Comments please

solo

Hey guys.

I have been busy lately with a few urgent projects that accumulated during my one week Cape Cod vacation, hence my lack of artistic contribution (like anyone noticed) anyway I also have been trying to fix up my pityful excuse of a MS hosted, template driven website to a point that I can use it as a portfolio for freelance work. I have overcome the whole activex image upload problem (causes image quality to deteriorate) thanks to some nifty code found on the net.
Anyway, as said I am in the process of adding my 'acceptable' images and wanted some feed back from y'all, maybe even some advice or help. I am totally HTML challenged so templates are the only options I have, which I know is the major downfall. I will be editing and adding images live, so the site will change every so often.

Thanks for the help.

Here is the link:

404 Not Found

(solosplace.com)

solo

You will?

How does one go about doing that? and will I be able to add images after the template is created?
Will it be compatable with MS live websites?

Stinkie

There's a couple of spelling errors in the text beneath the village pic. (Still a great image, btw!)
"You will notice that most of my works are modeled with Sketcup, that is by choice as Sketchup is a simple to learn, easy to master powerful 3d modeling app (...)"

Whoa, there, Peter! Waaaaaaay to negative. This needs to be changed. Just a suggestion (I'd write the text for ya, but as you know Eengleesh is not my native language): "You'll notice that I mainly use SketchUp for modeling. There's a good reason for that. SketchUp is a fast and very efficient tool. Using it allows me to work both fast and cheap." Then emphasize you -"of course"- also use ZBrush etc when needed.

JuanV.Soler

now thats comprehension

solo

Spelling corrected (thanks) I am too lazy to use a spell checker.

Thanks for help Stinker, English may not be your native tongue but copy writting is your profession.

Frederik

Dang Pete... You've made an awesome portfolio...!!

What about making it more alive..? I mean something with Flash...
It's not that difficult, especially not if you use an application like Swish and some of the templates they have...

Or if your wallet is big enough, take a look at some of the Dynamic Photo Galleries templates from Templatemonster...
(the dunamic templates are where you load the images and text in a txt- or xml-file, which anyone can use...)

Or you can also find a number of nice and free Gallery Flash templates like the Simpleviewer...

Just ideas... I really think your porfolio deserves the best presentation they can get...

solo

Thanks. <-- genuine wink

Now the big question:
If indeed I find a template I like, how in the name of * pick a deity * do I load it and will all my info be lost?

JuanV.Soler

no idea
next turn

Stinkie

@solo said:

Thanks for help Stinker, English may not be your native tongue but copy writting is your profession.

Was my profession. In any case, when (and if) you rework the text, write it like you would write a post for this forum. When I read your posts here, I can hear a voice (so to speak). That's something the text on your site is lacking. A personal touch. (At least in my opinion.)

It may sound strange, but it really helps to say what you want to write out loud. Do that until it sounds good. Then write it down. Then check the structure of what you wrote. Then spell check.

Things to keep in mind:

use short sentences
keep the amount of commas to a bare minimum
don't use adjectives unless you can't do without them

In other words: K.I.S.S.

Frederik

@solo said:

Now the big question:
If indeed I find a template I like, how in the name of * pick a deity * do I load it and will all my info be lost?

No - of course not... <-- genuine wink
You add the text and the path to your images etc. in (depending on the template) either a .txt- or .xml-file, which you easily can edit in i.e. Notepad...
Then you upload it all to your web-server using i.e. FTP and voila...
No need to be hard-coding anything in such templates...
(Although Swish may be a little challenge, it's something anybody can figure..)

You can check out Fletch's Gallery here...

If you can type something like the below example taken from a .xml-file:

<Text>
<caption>You'll notice that I mainly use SketchUp for modeling. There's a good reason for that. SketchUp is a fast and very efficient tool. Using it allows me to work both fast and cheap.</caption>
</text>

<image>
	<filename>image1.jpg</filename>
	<caption>Image 1 description</caption>	
</image>
<image>
	<filename>image2.jpg</filename>
	<caption>Image 2 description</caption>	
</image>

Then you can make a website with Gallery et al, by selecting one of the Dynamic templates...

boofredlay

First of all... fantastic stuff

I cannot comment on how to create a site but here are some general comments for what it is worth:

Under a couple of the pictures in your Renderings tab you have forum member names listed. Some people seeing your portfolio might not know of Tomsdesk, Stinkie, the SCF or even what PPB2 is. You might just list their full names, that is if they will give them to you. (Now I am afraid to use the wink... thanks Chris )
Some times you say "Rendered by me" and other times "by Solo". I would not use "me" or "solo", or even "Peter Stoppel". It is your site so obviously the renderings are by you. On your home page you have the statement; "A collection of images created by Peter Stoppel".
I would just give a nod to those who have contributed. Ex. "Houses modeled by Tom Stinkie."

@unknownuser said:

I am by no means a furniture designer but recently played around with a few ideas,

Don't sell yourself short with this statement. Just because these have never been physically built does not mean you are not a furniture designer. These are some of the coolest furniture designs I have seen in a while.

I hope this helps you.

Stinkie

Eric's made some good points!

As far as my name is concerned, Pete knows what it is. He can use him if he likes to. Though that'd be unwise, as the model I provided him with, was a tweaked 3D Warehouse one. Never gave it much thought, but as Pete's now upping his game, webby wise, it may be a good idea to give credit where it's due.

Edit: Wait, I just remembered. The bathroom I got off the Podium forum. Can't remember who made it.

solo

Thanks for the comments guys, I will certainly use the advise to better my site, keep an eye out for the changes in due course.

goon of doom

While I find the content VERY good without doubt there is some very well done imagery to explore. That is the good bit.
The counterpoint is #1 . The solo's space logo. childish. #2. I felt like I was being spamed with the registration page.

Too many great pics to pick a favorite but I liked some of the airplanes. Would love to see a Northrup YB-46 flying wing done in your style. Some of the furniture was interesting some of it would not work at all. Of the rendered structures I loved allot of it and some of it did nothing for me.

The work overall was very refined and clearly done by an expert The logo was done by someone other than a creative. Which leads me to doubt you.

GoD

solo

Thanks for your input, I liked the contrast of the logo which I believe is an improvement over the template one. This is the kind of comments I require so I will consider your point and work on a new logo tomorrow.

Chris Fullmer

Coming along great. I thought there was too much text at the bottom of the main page though. I'm even wondering if maybe the front page should contain itself to fit on the screen w/o having to scroll down at all.

I like the images. The one I like best is with the houses and hte mountains and the sunset. Its great detail in the models. My only comlaint is that the bright sunset in the image does not match up with the shadows in the model.

Good job though, really nice work!

Chris

PS I liked all hte genuine winks. !thanks! I'll just learn to get over it now that I know they are actually genuine

solo

Okay, I compromised on the logo, is that better?

Frederick has come up with a solution for a gallery that scrolls so I hope to implement that soon.

As for the info thing, I will try reduce that or make a new page for info and inquiries.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

boofredlay

There is no apostrophe in the logo. Should it not be SOLO'S PLACE, like the rest of your site?

solo

<--- Grimace

Yup there should, but that font does not have that option, just a box. I could change the font and probably should as it is too ... (as goon said) childish, and I kinda see his point, but then again it's playfull and I have a whole section of playful crap and cartoon characters that work well with the logo.

Chris Fullmer

Maybe its a question of how you're trying to sell yourself in general. What is the main image you want to present? It might be possible to get playful work even if you have a fairly serious logo. But if your logo is too playful, will people who want serious designs be turned off? or vice versa?

Maybe the logo switches on each page? That might be too much though and you might start losing your identity if its not constant.

Chris