Site design and column width

[SusanV]

Some feedback concerning site design...

I would much prefer to see the forum entries have a limited column width,
which would make them easier to read and also easier to scan for information.
The width of this message input box I'm now typing in would work pretty well
I think. (Or is this is a browser issue I'm unaware of? I use Firefox.) At this
width I don't have to turn my side to side to read a line of type.

When I post here, my graphic design roots cause me to put in a line break at the end of each of my lines, so as not to have my posts use the whole width of the page like this is doing and go on and on and and make people turn their heads to read to the end of the endless line........ see what I mean? On my 24" monitor, the paragraph you're reading now is over 18" wide and only 2 lines! If you wear glasses it's really bad... trying to keep the lens "sweet spot" lined up with the word you're reading. Gives me a sore neck. Well, ok that last bit is an exaggeration, but hopefully you get my drift.


OK... so that's what I'm talking about. It's the reason that designers make
type flow into columns, which are easier to read. It also just looks better
because the paragraphs form nice tonal blocks.

I'll hush now and get back to work

susan

[jd callow]

Susan,
I can set the width of all the columns and will take your suggestion to heart. As an alternative or untill I have the time for a redesign consider not having your browser maximized. This way you control the width of the column. Currently the columns have min widths so that they will render properly on a monitor as small as 800x600. i have not set a max width as there is aso a contingent of folks who buy hires monitors and like it when the views fill the monitors.

An alternative to setting widths might be to offer differring style sheets that would allow the users to pick the display of their preference. Each user could pick their pereference and then use it as their default. The geek in me likes this somewhat better.

[frugal]

Personally, fixed column widths for sites drive me nuts. I have a big screen so I don't maximise my browser but it's still a pretty large sized window, it drives me nuts when I go to a site and see all the text squeeze over to 1 side. I'd much rather see a flexible design that scales well to most/all window widths.

[SusanV]

Hey jd... yeah style sheets would be great. Another thought is to break up
the width of the forums with other content, as I see has happened this morning
with the addition of the sidebar. That looks really good. I'm sure once it gets
something in it it'll look even better

susan

[smieglitz]

John,

I just made a comment about the site design in the How to increase hybridphoto participation thread. It is probably more relevant in this discussion.

Joe

[Katharine Thayer]

I guess I don't understand what the issue is. I have a 20" monitor, but I always get a window that's just the right size (about 10" wide) with the text nicely arranged in that window; I never have to scroll right to see all the text. Is this not true for everyone? Is it browser-dependent?

I was not in agreement the move about ten years ago to force the web to allow a pagemaker kind of design, with fixed column widths and so forth; I prefer the way the web was designed to be flexible to fit a lot of different devices. I assumed that's the way this site is.

But if someone with a 24" monitor is being forced to scroll right and left to see all the text, something must be wrong somewhere.
Katharine Thayer

[frugal]

I guess I don't understand what the issue is. I have a 20" monitor, but I always get a window that's just the right size (about 10" wide) with the text nicely arranged in that window; I never have to scroll right to see all the text. Is this not true for everyone? Is it browser-dependent?

I was not in agreement the move about ten years ago to force the web to allow a pagemaker kind of design, with fixed column widths and so forth; I prefer the way the web was designed to be flexible to fit a lot of different devices. I assumed that's the way this site is.

But if someone with a 24" monitor is being forced to scroll right and left to see all the text, something must be wrong somewhere.
Katharine Thayer

With me, it's a question of seeing sites that assume a much narrower width. It's quite possible to do good web designs without forcing a fixed font size or column width. So it really bugs me when I have my browser window set to a size I'm comfortable with reading (and a font size that's readable for my high resolution display) and find that the site has a fixed 10 or 12 point font and only uses a very narrow column in my window. The font displays too small for easy reading and it doesn't use the width of the window I have set.

[jd callow]

With me, it's a question of seeing sites that assume a much narrower width. It's quite possible to do good web designs without forcing a fixed font size or column width. So it really bugs me when I have my browser window set to a size I'm comfortable with reading (and a font size that's readable for my high resolution display) and find that the site has a fixed 10 or 12 point font and only uses a very narrow column in my window. The font displays too small for easy reading and it doesn't use the width of the window I have set.

Sadly, the different browsers render point sizes differently. This forces most designers to use the client settings (not set the font size for body text) or resort to pixels for font sizing. I've resorted to pixels and culomns that will work in 800x600 or expand to anything greater. As mentioned I may hard code min's and max's for widths or institute multiple style sheets. It is true that good readability matches column widths with font size, but the varriance in screens can be so great that this too becomes a real problem.