I am working on some ideas to help make this forum a better resource for all of us, along with some concepts on what might turn out to be some fun if there is enough interest.

To start with I am in the process of designing a building a back room to the forum that will have some interesting sections, but I would like some feedback on what everyone here thinks will be useful. Right now I have a section for Photoshop Basics, Tutorials, Tips & Tricks, an Image Ready area and a links section to other really good Photoshop resources. The question is did I miss anything, and/or is there anything here that seems like a waist. We have about 50 MB of space to play with, so please let me know what you think.

OK...
Now onto that dull boring space at the top of the page. I would like to have a banner up there that acts as a space to show off some of the work that the members here can do. So... I was thinking about a Banner contest for the forum. This is how it would work.

Everyone who is interested can make a banner between now and Monday March 4th. On that day I will post a thread here in the forum, and anyone who wants to can post to until Wednesday March 6th. On that day I will lock the thread, and everyone who wants to vote can by ending me an Instant Message me with their choice for a winner. I will take votes until the night of Friday March 8th, and on Saturday the 9th, I will post the winning banner. That banner will stay up there until we have another Banner Contest in late June.

My thinking is to do this four times a year, so each winner gets to be up there for three months. Any feedback, comments or suggestions about this idea are welcome.

Last thing for now...
I would also like to run a Monthly Challenge Series like we do in the Photography Forum. Because of the timing and my schedule, there is no way I could organize this for March, but we could start in April if there is enough interest. What I would like right now, is to hear what everyone else thinks would be some good themes, or subjects for some challenges, so that when it gets towards the end of March we have some ideas to choose from.

Well I think I just burned out on typing, so I will stop here for now.

Remember...
This is your forum, I am only here to help make it a better place to be, and a place we can all enjoy and learn from. If you have any questions, comments, concerns, ideas or anything else... just let me know.

Thanks
Alpha

What size must the banner be? Not too big I hope, as it loads on every page. Also, will this banner be the link to the back room? Or do you have something in mind for that?

Hey there Alpha! Sounds like you are going to be a great FM for this forum! I think you have the backroom pretty well covered I cant think of anything you could add really that couldnt be covered under the headings you already have. The banner contest sounds like a fabulous idea and so does the challenge. As dar as topics for the challenges go.... hmm well have to think about that.

Oooopppss...

I forgot to put in the banner size. I was thinking of a maximum size of 500 pixels in width and 150 pixels in height. This should keep the image to under 28 kb even if there are a lot of different colors, and would load on an old 28.8 modem in about 10 seconds.

The banner would act as a link, but I am also thinking of some text links. One to the Main Gallery, one to the Front Page and of course one to the Resource Center (aka the back room).

Sounds good to me so far. What about a section for layer styles and actions or links to resources of those things? Maybe brushes and curves files, too.

I had thought about that kieraw, and was going to see about the possibility of getting a section set up in the Free Stuff area... If that doesn't work out, I am sure we can do a small DL area here as those files are usually pretty small.

Alpha, you have a real tough job! Not sure I have any constructive opinion. PS is kind of the "glue" that ties everything together. [And a glue that is increasingly more expensive to keep upgraded! But I digress...] There are many, many, PShop links out there, and volumes of books, and even Adobe publications. Still, when I have the question, "How do I...??" or, "How did s/he do that?" it is always hard sorting through the vast amount of available information. I have this vague notion of some sort of topic search engine, that everyone would contribute to, and rank the quality of the information... If we could figure out how to do this for Photoshop, we could tackle the rest of the Internet next!

What does the banner need to say ? "Adobe Photoshop Forum" ? Or....

too tired... to write... muuuuuussst, slleepeppepppp....