Comments on: Blog Redesign

By: Incredible 2D Images using NodeBox (Universal Binary!) « Martin Backschat’s Blog

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:36:27 +0000

[...] Recently, I’ve been busy exploring 2d graphics algorithms for generating great looking logos, wallpapers, and backgrounds. The article “Blog Redesign” drew my attention to a great tool on Mac OS X. NodeBox is an open-source application for programming 2-dimensional graphics and animation in the Python language. NodeBox lets the user focus on coding graphics without worrying about the underlying technology. [...]

By: Daniel Jalkut

Daniel Jalkut — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 19:24:34 +0000

Hi Chris… heh, the funny baselines of the letters are nothing but me trying (probably ill advisedly) to add a little creativity to the process. It has been mentioned that the crazy placement of the g makes it look more like a “b” to some people. I think in general I should probably readjust the letters to be a little less adventurous. But this is all my own problem and shouldn’t reflect on the alignment abilities of NodeBox :)

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 19:07:40 +0000

I enjoy the redesign, too, but I have one observation on the banner. I’m not terribly well-versed in NodeBox, so I don’t know some of its default text behaviors, or how easy they are to workaround, but it looks like the routine you’re using to place the letters in the circles sets a baseline, and the “g” in “blog” respects this in a strange way. Is it intentially translated to the top of the circle, rather than centered like the other letters?

Now that I’m looking very closely at the banner, it also looks like the “w” is translated a few pixels down, too. It seems to have some strange attraction to the g.

Thanks for highlighting some of the capabilities of NodeBox. I’ve played with it some since discovering it via your post, and I like what I’ve found.

By: Gary

Gary — Sat, 17 Jun 2006 02:11:09 +0000

I’m a fan of NodeBox too, great to use Python glue to make some visual or real-time stuff all in one simple UI. Fantastic fun, with no cute animals hurt. However, watch out for what I think is a ColorSync bug/feature. Check your 100% red, green or blue values. I bet when you match them alongside full bright colors generated elsewhere you’ll see they are all muddy (if your set like me red is close but 100% blue and 100% green a swamp water). I’ve been poking around with the NodeBox source to make it more Mac friendly, keeping my eyes peeled for a colour bug/feature… P.S. Your design is quite an improvement ;-)

By: Simone Manganelli

Simone Manganelli — Sat, 17 Jun 2006 00:21:08 +0000

The redesign looks cool: I’m glad you finally migrated over from the default theme. I’ve been using iBlog for my weblog (since I have .mac and don’t want to pay for additional hosting — long story), and I know how difficult it is to overcome the inertia of using the default theme and creating your own unique theme that looks good. I especially like the banner, too.

The only niggling thing about the design is that I’m not too sure I like Lucida Grande. But overall, it looks good.

– Simone

By: toxicsoftware.com » Quickies

toxicsoftware.com » Quickies — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 22:13:54 +0000

[...] Daniel Jalkut of Red-Sweater scores a hat-trick with three very interesting blog posts. Of special interest to me, is his posting about the redesign of his blog using NodeBox. I actually introduced Daniel to NodeBox, little did I know he’d do so much with it. Very cool. [...]

By: boolean

boolean — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 13:33:00 +0000

Nice redesign. I was struggling for awhile with mine and eventually decided to leave it for awhile longer. It’s a daunting challenge but you’ve pulled it off and pointed out an interesting tool as well (NodeBox).

By: Justin Blanton

Justin Blanton — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 04:16:32 +0000

I like it Daniel and am glad to see that someone else isn’t afraid to embrace pink. :P

NodeBox looks really interesting; playing with it now.

By: Jonathan Wight

Jonathan Wight — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 03:10:34 +0000

Your new blog makes me want to shop for Lavalamps at Target… Not sure why…