View source for Forum:New Banner

{{Forumheader|Community Proposal}}
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Hey everyone! I'm seeing a lot of changes in the layout of this site from the main page to the site logo and it strikes me as odd that nobody has brought up our site banner. We've had it for two or three years so far and truth be told, I haven't liked it from the start. I mean no offense to the original creator of the banner, but the placement of the elements (planet, Halo+Substance, and the battlecruiser) seems all out of place and appears to be something done on Microsoft Paint than anything. More so, its contents seem very skewed to the Covenant and their perspective in the Bungie Trilogy whereas the banner for a wiki with such an expansive field of content as ours should have a relatively neutral or all-inclusive focus (to include Human, Covenant, Forerunner, etc.). 

Right now this forum isn't meant to vote on or even decide if we should choose a new banner for the wiki, rather, just to pool together our resources into seeing if people are interested in doing so. Saying that however, I do have some recommendations and guidelines if you're serious about having it being elected as the new banner:

*'''Image resolution —''' 1920x200 (or whatever Subtank recommends us to have)
*'''Format and size —''' PNG or JPG and under 500KB
*'''Characteristics —''' Crisp and clear quality and void of clutter and an unnatural composition. Elements should be neutral to the universe (landscapes, stellar imagery, etc.) or have an "all-inclusive" focus (to include Human, former Covenant, Forerunner, Flood, etc.).
*'''Tips —''' Before submitting, create your own nimbus.css page to test out how your banner would look. To do so, create a page with the title '''[[Special:MyPage/nimbus.css|User:USERNAME/nimbus.css]]''' and enter the following code. Note, to see your image presented as the banner, go to its unique file page and click on the image itself. From there, copy and paste the url to match with the following example:
<pre>
body {
	background: #FFFFFF url(/images/5/59/Halopedia_Banner_2.jpg) repeat-x left top; 
}
</pre>

Anyhoo, good luck and I hope to see some awesome submissions! :)

Love,
<br>{{User:Grizzlei/Sig}}

==Banners==
===Grizzlei===
[[File:Halopedia Banner 2.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Forerunner + Sexy Cliffs]]<br>
{{Clear}}
''Image code: <code>/images/5/59/Halopedia_Banner_2.jpg</code>''
[[File:Halopedia Banner 2-LC.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Low contrast banner (for site notice)]]<br>
{{Clear}}
''Image code: <code>/images/2/2a/Halopedia_Banner_2-LC.jpg</code>''<br>
'''Additional —''' [[:File:Grizzlei banner screenshot.jpg|''Screenshot of banner in-action'']]

Using the background from the ''Halo 4 Interactive Guide'' on Waypoint, I cropped out the Warthog section and the unshaded section from the right on the original panorama, and flipped it horizontally. On the "main" banner above, I very slightly lowered the brightness to reduce it being such an eyesore. :P

{{User:Grizzlei/Sig}}

===Jugus===
[[File:Banner test 1.jpg|300px|thumb|left|''The Challenge'']]<br>
{{Clear}}
''Image code: <code>/images/c/c7/Banner_test_1.jpg</code>''

[[File:Banner test 1 v2.jpg|300px|thumb|left|''The Challenge'', increased contrast version]]
{{Clear}}
''Image code: <code>/images/5/5d/Banner_test_1_v2.jpg</code>''

A relatively simple banner that should not stick out too much. While the Requiem environment is relevant to ''Halo 4'', this one may not be the best choice if we're going for universal, instantly recognizable ''Halo'' universe imagery.

--[[User:Jugus|<font color="MidnightBlue"><b>Jugus</b></font>]] <small>([[User talk:Jugus|<font color="Gray">Talk</font>]] | [[Special:Contributions/Jugus|<font color="Gray">Contribs</font>]])</small> 05:21, 1 November 2012 (EDT)
===Other===
''These were featured in an [[Forum:Final decision on new wiki background|earlier poll]] on changing the site banner. Credit for the images goes to [[User:Subtank|Subtank]].''

