[robbydesigns]

Thanks for having a look.
Here's my latest, and last, effort for trying to earn a few pennies from ThemeForest and here's their rejection email:

"=== Why We've Declined Your Submission ===

Your template does not provide the necessary design quality to compete in the marketplace at this time and it will need significant improvements.

The idea is great and well executed, unfortunately due to our high design standards we're not able to approve this for now.

As higher quality designs become available in the marketplace, approval requirements will increase to maintain appropriate marketplace quality.

1.Your template has a good start but, as we have high standards, you will need to make some additional improvements in overall aesthetics and aspects such as typography, graphics, and spacing.

2. There are a few inconsistent spacing/padding issues throughout the design. I’d like you to go over it with a fine toothed comb and weed out these basic design issues.

3. Overall template's typography needs additional refinements and improvements before it will be ready for Theme Forest. The template will need also improvements in visual hierarchy primarily using typographic elements such as headings."

Take a look: http://robbydesigns....s/lunardesigns/


.

This post has been edited by robbydesigns: 29 November 2011 - 07:48 AM

[zed]

not sure where you get your thread title from, seems they gave a pretty fair reason. Why not take that on board?

[brightonmike]

Ok Robby - I'm going to be really picky here. If you're not prepared for this, don't read any further. However, these should serve as useful pointers.

First off, the hire circle does not sit comfortably with the header and navigation. It''s a bit mis-aligned. Think about the vertical space it's occupying.

Your CTA header is a nice idea, but my oh my it's confusing. I keep getting lost as to where to read. It doesn't work mate. It's too complicated, made even worse by the lorem ipsum below it. And it's an image. Why an image? You could achieve this in CSS - no question.

Why are portfolio and skills on the same page when other sections are given separate pages? If skills is secondary, then reflect this with a smaller, different header style. The portfolio section is very cramped. Consider splitting these two.

The navigation is not well thought out. If I'm on the contact page, to go to the about page, I have to go home and then go down again. It's clumsy and not user friendly.

Robby, aesthetically, this is great. But you have problems with the layout - which at times is spacious, but then other times very cramped. You also have problems with that jumbled text on the home page - it just doesn't work for me. I also believe you have some contrast issues and some mis-alignment issues on the header.

There are lots of positives here - but I'm outlining the bad bits because I hope they are some of the issues that are stopping you succeeding in your submission. Good luck!

This post has been edited by brightonmike: 29 November 2011 - 08:58 AM

[Jason Dexter]

Pretty much what Mike said. The idea is fantastic, and looks excellent, but one closer inspection there are few issues which themeforest have hit upon.

There's no need for the logo to be an image, when all the other headers are the same style and font, but they're text. You have to go back to the top, to then select another section, or scroll to it. It's not consistent in that sense.

I like what you're trying to do with the typography on the right, the "we are lunar design..." but firstly it's an image, secondly it's utterly confusing and thirdly, it's poorly executed. I like that you've attempted it, but creating something like that, that works, can be a nightmare. You need to rethink it.


On the section headers, the "about" title has a tight white drop shadow, but "contact us" is faded a little. Tighten it up

Also, it would be nice that if I scroll down to the contact, then my whole screen is taken up by that section. Not sure if that would be feasible, but I don't see why it can't.

Overall, and execution is great. I love the colours and the overall theme, but it does lack a certain attention to detail

[brightonmike]

I would also say that generally speaking the headers are just too big.

Jason, to make sections occupy full height of a screen, you need to use jQuery. I did this on my new site, but some people didn't like it.

Works in the same way that Tumblr does. http://www.shokadu.co.uk

[robbydesigns]

Thanks for the comments guys, appreciate the feedback and tips.
I can make the Contact section fill a screen with min-height but that would leave a lot of room to fill and this design is meant for people like me who don't have much to say on their website (but yap on & on in forums..touche).
The CTA, I will remove some of the text and swap with lorem ipsum, that way I'm not to blame if it isn't easy to read. The rotating badge needs to stay as an image as it rotates though I will change the sub-headings to match.
As for the to Top button, I feel there are only 4 sections to this template so the user can choose to scroll manually or 'jump about'; it's only four small sections so I'd rather not go with a fixed heading.

