Hey Everyone,
This project is still under development, but I've got enough to show.

Site's Current URL: www.schenkerstudio.com/Development/WeldingRods

The challenge here is to make the whole site feel like a metal working concept -- especially the home page. The client wants to avoid a "module blocks" feel, so I'm trying to just have the whole thing open up. I almost decided to use ExpressionEngine for this site, but came back to Joomla because I feel so at home with the Zen Grid framework.

JB Template Used:
Rasa with a lot of CSS styling

Extensions:
Bamboobox for welding rods product index
SimpleCaddy for all product pages
RSForm Pro for all interactive forms
Tabber for the home page "sheet metal" tabs

Since this is still under development, I welcome comments or suggestions from people here at Joomlabamboo.

Thanks,
Matthew

Hi Matthew,

I think I would have gone the more stainless steel metal texture background route. I reckon its because I'm on a massive photo editing monitor it doesn't do it any favours

As somebody with wonky eyes I have a bit of difficultly reading the footer

I'd personally remove copyright from the pics as well but guessing the client wanted it

Thanks for letting us take a peak

Good luck with getting the missing content

Cheers
Paul

Paul,
I agree about the background. it's given me headaches. The client wants a realistic metal look -- a surface a welder would actually use. This site will be used by people who know welding!

Metal is a difficult texture to get right. I took 30+ shots of various metals. But if you zoom in too close as a background, they stop looking metallic. If you zoom out, you lose detail.

I also agree about the watermarks on product images. The client hired a photographer to shoot them. Apparently, there's a lot of theft of these sorts of images, so he wants the watermark.

If anyone here has experience shooting metal textures and making them into good backgrounds, I'm open to suggestions!

Thanks,
Matthew

Hi Matthew,

Been bugging me where I'd seen some metal textures - after a week I've know remembered

www.premiumpixels.com/freebies/9-high-resolution-metal-surface-textures/

I'd recommend signing up as he producing some handy stuff for free

Cheers
Paul

Paul,
Great, you had to go and send me that link... Now I went and spent almost two precious hours cruising through the offerings there!

Seriously though, thanks for the link! I've bookmarked it and will definitely keep checking in.

He has some amazing paper textures as well.

Thanks again,
Matthew

No worries

Just used his new post it note on a site

Cheers
Paul