My userbar styles

Which one do you like the best?

#1 [img width=300 height=20]http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3844/userbar2jp5.jpg[/img]

#2 [img width=300 height=20]http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/2318/userbar2zv2.jpg[/img]

#3 [img width=300 height=20]http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/5015/userbar2kj2.jpg[/img]

Please vote because I need to decide which style to use on my next userbars.

Thank you

 

I voted option 2 but it is really up to you, whichever you like. If you want to make it for someone else, ask that person!

 

# 2 because I like everything to appear to be on one plane. # 1 and 2 look fine on their own but once you add a sig they start to look bad as they pile up

 

3threetres3333threethreethree!

3-d and lack of both work for this particular user bar, but I like the third one the best.

One tip, you may want to highlight the focal a bit more, try running it through Filters->Other->Highpast->A low pixel after an apply image, and then set the new layer as low opacity normal, linear dodge, or soft light. You can also turn up contrast and down saturation.

...3

 

What is focal?
Can you explain me that procedure step by step?

 

Focal is basically what the person sees first.

My best example would be this sentence right here.

When you're scanning over the entire thread the sentence above will always catch your eye, something in your user bar should also represent this. In this case I think the eyes are great focals.

My suggestion was more to bring out vividness of the whole picture rather than just the focal, but I think it still will work wonders.

Take your image in photoshop (er... I assume you have PS, if you have another program like GIMP it's around the same procedure) and create a new layer. Press the Image->Apply Image. In the new layer you should get the your entire picture copied. Go to the Filters tab->Others->Highpast and you should get a pop-up. The default should be 10px and that's fine, but for a user bar I would go smaller, once again 10 would work fine at first, play with it later. Then your user bar should look grayish, that's fine. Change the layer setting to soft light rather than normal and wua-la, instant contrast. You can do linear dodge, but you'll have to play with the opacity and fill settings, soft-light is much easier.

 

I get what the focal is now. Great way of showing it. LOL
I tried to make eyes the focals but I didn't know how. Great advice. I'll try that in the morning.
owerup: for your help

 

the eyes were what i looked at when i first saw them.

i voted one because i like the slanted bars-they make it look... intelligent. i also love anything 3d.

 

I voted 3. Simplicity is underrated.

 

i agree, 3 is best for me. but when i first looked at them they actually looked the same, and it took a brief moment before i noticed the difference, so i don't think it matters greatly, all 3 are pretty good

 

This is very true, less is more!

 

Looks like the number 3 is popular...