I'm going to be working on the tutorials for a while; before updating the actual tutorials, I wanted to update the 'index page'. I think the current version requires too much scrolling, and doesn't give a clear view of what's available.
I have come up with a new idea on the index page, and wanted to see if it is more clear to everyone (most anyway) and not just me.
Don't worry about the look/layout of the lists, etc, I'm not done with them yet. I just need to know if I'm going the right direction as far as general idea/ease of use/clearness/etc.
As a Newbie to Dgrin and SmugMug, I have a couple of thoughts. I very much think that you are going in the right direction. I'd consider putting the section on uploading before the section on customization (as in, you can't customize if you haven't uploaded anything!) I'd also consider letting people know in your little intro to the the tutorials section that they tutorials fall, generally, into 3 (or more) catagories: taking better images, digital darkroom tutorials, displaying images both on line (SmugMug) and elsewhere (photo projects). That way the items at the bottom of the page don't get lost...
Stephanie
The formatting of the lists still needs to be finished, but I prefer other ways of making it more legible. This because it's such a universal thing that hyperlinks are underlined. Nearly everyone browsing a web page will expect an underlined word/sentence to be a link.
Can anyone submit a tutorial for inclusion on your tutorial pages? I have been teaching photoshop to retired folks for several years now and have some that always go down well.
I am new today and may not be asking the right person, please have mercy!
Helen
Yeah, of course! Anything that you (or anyone else) think can help/benefit others, feel free to share. Please do
If you have a SmugMug account, you can use a gallery to create the tutorial, and when you are done, give me the link. If you don't have a SmugMug account, you can create it locally as well, and email me. PM me if you need more info
If you are not sure how to create it, or if you want some help, guidance, also let me know
Another possibility is to have 2 pages. One for Digital Grin and SmugMug site customization/help tutorials, (the top 3 groups) and the other for photography and image processing tutorials. This would make the separation between the groups distinct. It also allow adding more tutorial sections. I wouldn't mind seeing groups of tutorials on Lightroom and Aperture to go along with the Photoshop tutorials.
It would make it more distinct indeed, but it kind of falls in the same category as Awais' post, and my reply to that unfortunately.
The index page is linked in many help posts on the forum, and in emails from the SmugMug helpdesk, too. Splitting the page would mean that some of the links would make no sense anymore.
As a Newbie to Dgrin and SmugMug, I have a couple of thoughts. I very much think that you are going in the right direction. I'd consider putting the section on uploading before the section on customization (as in, you can't customize if you haven't uploaded anything!) I'd also consider letting people know in your little intro to the the tutorials section that they tutorials fall, generally, into 3 (or more) catagories: taking better images, digital darkroom tutorials, displaying images both on line (SmugMug) and elsewhere (photo projects). That way the items at the bottom of the page don't get lost...
Stephanie
The index page is linked in many help posts on the forum, and in emails from the SmugMug helpdesk, too. Splitting the page would mean that some of the links would make no sense anymore.
Well updating the email that comes from the SmugMug help desk shouldn't be a problem. But trying to update all the help posts would be a big job and probably not worth the effort. You're right, one page is the right way to go. I think we are getting into details and you can probably consider it "done".
I like and I feel your pain...
I like what you have done with the new layout. I also understand the problem with keeping the old links still working. I think that new layout is much more intuitive and navigable.
I have been dealing with this stuff for work and it has had me scratching my head for three weeks now. I really like what you have done... back to writing my tutorials.
Yeah, of course! Anything that you (or anyone else) think can help/benefit others, feel free to share. Please do
If you have a SmugMug account, you can use a gallery to create the tutorial, and when you are done, give me the link. If you don't have a SmugMug account, you can create it locally as well, and email me. PM me if you need more info
If you are not sure how to create it, or if you want some help, guidance, also let me know
Thank you Ivar - I will get some ready and contact you if I need to know where to put them, as yet I do not have a smugmug account - Helen
Thank you Ivar - I will get some ready and contact you if I need to know where to put them, as yet I do not have a smugmug account - Helen
I don't want to hijack Ivar's lovely thread, but on the main page of The Big Picture, there is an essay/photo contest for new memebers like yourself. One of the prizes is a year's subscription to smugmug standard. I would check it out if I were you.
I don't want to hijack Ivar's lovely thread, but on the main page of The Big Picture, there is an essay/photo contest for new memebers like yourself. One of the prizes is a year's subscription to smugmug standard. I would check it out if I were you.
Comments
As a Newbie to Dgrin and SmugMug, I have a couple of thoughts. I very much think that you are going in the right direction. I'd consider putting the section on uploading before the section on customization (as in, you can't customize if you haven't uploaded anything!) I'd also consider letting people know in your little intro to the the tutorials section that they tutorials fall, generally, into 3 (or more) catagories: taking better images, digital darkroom tutorials, displaying images both on line (SmugMug) and elsewhere (photo projects). That way the items at the bottom of the page don't get lost...
Stephanie
www.ivarborst.nl & smugmug
If you have a SmugMug account, you can use a gallery to create the tutorial, and when you are done, give me the link. If you don't have a SmugMug account, you can create it locally as well, and email me. PM me if you need more info
If you are not sure how to create it, or if you want some help, guidance, also let me know
www.ivarborst.nl & smugmug
The index page is linked in many help posts on the forum, and in emails from the SmugMug helpdesk, too. Splitting the page would mean that some of the links would make no sense anymore.
www.ivarborst.nl & smugmug
www.ivarborst.nl & smugmug
For some reason, I like the flow of the "old" version better. The "new" version looks too cluttered.
And as previously mentioned, I would also revise the order of appearance of these tuts. Starting from basic all the way to advanced.
Nikon Shooter
It's all about the moment...
Well updating the email that comes from the SmugMug help desk shouldn't be a problem. But trying to update all the help posts would be a big job and probably not worth the effort. You're right, one page is the right way to go. I think we are getting into details and you can probably consider it "done".
I like what you have done with the new layout. I also understand the problem with keeping the old links still working. I think that new layout is much more intuitive and navigable.
I have been dealing with this stuff for work and it has had me scratching my head for three weeks now. I really like what you have done... back to writing my tutorials.
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Thank you Ivar - I will get some ready and contact you if I need to know where to put them, as yet I do not have a smugmug account - Helen
I don't want to hijack Ivar's lovely thread, but on the main page of The Big Picture, there is an essay/photo contest for new memebers like yourself. One of the prizes is a year's subscription to smugmug standard. I would check it out if I were you.
Nikon Shooter
It's all about the moment...
thanks!
s
www.ivarborst.nl & smugmug
We also have a special smugmug account set up for folks like you that want to create a tutorial but don't have a smugmug.
Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
LOVE this idea
Stephanie
Yeah! That's the ticket!
I've made the change! The new index page.
I hope this will work better for everyone.
Please continue to give any suggestions here if you have any, please. Things can always be improved
www.ivarborst.nl & smugmug
www.ivarborst.nl & smugmug
dgrin - SM - photo