[8pla.net]

That's all good, Freddy... I'm not unhappy at all... I'm just chatting.  Web design is still an interesting topic.  A trick to do with the table idea, is to make a fake background by having a 100% width on the table, and then a column span of three for the header, three columns, with the forum module in the middle, and a column span of three again for the footer.

Example:

Code

[header colspan=3]
[side][FORUM][side]  ( 3 columns)
[footer colspan=3]

Now you can cut up  the background image into smaller images of just the parts that are visible, and probably reduce the overall file size by 90%... That's a reduction of about 225K in this case, and it should look identical to the 250K background image.

That chatroom you coded in JavaScript is superb!  It is nice to chat with someone who understands the subject well.

[Freddy]

Trouble with using tables for layout is it's bad practice these days - I gave that up a long time ago.

I'm happy with the 200K image. Most people have broadband now, it should not cause too much trouble. Tricks like this I used to use back in the day, these days it's not such a problem.

I'm glad you like the chat room. It was an interesting project to work on.

[8pla.net]

Freddy,

You may have to redo the background from the source file with the white square down further.  Please find the attached image and look at the top center... See the top of the white square behind the forum panel? I wonder if the square can be bigger, after being positioned down further?

Awesome!  We are designing the theme from the UK and the US.

TIP: Instead of white #FFFFFF, use one of the nearest colors like the sky color #E3DACC.  It won't matter in terms of file size, but it may be less noticeable.

[Freddy]

Hmm, thanks. I thought I had that covered. OK back to the drawing board.

[Freddy]

After a lot of playing around, I went back to the full image. I found that various screen sizes would do what you posted. The small area that I could cut out was not really worth it in the end.

Worth a go though

[8pla.net]

Hurry everyone before it's gone.  This demo site is online now, but really briefly.  When it's gone, it's gone.
For discussion purposes only, I created a temporary mockup theme at: http://elizabot.com/theme
The forum width is modded,  forum colors are matched, and Freddy's chatbots are the backdrop.
The background image is just 88K.   This is meant to inspire an A.I. related theme by Freddy.
It is hard work to design a whole forum theme... I hope this helps.


Reference: http://elizabot.com/theme

[Freddy]

It does help. Your background is much better than the one I attempted with my character - I like that she is mirrored. I think I will use that as inspiration

I'll up the resolution a bit, I know you only had a small image to play with.

I have Unity 5 installed now so I will be able to make a few more backgrounds and then I will make something so people can choose whatever they like.

Thanks

[8pla.net]

I just added a changing background image to the mockup theme.
It switches between the Unity backdrop and Jesse backdrop now.
I'll add a few other backdrops for variety when I get a chance.

So press F5 or click the refresh button to see the backdrops change.