Need advice with graphic. What to do with subhead?

BinkyMelnik · #1 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 04:30 PM

Folks:

I'm in that miserable phase where I waste days on end flitting from one design idea to another, thinking that maybe I'm on the right track, but then something shiny catches my eye and I'm off in another direction. I can't get anything done, ever, unless and until I think I've got the look where I want it.

When I started this current project, I picked the typeface I thought was the right one immediately. Despite having looked at 6000 faces since, I keep coming back to the same one.

So I've been going for a high-tech-ish kinda look, and I think I'm *slose*, but the subhead blows. I tried embossing it, too, but it just gets all messy and unreadable. Now I'm angry with it.

I'd be most grateful if you'd look at this proposed header for the page and suggest what the hell I can do with it:

http://binkymelnik.com/images/vm-header.gif

That subhead just ain't right, but I don't know what to do. I've tried various faces, colors, styles, etc, and I'm not happy with any of them. I know you'll know what to do.

Thanks for any ideas and encouragement!

chicgeek · #2 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 04:35 PM

I think you're slose, too.

What I'm thinking is a 1px stroke in dark grey or green, just for definition. And, an abrupt vertical gradient change from a light yellow-green to white.

This is all in my head, it may very well look like crap.

BinkyMelnik · #3 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 05:08 PM

Hi, Laura:

Quote:

What I'm thinking is a 1px stroke in dark grey or green

Yes, ma'am; I *do* believe the stroke helped. Thanks! The gradient, though, I couldn't make it work in a couple dozen tries.

(That's Helvetica Neue, BTW.)

I'm waaaay less miserable now than I was; thanks!

If anyone has any further suggestions, I'm all ears (which makes mousing really hard!).

Heather · #4 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 05:09 PM

I think it looks good.....but, I have one idea I'd like to try. Mind if I whip something together? I have 25 minutes to kill.

littleFella · #5 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 05:10 PM

not as a graphics fella but as someone who saw the sign:

the subhead seems too small in proportion to the main heading. I read the subheading with some effort. Partly because it is smallish, partly because it is ovewhelmend by the main heading.

Heather · #6 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 05:14 PM

Oops.....I can't find that font.

I'm sorry. I'll do it with another font, so you can at least see my idea...

chicgeek · #7 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 05:18 PM

I was thinking something like this, though it might be too styled for a subheader.

chicgeek · #8 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 05:19 PM

Or just do something for "million". I dunno, I'm not helping at this point.

BinkyMelnik · #9 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 05:23 PM

Heather:

Quote:

Mind if I whip something together?

Golly; hell, no! Knock yourself out! I'm still at the stage where I can change direction on a dime!

li'lfella:

Quote:

the subhead seems too small in proportion to the main heading

I can't tell whether you're tugging on my leg.

Laura:

I'm off to try something on "Million." Thing is that typeface is *awfully* thin!

chicgeek · #10 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 05:26 PM

Agreed.

It's just a lot of text for the subheader, but I think it would look silly any larger.

Heather · #11 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 05:50 PM

This didn't come out exactly as I wanted it to.....but, my tennis partner (my husband) just finked out on me...so...now I have LOTS o' time to kill.

I saw the words "multiply" and "million"....and that's where this idea came from. If you hate it....no biggie, I promise my feelings won't be hurt or anything.

BinkyMelnik · #12 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 06:05 PM

Heather:

Quote:

This didn't come out exactly as I wanted it to

You mean with the reflection upside down? ;-) It's funny that you did that, because earlier this week, I did a Web 2.0 one with reflected text. It was green text on a white background, though, and I *really* couldn't figger out how to get the subhead in there with *that*.

Thanks for the idea! I think this one could work! I'm gonna play with it! (The graphic, I mean.) Thanks a bunch!

Heather · #13 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BinkyMelnik

Heather:

You mean with the reflection upside down? ;-) It's funny that you did that, because earlier this week, I did a Web 2.0 one with reflected text. It was green text on a white background, though, and I *really* couldn't figger out how to get the subhead in there with *that*.

Thanks for the idea! I think this one could work! I'm gonna play with it! (The graphic, I mean.) Thanks a bunch!

LOL! Actually.....I originally had it upside down (meaning, as the correct way of making a reflection)...and I didn't like that the two Ms (in "Million") made a BOWTIE when they were lined up!

It looked pretty funny, imo....so, I turned it back rightside up.

Thank you and good luck.

BinkyMelnik · #14 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 06:58 PM

Heather:

Quote:

I didn't like that the two Ms (in "Million") made a BOWTIE when they were lined up!

OIC; I gotcha. When I did it last week, I skewed the text, so I didn't have the problem, and since the text was stroked, it wasn't butted up against it.

Well, now I think I'm moving *away* again from the goalposts. Argh! It's amazing that I ever get ANYTHING off the ground the way I dither! (And I don't mean the Photoshop kind, either. <sigh>)

DaveyBoy · #15 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 09:44 PM

Whenever I come to this kind of a dilemma, i will just try to complete the rest of the site first then come back to the header. At least you'd be getting something done instead of pulling your hair out

I think i'd right-align the sub header instead of left, but that's all I would change if it was me. I just like things on the right sometimes

Heather · #16 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 09:45 PM

Very good advice, Davey!

DaveyBoy · #17 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 09:49 PM

Like this

BinkyMelnik · #18 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 09:54 PM

Davey:

Quote:

Whenever I come to this kind of a dilemma, i will just try to complete the rest of the site first then come back to the header

And see, I can't do a thing until I know what the site's gonna look like first. Once I have a clue, then I'll know as I go along what bullets will look like, and boxes, and navigation. Until I know, I feel stymied! Like my forums at Snarkish; before I decided they were going to be pastel and retro, I couldn't design anything because maybe it was gonna be bold and art deco, or monochromatic and spare, or ... you know what I mean? I need to know the personality first before I can do anything.

(In that way, I guess I'm like those weird people who wait until their baby's a week old to give it a name because they want to know what its personality will be like.)

Quote:

I think i'd right-align the sub header instead of left

Wow; you're cock-eyed! I like that about you! That never crossed my mind. Ever. I'll see how that works.

At this rate, I'll have something in another two weeks! 8

Since you gave me the idea about trying to right-align the subhead, now you've got me wondering about using a different typeface for the headline (which'll be narrower, 'cause ALL typefaces are narrower than this one!) (It's Flatiron, case anyone cares), and then trying the subhead on two lines *beside* the headline.

(Yeah, prolly won't work, but that's what sperimenting's for!)

Thanks, Davey!

BinkyMelnik · #19 (**permalink**) 07-23-2006, 11:24 PM

Hokay; I'm still torturing myself. I might like this typeface, but I think I'm hating the subhead where I have it on the right. (Since the headline's so much narrower, I have a LOT of blank space over there.)

Was I on the correcter path earlier? (And Davey, you're waaay right: for some strange reason, right-justifying the subhead looks LOTS better!) (The way you have it, I mean. I betcha that in the end, that's the one I go with!)