2005, January 21
Removed alternative content for browser that do not support frames. Removed gratuitous Flash intro and moved it to web animation section. Next on the hit-list is changing this entire site to use CSS.2005, January 20
Made additions to web animation and web design & production services pages.2005, January 18
Decided, even though it's only been six years, that it was time to update the site and so began tearing it apart. I think it’s due for a complete design overhaul, but first I need to implement stylesheets, so that the overhaul isn't such a monumental process. Non-frames support is destined for the trash bin.1999, March 11
Changed all the illustrations in the “Gradients on a Path with CorelDRAW” article to Flash content (Flash/Frames version of the site, only), some with interactive animation. Immediate net result is faster download, as most files are considerably smaller than bitmapped counterparts, even those with animation.1998, December 11
Installed a different, and better, detection script to determine the presence of the Flash plug-in/ActiveX control.Modified opening Flash introduction to no longer be full browser window, but of a fixed size (too much drag on the CPU at larger sizes).
1998, September 23
Finally just removed the “Guestbook” button, since it had been a long enough time without ever being able to find a satisfactory solution. And, yeah, I know, the “About” button, on the non-frames version, now rotates the wrong way for it’s position, but it will have to do; far more effort than it’s worth to totally redo the animated GIF file.Also, modified the Shockwave Flash navigation in the frames version of the site — a couple tweaks in addition to removing the “Guestbook” button.
Added the “Get Shockwave” button, and appropriate link, to the entry-point page.
Added an interim page to which the “FRAMES” link goes, before loading up the navigation system and frameset.
1998, April 24
A friend of mine (not to mention, a fellow Texan), Jim Hart, of Electronic Publishing Solutions, brought to my attention a typographical error in one of my articles, Color Primer: In Living Color. Though the text was correct, in some places, the formula for calculating the number of gray levels was stated as ( ( d.p.i. / l.p.i. ) x 2 ) ) + 1. This is incorrect—the multiplication sign should have been a caret, indicating a square of the value, and has been changed to the correct formula, which is: ( ( d.p.i. / l.p.i. ) ^ 2 ) + 1.Also, in viewing the non-frames versions of the pages in Internet Explorer 4.0 (for the first time), I became aware that, unlike IE 3.0, if the TOPMARGIN and LEFTMARGIN properties are omitted from the BODY tag, it does not assume default values of zero for both, but rather assumes some relatively large positive value, thus causing all of my non-frames pages to shift down and to the right. This caused some of the page to format incorrectly, plus it pushed the “About” button down “below the fold” of the first screen, when viewed at 640 x 480. This has been remedied through the inclusion of both margin properties in the respective BODY tags of all non-frames pages. Ah, the joys of developing for the web — Never a better application of the metaphor “shooting at a moving target.”
1998, January 29
Added extensive material in two sections, under Services, for Web design & production and Web animation, showing many samples of prior work.Changed directory structure of entire site (not that you’ll be able to tell, but it sure makes the FTP process easier).
To most sub-level pages I have added a mini-navigation system at the top and bottom of the page to make it a little easier to move around in the sub-levels without continually have to go back to higher levels before “drilling down.” For those who have trouble with “symbology,” the legend is as follows:
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Previous sample this level |
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Next sample this level |
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Back up one level |
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Zoom (200% size) |
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Full size (Usually 100% size) |
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Half size (usually 50% size) |
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Thumbnail (usually 25% size) |
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Link to site (web samples only) |
The four white mini-navigation buttons for viewing size options do not appear on every sub-level page — only when that particular sample has that size option. If you are already viewing the size represented by a particular mini-navigation button, the button will appear gray, and will not operate as a link:
1998, January 23
Added section, under Services, for Web Design & Production showing samples of static and animated elements, as well as screen shots of (and links to) full sites.Removed the Authenticode download link from the frames-version home page, since, if IE generated the error, this part of the page couldn’t be seen anyway (duh).
Removed the link that forces Netscape to reload the plug-ins because, like the aforementioned Authenticode snafu, if the plug-in isn’t already loaded, you can’ see the link (double-duh).
Made the entry point for the site the non-frames version in order to place the Authenticode download link and Netscape plug-in reload link in an area viewable to both browsers.
1998, January 21
Frames version now has note added pertaining to Authenticode Certificate errors. It was brought to my attention that the Shockwave files, on the frames site, were somehow generating an error message, in Internet Explorer only, indicating that their "Authenticode Certificate" was out of date. What this means is not that there is anything wrong with the Shockwave files; what's really going on is that there’s something wrong with Internet Explorer (in my best deadpan monotone voice: “boy, are we surprised”). For any version of Internet Explorer downloaded/installed prior to June 30, 1997, the Authenticode has expired. The current version is Authenticode 2.0, and is available for download from Microsoft at http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/authentall2.htm.Added a clickable item on the main content page to reload Netscape plug-ins. This is for those who have just downloaded and installed the Shockwave player, so that they need not exit Netscape and relaunch in order to avail themselves of the plug-in.
Also brought to my attention was that the Roswell link, under “Paranormal/Extra Terrestrial” generated a 404 error. I have remarked out the link and noted the inactive status, pending notification from the Roswell site hosts (they have been alerted) of a new URL. At present, the Roswell site seems to have vanished off the face of the Earth, more than likely, a victim of alien abduction.
1998, January 20
Fixed the “Frames” link at the top of the navigation buttons on the non-frames pages. (It was linking to the Articles section, instead of the reinstating frames.) Also eliminated redundant linking on non-frames pages (disabled links for navigation buttons for pages presently showing).1998, January 19
In the interest of people who may be revisiting this site, I have now added this “What’s New?” section.1998, January 18
Finally finished reworking the Wealth of Information pages, under the Links section, and put them up on the site. These are links to a wide variety of web sites, not all of which I have yet visited. Some of the links may be old and incorrect. If you encounter any such, and are so inclined, please let me know by email. Thanks. Also made the Links page active instead of just a placeholder. Will soon be adding favorite links, as well.1998, January 16
Added a third item to the Articles section: “Fluid Fountain Fills,” that explains a problem that can occur with gradient fills going from Black to a color (if not done just so), when output is intended for print. This is a quick read.1998, January 15
Added a second item to the Articles section: “Color Primer: In Living Color,” which is an extensive discussion of color theory (subtractive and additive concepts discussed), as well as an introduction to trapping (for people using color in projects intended for print media).1998, January 13
Added first of Articles: “Gradients on a Path with CorelDRAW,” as well as making the Articles page, itself, something more than just a placeholder. And since this is now a more-or-less active site, have removed the old site at NWRain, with a redirect to this site. This site also now has both frames and non-frames versions.
Copyright ©2005 by Byron Canfield