a month and a half, which really is not such a good thing. But now I’m back and ready to roll, even if I may be starting school tomorrow (I’ll try not to let that get in my way). Megan of Tagyouredead.com has been waiting almost a year, which I feel really bad about, so I’ll start her review asap. I’ m going to keep the submissions closed until I finish one or two more reviews, and then I’ll open them again. Thanks for being patient everyone!

Sorry for taking so long to get to your review, Brianna. It’s been a busy several months. But here I go.

Site: Dwihgt.net
Owner: Brianna
Date Completed: July 8th, 2008

First Impressions

So far, so good. What I see is a cute looking site with a fun flower header and a neat theme. It does remind me quite a lot of the default WordPress theme, though this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I’m pleased so far, so let’s go on.

Layout

There’s not too much to say here, so just a small list will be sufficient.
-Your header image is very cute. The flower is fun and pretty and I love the font you’ve used for the site title. It looks fun, carefree and perfect for spring/summer. Good job.
-I’m a little iffy on the colors. You’ve got your bright red and green in the header, and then everything else is just dark and light yellowish colors. You don’t need to add anything major, but maybe just a hint of another color somewhere else will do, especially since you’re using the same color for your sidebar and background color. I think bringing out more green might be nice. You know the green streaks in the header behind the flower and stem? How about using the same green color for either the sidebar or background color?

-Your sidebar navigation links should stand out a little bit more. You don’t need to do anything drastic, but maybe make the font a little larger or the words bolder. Those who aren’t observant may miss it.

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Enzo’s site, Disco Beat, was removed from the queue because the link no longer works. Enzo, if you have moved sites and want your new site in the queue, just let me know. Thanks.

I’m hard at work on Brianna’s review and I should be done soon. I’m leaving on Friday for camp, but I’m hoping to get two or three reviews done before then because I’ll be gone a long time. Before I go to camp I will close submissions.

Anyway, look back for new reviews this week! If you’re near the top of the queue, please don’t change your layout!

I finished a review and then two people asked to be removed from the queue. The queue’s rather small now, so I’m reopening submissions! If you’d like a review, go ahead and submit. If the queue starts to overflow, I might close them again.

Site: Reverie’s Dreamland
Owner: Lou
Date Completed:

First Impressions

Hmmm, an anime layout. I don’t love these so much. A tagboard smack in the middle of the main content/update area, a wallpaper smack on the top of the navigation before the pages, and…oh my, the layout looks like it’s made from tables! Yikesy Yikesy
Yikesy.

Layout

I think I’m going to mention copyright right up front so I don’t have to repeat myself at all later. Basically, these anime pictures violate copyright unless you have permission from the artist to use them. Even if you credit the site you found them from, you’re still violating copyright. You can learn more here. This issue comes up in your layout and I’m assuming many of your wallpapers too, so I’m mentioning it here and then forgetting about it. That doesn’t mean you should forget, of course. On with your layout.
I want you to know I’m not an anime fan. This could be part of way I’m not into your layout, but I think there are many other reasons, too. Here comes list time. I’m going to mix up my style by doing Pros and Cons for the layout. I’m going to mix it up even more by doing Cons first.

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We needed a change, and so a change I made. Do you like it?

I probably should have explained this here as well as Starry City. I am kind of on a break from my websites, just because I’m busy and not as interested right now, but I know that I owe people reviews and I will start working on them. Just to let you know I haven’t neglected the site.

Site: Ink Dreamer

Owner: Lily

Date Completed: December 1st, 2007

First Impressions

I’m not sure if I’ve told you this before but I absolutely ADORE this layout. It’s accessible, easy to read, and overall pretty. My only issue is the color, and it’s a tiny issue.

Layout

I’ve never been a huge fan of gray/red color schemes. I always think of battles and blood and certain turtlenecks that I wore when I was younger. (I have no idea why). I think you’ve pulled it off pretty well, but I can’t help feeling like it’s a little dull. You’ve got your light gray, your darker gray, your very light background gray, and your standard red. That’s it. And I find your background color unbearably…bleh. I say you’re better off with good old white for the background than this yucky gray.

Call me crazy, but I think if you mixed in a little bit of light yellow, maybe as the background for your search box and for one of the flowers, or for some of your links and headings, it would help lighten it up and give it more variety. The color I’m thinking of is #ffffc0. But the colors aren’t too bad as is.

Other than that, your layout is well done. It’s compatible with Internet Explorer 7 as well as Firefox 2 (That’s all I’ve checked), and is pretty. The flowers add a nice touch, and the title font is cute and almost looks as if it’s been written in ink, which is great for the name “Ink Dreamer.” This review has gotten off to a good start for you.

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Site: Dirtbag

Owner: Clarisa

Date Completed: November 20, 2007

First Impressions

There are three things I notice at first that really annoy me. 1)The celebrity blend in your header. I hate these, and the pink hair in your header really annoys me. 2) The color. It’s a pretty drab brown, and there’s way too much of it. The content area, the sidebar and the background are all this color brown. The only real color contrast is the pink hair and shirts in the header, and this is only in one small area. 3) The site title. Dirtbag. What an unattractive name. When people think of your website, don’t you want them to think of something nice? I don’t think of something nice. I think of a big old bag of dirt when I hear your site’s name. With the annoying brown color you’re using, this assumption may not be far off. Your goal is to make your website as much unlike a bag of dirt as you can. The name isn’t helping.

Continue Reading »

I’m a very busy person and I’d hate to get very behind in the queue. I already have ten people waiting. So I’ve decided to close submissions for a little while. Probably until I get about two or three more reviews finished. Don’t worry, I’ll try to get it done fast. The review of Dirtbag is about halfway done, so it won’t be too long. Anyway, that was just to let you know.