One Small Step Into Graphic Design...

In case the image doesn't show up, here are two different links to the image... I've been having trouble with my hosts...

http://www31.brinkster.com/mikejeannotte/head.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/targetzionstudios/head.jpg

Oh, don't do it for me, baby, do it for yourself!

It's looking better, yes. Still pretty heavy on that shadow. Try reducing the opacity or changing the colour of the shadow. You could fade the grid off, too.

SPREAD YOUR CREATIVE WINGS!

Yip, looks good. And yes fade the grid off the top, it looks really weird the way it just stops.

I want to do that, but I'm still learning the whole opacity thing in Photoshop... I'm working on it right now... And what may I ask is wrong with the shadow? lol... I think it adds a little bit to the perspective effect I have going there. Perhaps I'm wrong... lol... I'll update in a sec, with a new image with a faded grid thing. [Don't ask why I'm addicted to that stupid grid thing, I dunno either, it's just so handy sometimes]

If I used a layer mask and a gradient [on the grid] would that work?

Here's an idea: No Grid

Here it is: Faded Grids & The Shadow Is Red-ish Now

What's the verdict, kiddies?

THat looks okay but could still use some improvement. The best thing you could do for this would be to find a more unique font for the logo text. That would be a massive improvement. The other problem I see is the right hand side. That curve with the URL doesn't look good at all. I don't have any brilliant ideas as to what you could put there. You could go for a minimalist look and leave it blank. Or, make that target really big, fade it out into the background, and have it poking up above the navbar...

Also do something about that checkered background so it doesn't stop in the middle of nowhere. And bump the "contact us" in a little bit so that the margin is the same as it is on the other side of the navbar (beside "home"). The problem with the shadow is that it's too dark, that's all. Check your filter settings to change that.

Edit: This was written as you were posting the updated versions above. The second option looks better with the shadow and faded grid. Although, I don't see why it needs to be there anyway...

Yeah, I'm dreading the 'contact us' button thing... I've been meaning to get at it for awhile, but it requires changing the table sizes, and just about every other size involved with the site... I'm not looking forward to it, but it'll happen sooner or later...

*Turns back around where the Drawing Board leers at me with devilish eyes of death*

Here it is in all it's glory... Faded the shadow out more, extended the button margin...

If you love, need the grid, put it above the navbar entirely. It wouldn't be entirely inappropriate with your heading?

As for the shadow on that red target, it's getting better, lol. You do want a shadow for perspective but if the shadow is the main thing you see (and it's not a shadow of something funny, but rather a shadow that hides), that's not so good. Things are very subjective, but also most design touches are subtle. You want people to see the target, not the dark shadow.

While I'm on the target, I would like it to actually be targeting something. At the moment it targets "Targ"... ?! Targ? What's a targ? My subconscious mind is curious, but also feels a disconnect with the site. Ideally, it would target something in particular, say, ZION. Or possibly the whole word "target". Since you have the little targets in the Zion and Studio, perhaps the whole word target would be better, anyway?

I had considered that, but my main opposition is size... If I make the target big enough to enclose the entire word, it becomes too big for visibility, and I don't want to enlarge the overall size... Lemme toss it around in Photoshop a bit and I'll post my results in just a little bit...

Also, the other reason I had it in it's current position, is to show the perspective... The target is surrounding the word, but it's not easy to create the illusion of something going behind the word without redrawing it in place, at least not that I know of... If you've an easier way, let me know, I'd be very interested in hearing... Would make things a hell of a lot easier on me...

Perhaps put the text BELOW the target? Instead of over it? And line up the cross-bar on the right with the horizontal stroke in the e?

Do play.

*playing*

If anyone feels the desire to play around, you can access the components I'm using to make this and whip something up by right clicking HERE and clicking "Save Target As..."

Did you mean like this:
?

Or how's about this:
?

I suck at graphics so I'm useless here lol but the scope line on the 'e' on some of them is making the 'e' hard to read, either make the traget scope wider or smaller

how's about is looking better, lol. Clearer, a more concise and more easily conveyed concept.

I hope you're making lots of copies...

Oh I am... lol...