I will have a look at this template again but it sounds more like my lack of skill than silly mistakes so it will probably go the way of most of my designs - recycle bin.

[brightonmike]

robbydesigns, on 30 November 2011 - 10:00 AM, said:

The rotating badge needs to stay as an image as it rotates

O rly?

http://jsfiddle.net/...onmike/2xjnS/3/

robbydesigns, on 30 November 2011 - 10:00 AM, said:

I can make the Contact section fill a screen with min-height but that would leave a lot of room to fill and this design is meant for people like me.

This is why your design is not meeting TF requirements. You need to design to the TF specification, not yours. Stop designing for "people like you" and start designing for TF.

Also, I tinkered with your site and added the min-height, and it's fine. Space is a good thing, you don't need to fill it just because it's there.

robbydesigns, on 30 November 2011 - 10:00 AM, said:

As for the to Top button, I feel there are only 4 sections to this template so the user can choose to scroll manually or 'jump about'; it's only four small sections so I'd rather not go with a fixed heading.

If there are buttons, as you have, the user may not know to scroll. I'm sorry but the way you have it setup now is just bad for usability. I really think it needs to change.

This post has been edited by brightonmike: 30 November 2011 - 11:06 AM

[oakleaves]

Quote

"The idea is great and well executed, unfortunately due to our high design standards we're not able to approve this for now."

That's funny, I've seen worse stuff on themeforest.

I think this is what they call a 'soft rejection'. Once you deal with the typography and make a few tweaks I'm sure it will make it.

This post has been edited by oakleaves: 30 November 2011 - 11:18 AM

[robbydesigns]

brightonmike, on 30 November 2011 - 10:59 AM, said:

O rly?

http://jsfiddle.net/...onmike/2xjnS/3/

Nice 'trick' but the font goes glitchy in Chrome when rotated.

[oakleaves]

I'm wondering if the key to themeforest is to be creative to get the sales but also play it a bit safe on the usability front - tried and tested, cross-browser, blah blah.

I think I'll have a bash at it this week and see if they take my stuff..

[brightonmike]

robbydesigns, on 30 November 2011 - 11:33 AM, said:

Nice 'trick' but the font goes glitchy in Chrome when rotated.

It's not a trick, it's a viable alternative and proof that you don't have to use an image. The glitching is mainly due to the font, other fonts work better.

[pilgrim_fgau]

brightonmike, on 30 November 2011 - 11:42 AM, said:

It's not a trick, it's a viable alternative and proof that you don't have to use an image. The glitching is mainly due to the font, other fonts work better.

But if it was an image it wouldnt be glitchy no matter what the font, so why would you create it using text when it is only creating more work for yourself? and that is a question and me not trying to be smart, as I would like to know why favour the text route instead of an image?

[brightonmike]

Can you see any sentence above where I have said that he should use it instead of the image?

I simply demonstrated that it does not have to be an image. It can be done without an image. And more work? Are you being serious? It took me about 30 seconds to make that.

[robbydesigns]

@oakleaves: ThemeForest only seem to accept the same designs over and over (think DreamTemplate.com)so keep it boring and you'll be alright

@pilgrim_fgau I agree, it's a neat trick but this template will be for sale somewhere and no doubt a buyer will decide to change the font used in the rotating badge then blame it on me when all of a sudden the font looks glitchy on rotation; thus I'd rather keep it as an image.

Another few hours and I'll upload an updated version, I've made a fair few changes though I have to admit I'm not happy with the text-shadow on the major headings so that's a bug bear right now.

Again, thanks everyone for your help, I appreciate all comments good and 'bad', I am here to learn where I'm going wrong.

[oakleaves]

robbydesigns, on 30 November 2011 - 12:04 PM, said:

@oakleaves: ThemeForest only seem to accept the same designs over and over (think DreamTemplate.com)so keep it boring and you'll be alright

ha ha. upset a little?

Must admit, I'm a little confused though. This theme seems almost the same as your portfolio theme thread?

http://www.webdesign...760#entry359760

On that thread I got the impression you weren't interested in themeforest anyway?