[[File:Forge World banner 1.jpg|300px|thumb|left|''Forge World 1''|link=]]
{{Clear}}
''Image code: <code>/images/archive/a/a0/20110825154206!Headertest.jpg</code>''

[[File:Forge World banner 2.jpg|300px|thumb|left|''Forge World 2''|link=]]
{{Clear}}
''Image code: <code>/images/archive/a/a0/20110716172307!Headertest.jpg</code>''

<br clear="all">

==Comments==
Tested it out on my css page and it looks good. I have no problems changing it. :)--{{User:Spartacus/Sig}} 14:44, 31 October 2012 (EDT)
:Did you upload your own banner? {{User:Grizzlei/Sig}}
::Not yet, but I'll get to it eventually. I was just saying that you're banner looks real nice and pretty. :)--{{User:Spartacus/Sig}} 14:50, 31 October 2012 (EDT)
:::I hope you do! While I'd love for my submission to take the crown, I still want to see what other beauties people have. And I can't take credit for it at all really when all I did was flip it around really. :P {{User:Grizzlei/Sig}}
:: The Grizz's is pretty cool. I wish we could make the green stand out a bit more. I thought at first it was Flood biomass. [[User:Tuckerscreator|<span style="color:#6600cc;">'''''Tuckerscreator'''''</span>]]<sup>([[User talk:Tuckerscreator|<font color="#008000">stalk</font>]])</sup> 17:56, 31 October 2012 (EDT)
:::Are you referring to the grass to the right of the Forerunner spire/object? {{User:Grizzlei/Sig}}
::No, rather the grass in the center of the picture. [[User:Tuckerscreator|<span style="color:#6600cc;">'''''Tuckerscreator'''''</span>]]<sup>([[User talk:Tuckerscreator|<font color="#008000">stalk</font>]])</sup> 19:00, 31 October 2012 (EDT)

