OVERUNITY.COM LOGO CONTEST!

[exxcomm0n]

Great idea, I like them all so far. I wonder tho if file size will be an issue?
@ exxcomm0n, how big is that banner in KB ?
Sweep.
EDIT: then do a calculation on 500 full hits per day (conservative estimate) wow thats a lot extra per month.
Should there not be a size limit, say under 25kb ?

It's 233 Kb for the latest one. It's less 9 Kb from the former gif.

The 1st "static" homage banner I did comes in @ 33+ Kb, and I was fine with that, but it didn't include quite a few pioneers that others would like to see, so I juiced it into the monstrosity you presently see @ 7X the size. ( and used it as an object lesson for using GIMP).

As to the bandwidth/money angle, I'll not say more than I don't know if this site is Stephan's sole source  of income (from some of the things I see, it COULD be) or not, but with the amount of advertising here, and the bandwidth necessities he outlines in another thread <link below>, I'd believe it's (the site) self supporting at the very least.

Anyway, to combat the large bandwidth necessary, you could cookie it so it's only "served" once and either replaced with a static banner linked in page content which is clickable to show the full gif, or fish it out of "temporary internet files" when the page is loaded (front page) so it's only downloaded once, and then is up to the discretion of the web user if they want to see it again.

For some interesting insights into the site and recent issues with it (since I've been a member starting in April) go here:

http://www.overunity.com/index.php/topic,5221.0/topicseen.html

....and see some into the forum software and it's "needs".

Such as, do you notice the right hand sidebar is missing lately?
I'll not miss it except for the new user count and "online now" areas.

@exxcomm0n
If you want a new idea, try and make one with Maxwell and Tesla beating up Heavyside. lol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Heaviside
You can subtitle it "The First Kicks."

Interesting idea.
But I think it'd go against that whole "unity" thing of open source methods for energy independence being available to all of mankind is not exemplified well by a banner showing pummeling.

[Yucca]

Of topic a little but a gift to anyone who wants it:

I prefer writing music to doing graphics. Here's some copyright free music I've written in the past, maybe you want to listen?:

http://69.10.148.115/yucca

I mention because I've been thinking of writing a big overunity tune (ambient style) with lots of classic voice audio, when I get time I'll make a start.

[winner]

Of topic a little but a gift to anyone who wants it:

I prefer writing music to doing graphics. Here's some copyright free music I've written in the past, maybe you want to listen?:

http://69.10.148.115/yucca

I mention because I've been thinking of writing a big overunity tune (ambient style) with lots of classic voice audio, when I get time I'll make a start.

Yucca, fantastic work! I love electronica music with voice effects! Can't wait to hear your overunity piece!

[winner]

All,

I have been thinking a lot about the OverUnity.com logo and I've come up with something that I think is a great concept.

My logo has some very good properties:
- The basic design is simple.
- It incorporates the letter "O" as the main shape surrounding an "U."
- Small accent marks over the "U" can be interpreted as the umlaut "U" in German for "?ber."
- The accent marks, when associated with the "U" create what looks like an electrical plug.
- The "O" shape can be interpreted as unity.
- The "U" shape can be interpreted as a magnet.
- It is recognizable in small or large formats.
- Easily, it can be made with three solid colors, adaptable to national flag variations for website users around the world.
- A recognizable 16x16 icon can be created.
- The design allows flexibility for creative variation, i.e., a world globe as the "O," shadows, "elecrifying" effects, etc.
- People can have fun creating variations with different colors and effects, even thinking of the design in 3D terms like a cat's eye marble.
- There is room in the center for other elements and the design is easily decorated.
- Some might see a smiley face in the design  :-D .

Attached are some of the variations I've come up with so far.

Below also is a link to a single file showing 16 variations. My design was created in CorelDraw version 9. I intend this basic idea for my "contest" entry.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq68/winner_777/UnityLogo8.jpg

If anyone would like to play with variations, send me a private message and I'll send you a CorelDraw file or other file type export with instructions to start. I have had a lot of fun working with this, though it has taken uncounted hours to generate what I have so far. I'm only an intermediate user of CorelDraw and I'm sure that others can come up with some striking renditions as well. Also if anyone has feedback to improve the basic design in minor ways, let me know.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This basic design and slight variations or embellishments should be considered property of this author. By this public notice, I reserve full rights to this design for any purpose, or if implemented as a logo for OverUnity.com, reserve this design for a copyright of OverUnity.com.

Please have some fun with this, everyone, and let me know what you think!

[winner]

Well now, I'm getting into this design a bit more. Here's a button I've made, 151x151, which would fit in the current header space.