Quote

as for my designs I just have a crazy imagination I guess..oh yeah..and I always avoid making the sort of stuff they sell on the Forest..

This post has been edited by oakleaves: 30 November 2011 - 12:20 PM

[robbydesigns]

oakleaves, on 30 November 2011 - 12:14 PM, said:

ha ha. upset a little?

Must admit, I'm a little confused though. This theme seems almost the same as your portfolio theme thread?

http://www.webdesign...760#entry359760

On that thread I got the impression you weren't interested in themeforest anyway?

Not upset, just stating a fact I have always believed.
Yes, this is a new version of what was in the running to be my own site.

[robbydesigns]

Updated!

Was: http://robbydesigns....s/lunardesigns/

V2.0: http://robbydesigns....lunardesignsv2/

Most of the edits were subtle.

[J.P]

robbydesigns, on 30 November 2011 - 12:46 PM, said:

Updated!

Was: http://robbydesigns....s/lunardesigns/

V2.0: http://robbydesigns....lunardesignsv2/

Most of the edits were subtle.

Spacing is much better, I can still see some improvements.

1. Can't the top logo use CSS3 rather than an image, you've done it in the footer?

2. Unnecessary mark-up in the stylesheet, keep the theme clean and remove any properties than achieve nothing.

Your typography code:

bigstart .typo { 
background-attachment: scroll;
background-clip: border-box;
background-color: transparent;
background-image: url("http://robbydesigns.com/theme-previews/lunardesignsv2/images/typography.gif");
background-origin: padding-box;
background-position: 100% 0%;
background-repeat: no-repeat;
background-size: auto;
display: block;
float: right;
height: 222px;
margin-bottom: 10px;
margin-left: 0px;
margin-right: 0px;
margin-top: 70px;
text-indent: -5000px;
width: 620px;
}

Could also be:

bigstart .typo { 
float: right;
width: 620px;
height: 222px;
background: url("http://robbydesigns.com/theme-previews/lunardesignsv2/images/typography.gif") no-repeat top;
margin: 70px 0px 0px 10px;
text-indent: -5000px;
}

I haven't tested this so it might need adjusting slightly.

Call it OCD but I tend to place some properties in a certain order, it just makes the code a bit quicker to browse over.

For example:

Floats first - lets the developer know its a floated element.
Width - Lets the developer know there is a width applied.
Height - Lets the developer know there is a height applied.
Anything else.

3. Navigation breaks slightly in IE7 and I mean slightly, I would fix this to increase the range of browsers.

Apart from that it's looking really good.

[robbydesigns]

Thanks for the tips, I tried the H1 as text but it just goofs out, tbh I've lost interest in this template now, ThemeForest will always find an excuse to reject it after I fell out with their bum-chum.

[brightonmike]

Their bum-chum lol?!

[robbydesigns]

Ok, my last ditch effort. Changed the logo from an image to text (thanks J.P), made the button backgrounds darker (ThemeForest have bad eyesight), made the heading tags font weight normal, did a few small padding adjustments etc.
I think the main font could be better (font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;)...anyway, what do you all think?

New Preview URL: http://robbydesigns....lunardesignsv3/

This post has been edited by robbydesigns: 02 December 2011 - 07:54 AM

[rallport]

robbydesigns, on 01 December 2011 - 12:14 PM, said:

Thanks for the tips, I tried the H1 as text but it just goofs out, tbh I've lost interest in this template now, ThemeForest will always find an excuse to reject it after I fell out with their bum-chum.

I've never tried submitting anything to themeforest, but am pretty shocked they rejected your submission as it;s really good.

Not sure how they weight things up, as some of the stuff that ends up on there is awful.

[MikeChipshop]

Think of theme forest like a mainstream record producer. They're only interested in churning out pop records. Nothing new or nothing interesting.

Although you got a soft rejection which isn't bad. Clean up. The issues and it should be cool.

[Beavy]

What a pain, I just get my head round HTML / CSS then they bring a new one out, lol. Ahh well ile just have a read up

[robbydesigns]

Thanks guys, the last preview (http://robbydesigns....lunardesignsv3/) will be my last as I don't think ThemeForest will ever be happy with this template as it just doesn't look like a 5minute edit of something from DreamTemplate (oooh, bitchy!).