Your banner works rather well with the new site logo as well as from a visual standpoint. However, I think that instead of simply having a mostly neutral and random image, the site banner should be able to instantly encapsulate the ''Halo'' series. Yours has a Forerunner structure so that's one such element, but the rest is mostly cliff faces. I also don't like the current banner all that much; having a Halo there is a good choice if we're going for iconic elements (and I think we should) but aside that it has too much clutter. The [[Forum:Final decision on new wiki background|last time we voted]], I and many others proposed [http://www.halopedian.com/images/archive/a/a0/20110825154206!Headertest.jpg this one] - it certainly fills the criteria for iconic, having some of the most recognizable visual elements of the series. Though it probably wouldn't work as well with the current logo, I'm still in the favor of something similar; that is, scenery that evokes the first game's level ''[[Halo (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|Halo]]''. Maybe something from the ''[[Installation 04 (level)|Installation 04]]'' Firefight map, along the lines of [[:File:Inst04 02.jpg|this image]]? I might try and come up with something. --[[User:Jugus|<font color="MidnightBlue"><b>Jugus</b></font>]] <small>([[User talk:Jugus|<font color="Gray">Talk</font>]] | [[Special:Contributions/Jugus|<font color="Gray">Contribs</font>]])</small> 16:26, 31 October 2012 (EDT)
:On second thought, don't think I need to come up with anything - I've found a favorite among the ones from last time: [http://www.halopedian.com/images/archive/a/a0/20110716172307!Headertest.jpg this one]. It has a Halo to make it sufficiently relevant to the site's focus, a neutral enough coloration so it doesn't stick out too much, and it works very well with the Chief logo. Don't think we need anything more than that. --[[User:Jugus|<font color="MidnightBlue"><b>Jugus</b></font>]] <small>([[User talk:Jugus|<font color="Gray">Talk</font>]] | [[Special:Contributions/Jugus|<font color="Gray">Contribs</font>]])</small> 16:32, 31 October 2012 (EDT)
::The first one you listed with the Halo ring and the facility on Forge World looks neat, but the emphasis on the blue is a bit displeasing. The second one looks pretty boring and makes us look like an environmental conservation wiki. {{User:Grizzlei/Sig}}
:::I agree that the first Forge World one is too blue and besides, it doesn't blend well with the lighting of the site logo. This is why I prefer the second one I mentioned - it's still blue-tinted, but not too blue and the Chief blends to it very naturally. As for it being boring, don't think it's any more boring than a random, nondescript landscape. Besides, I don't think the point of the banner is to draw attention or be particularly exciting; all it really needs, to me, is an immediately recognizable ''Halo'' universe element (what's better than a Halo ring?) and the way the scenery echoes ''Combat Evolved'''s unforgettable first journey on a Halo is a bonus. Also, a nature conservation wiki with a Halo ring in the background would be quite a thing to see.  --[[User:Jugus|<font color="MidnightBlue"><b>Jugus</b></font>]] <small>([[User talk:Jugus|<font color="Gray">Talk</font>]] | [[Special:Contributions/Jugus|<font color="Gray">Contribs</font>]])</small> 04:30, 1 November 2012 (EDT)
:::I kinda like the pale blue. It transitions into the white background quite nicely... :) — <span style="font-size:14px; font-family:Arial;">[[User:Subtank|<span style="color:#FF4F00;">subtank</span>]]</span>  08:05, 1 November 2012 (EDT)
::I agree with Grizzlei I like the first one from Jugus too, but I also like your's too Grizzlei, so I'd be ok with either.[[File:Colonel Grade One.png|20px]][[User:Spartansniper450/IRC Quotes|<span style="color:#000000">''Col.''</span>]] [[User:Spartansniper450|<span style="color:#00416A">Snipes</span>]][[User talk:Spartansniper450|<span style="color:gold">4</span>]][[Special:Contributions/Spartansniper450|<span style="color:silver">50</span>]][[File:Colonel Grade One.png|20px]] 18:30, 31 October 2012 (EDT)

I like your submission Jugus! Relatively simple and the imagery is recognizable to even the newest of ''Haloverse'' fans. Only recommendation is maybe increasing the contrast in the background to bring out some of those colors, otherwise, it doesn't complement the Forerunner structure very well. {{User:Grizzlei/Sig}}
:Looks good! The brightened colors seemed to really brought out some Forerunner architectural style that was hidden underneath the gray! {{User:Grizzlei/Sig}}

So would anyone oppose a vote to choose one of the banners featured above or any that are submitted in the next day or so? If not, I'd like to start it going on Monday. :) {{User:Grizzlei/Sig}}

:I don't.--'''''[[User:Killamint|<span style="color:Black; font-family: Arial;">Killamint</span>]]''''' <small>['''''[[User talk:Killamint|<font color="Red">Comm</font>]]'''''|'''''[[Special:Contributions/Killamint|<font color="Black">Files</font>]]''''']</small> 12:25, 4 November 2012 (EST)
::We've gotten some nice submissions so far, so I'm not opposed to opening up a community vote. Now to figure out which one to vote for...--{{User:Spartacus/Sig}} 15:33, 4 November 2012 (EST)

==Voting==
===The Challenge (Increased Contrast Version)===
#Looks to be my favorite.--'''''[[User:Killamint|<span style="color:Black; font-family: Arial;">Killamint</span>]]''''' <small>['''''[[User talk:Killamint|<font color="Red">Comm</font>]]'''''|'''''[[Special:Contributions/Killamint|<font color="Black">Files</font>]]''''']</small> 11:24, 17 November 2012 (EST)
#Yup! — {{User:Grizzlei/Sig}}

===Forerunner + Sexy Cliffs===
#After looking through all the options and testing each one out, I cast my vote for Grizzlei's submission.--{{User:Spartacus/Sig}} 14:59, 19 November 2012 (EST)