:: Part I: Introduction :: Part II: The Config File :: Part III: The Template File ::
:: Part IV: The Base Image :: Part V: The Moment of Truth :: Part VI: Troubleshooting ::
:: Part IV: The Base Image :: Part V: The Moment of Truth :: Part VI: Troubleshooting ::
Part IV: The Base Image
Basics of Base Images
The base images are where we can really get creative and express ourselves and our guild in a visual manner. While the roster generates and can output only certain information, anything else can be included in the base image, whether it's more text or other images.
Let's take a look at the example base image that's included with the RM4DF download:
This is a pretty simple image. It has a solid-colored border, a subtle gradient background, and a logo image on the left.
Your base images can be as simple as this one -- or more so, just a solid-colored background with no borders or images -- or as complex as you can imagine. They can be of any dimensions you prefer, and contain as many (or as few) colors as you like.
This, for example, is my default base image:
There is No Right Way!
As you can see, this is the page with the fewest guiding steps from me. Why? Because your graphic should be unique! You should tailor your base image(s) to your guild, and nobody knows your guild like you do. I can walk you through everything else, but putting your own ideas into a graphic is all up to you. :)
A Few Suggestions
The sky's the limit when it comes to creativity, but there are some common-sense guidelines you should try to keep in mind when making your graphic(s):
- Be kind to your fellow man -- and their bandwidth. Try to keep your file dimensions reasonable and your filesize as small as you can. Using unnecessarily huge graphics, in dimensions or filesize, is a great way to annoy people and get banned from forums.
- Feel free to express yourself, but don't be insulting or insensitive. Nobody likes a bigot, so please keep your graphics family-friendly.
- Love your colors, but don't love them too much. Using psychedelic patterns might seem cool, but then you'll get a knock on your door from several hundred of your forum buddies with bleeding eyes. Vibrant is good; trippy is generally not so good.
Ready to test drive your new files?