I'll upload it to Mojo-Themes so, given their review speed, expect it for sale by Novemeber 2024

[robbydesigns]

Ok, here it is: http://robbydesigns....lunardesignsv4/

I appreciate everyone's tips and opinions and have done most of them as you can see. So...you like?
jQuery trouble though - you can see the colorbox title on hover and I can't find a fix.

[InspiredStudio]

I was reading before about submitting to Theme forest and they don't like Lorem Ipsum. They want people to write custom text in all their pages. That might not be the reason you're getting rejected though.

[oakleaves]

First person to sell over $1million worth of themes on theme forest, apparently

http://themeforest.net/user/Kriesi

[robbydesigns]

$1million!!

btw, upped it to TF again, will let you know.

This post has been edited by robbydesigns: 09 December 2011 - 12:02 PM

[Tom J.]

I really like it, Robby. S'right up my street design-wise. I do think there are a few rough edges to be worked out (like the address on the contact page; a little obscured by the BG) but other than that it's tasty.

[robbydesigns]

Tom J., on 09 December 2011 - 01:07 PM, said:

I really like it, Robby. S'right up my street design-wise. I do think there are a few rough edges to be worked out (like the address on the contact page; a little obscured by the BG) but other than that it's tasty.

Thanks buddy; I may just move those stars again to make it easier for people to read. I reupped it to TF and got a soft rejection and told a url to watch a Screencast but when I clicked it all I saw was an advert for some random crap(!).

[robbydesigns]

Ok everyone, thanks for your help; here's the final preview: http://robbydesigns..../lunar-designs/ I give up now, it probably wont sell too well and I've already invested too much time in it seeing as it's apparanetly not good enough anyway.
I've uploaded it to Mojo-Themes so look out for it there real soon.

[oakleaves]

Hope it goes well

[MikeChipshop]

I think it's a really nice piece of work with a lovely feel to it but that's the issue.
It's not generic enough, it's not 'templaty' enough!

I'd skip the idea of making a template, with those sort of skills you could get a job with a decent agency making top mullar

[robbydesigns]

Thanks oakleaves & MikeChipShop : MikeChipShop; I have tried design agencies before got a positive reply but no work. Never mind; I'll keep trying.

[porkchops]

I think it's important to note that ThemeForest (if they aren't playing favorites) only accepts work that is incredibly polished (though not necessarily good) and provide customization options. I've seem some super flashy things that make record sales which are pretty basic layouts, but they have a lot of flexibility for the buyer and are generally refined.

Keep in mind the market of ThemeForest. They aren't selling to designers, they are selling to developers who need something pretty & flashy or a complete novice who doesn't know what good design is.

[Chosen]

But the spacing still isn't in sync... TF doesn't like it.
I lack the words to describe thus I'll illustrate it with a picture.
http://www.upload.ee...8/previewcz.png
green = good sync, yellow = could use work, red = bad/eyecatchingly bad
.. Just my 2cents.

[brightonmike]

I think Mike/Pork hit the nail on the head and I guess it's a similar point to what I was trying to make.

It's not bad work. It's visually lovely.

But that isn't what TF wants. Which is a shame tbh.

[robbydesigns]

@Chosen, you're looking at my site buddy (new design soon btw); the template is at:
http://robbydesigns..../lunar-designs/

@porkchops Great point well made; I guess the sort of buyer who'd be interested in this wouldn't really want to edit it much which probably means that trying to sell it as a template is going to be tricky.

Anyway, after all the great advice I got from you all (thanks very much) I reupped it to TF and got turned down for this section (image by TF reviewer): http://screencast.com/t/87kfunfj I'm guessing they want more contrast..?

[Boyles Web Design]

I agree with them on the contrast part. The black is hard to read on that blue. Try to lighten the blue up to a more aqua kind of tone and it should read and look better.

I would go with somthing around #87d1f3.

This post has been edited by Boyles Web Design: 21 December 2011 - 02:22 PM