Jumbotron background

[glenl]

From @dominicus in a group email:

I don't care for the faded sheet music background at top. I find it distracting, plus impacts the readability of text elements. Layering these readable elements is not good practice.

The prototype 2 jumbotron background has the faded sheet music graphic. This issue's purpose is to:

• drive a discussion on background ideas
• change it to the previous light gray background in prototype #3 if no clear idea emerges from the previous bullet

[PaulMorris]

I was experimenting with this background mainly as a way to add some visual interest / visual reference to music notation (which I think would be nice to have, one way or another, maybe in the logo?), also in the interest of not looking too much like the generic/default bootstrap (although maybe that's fine). Anyway, if the consensus is against it, so be it.

[glenl]

I like having some graphical interest and I understand Javier's point that text against graphics can seem distracting. You understand that as well: blurring the background, putting it on the diagonal. To me, the gray in proto 1 seemed stark and unwelcoming and the background graphics were, IMO, a step in a good direction and gave a hint to the purpose of the site.

The logo is NOT out-of-bounds for suggestions, improvement, or replacement --- have at it.

The only text the background graphic confuses is the "Advanced Search" link under the search and there is a pull down menu link for that.

[dominicus]

Adding music-themed graphic elements to jibe with this new modern template could be its own tracked discussion. One could consider:

• section dividers
• using some music-type font for "Browse By" titles.
• adding a block with a sheet-music cutout inviting visitors to a separate page, where we present examples of what makes Mutopia editions different from scans and other typesetting software, etc.

For the logo background, I agree light gray looks default and not exciting. I wouldn't hold up going live with gray.

One could use a lighter hue of the blue in the Mutopia (rgb 190.250.250):

Or a lighter hue of the complementary color for contrast (color="#ff7755"):

Or ivory / cream light yellow (color="e2dab7"):

Of these, my vote would be on cream light yellow as superior to gray.

What do others think?

[ksnortum]

Personally, I liked the "music" background, and the only trouble I had with it was that "Advanced Search" sort of disappears, as was mentioned. Maybe a white background for "Advanced Search" would be enough.

I think having some music-themed element, at least, is a good idea.

[dominicus]

New website is now live. Future improvements may be best dealt with in context of overall site design/theme, so I suggest closing this issue.