In case you couldn't tell, I got a bit bored with the old look of the blog and so I'm doing a bit of experimenting with alternate templates and looks. I'm trying to come up with something that still fits the title image and banner yet freshen it up a bit.
So, what do you think of this one (ocean sunset background with semi-transparent fields)? Does the background image cause the page to load slowly for you? Do you find it readable? Annoying?
Leave me a comment and let me know.
It is OK. I find it a bit like a screen saver. As a reader who currently experiences cruising life via blogs, I'd look for switchout when you get shots of your catamaran just off a palm studded sandy beach. Not sure how that would work with white type on dark semi-transparent field and a color background pic with light and dark areas. Readability is important
ReplyDeleteDoug from VT
Yeah, I thought about using my own picture...and can certainly swap one in...but for a stock photo, this one seemed to have a complimentary color palette. I didn't want to change my banner...I took that picture the day this whole crazy idea was first planted in my head.
DeleteReadability is always important, but especially so on a blog. The gray was just starting to feel a bit bland to me...so I figured I would try something new.
Seems fine for me. A little slower. If others have issues, I can shrink the file size of the picture with little quality loss using adobe photoshop. I would just need a link to the original. I would then link you the finished version. Would only take a few minutes.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dave. I've been watching some of the limited statistical info available and I'm not sure if the changes are having a negative impact or not. The background photo is a stock photo for now. Will consider swapping it out for one of my own and then I can scale and reduce color depth and all the other tricks to make it load faster. Right now I think it is the mobile view that may be the problematic one. Thanks for the offer though.
DeleteMike I read your blog and all the blogs I follow through my Feedly reader because it uses less data and keeps them all in one place. Feedly dumbs it down quite a bit so I dont even see your header and background except for when I go to the site to comment. Depending on your internet choices when you leave you may want a simpler page that will load faster.
ReplyDeleteDeb
SV Kintala
www.theretirementproject.blogspot.com
Yeah, in the land of ubiquitous fast internet connections it is hard to even judge how "big" the background image is (it was a stock image from Blogger, so I don't know). That was one of the reasons I asked.
DeleteStill would like to do something with the look, so I'll keep playing around with it. Thanks for the feedback.