Genes's Suggestions
I fiddled with the skeleton website (I used the 'print screen' function to generate a bitmap of the website), and placed bits of artwork over the bitmap version of the website.
I don't know any programming but have the needed software to generate a HTML version of the attached jpeg. The width is 1440 pixels...
It would possibly be better that I provide the graphics as 'slices' - i.e. the Main Banner as a separate image file, the 'Silver Lining' at the bottom of the Main Banner can be provided as a small bitmap image measuring 30 pixels high x 5 pixels wide (which is then repeated 288 times (5 pixels x 288 = 1440), and the top 'Black Bar'... can be rendered via simple HTML without any need for a bitmap image. The text in the 'Silver Lining' & 'Black Bar' is HTML.
The 'Side Bar' should be done in HTML and hopefully not a bitmap - if need be it should be created the same way as the 'Silver Lining'.
So if you'd be O.K. using HTML to position the various bits of bitmap images to generate the correct layout - then let me know and I'll supply the bits & pieces.
On the jpeg illustrating the above I've indicated the various areas / slices as follows:
Main Banner - 1
Black Bar - 2
Silver Lining - 3
Side Bar - 4
I envisioned the following possible use for the areas marked 2 & 3.
Area 3: Here breaking news could be 'streamed' across running right to left... and other bits of marketing... maybe a 'Have your say' or 'Your Product Here' or 'Your Services Here' promt... whereby someone can SMS to the number provided and have a quick bit of news/comment or even their wares/services/products displayed in Area 2.
Perhaps charge R3 for comments... and R5 - R10 for people wishing to advertise... These messages are then displayed mixed in with everyone else's comments, etc. for a 7 day period. Ideally all SMS's would be 'censored' - so that all those crazy Jacob Zuma supporters don't end up swamping the message area with "Long Live Comrade Zuma! Viva!" type messages - but then again why not, if someone pays 3 bucks... You'll be the one laughing in the end.
This will keep people quite busy... there'll be 2 extra areas to take note of and read...
I can even animate the 'Main Banner' Area 1... if I have enough time to polish up on my Macromedia Flash skills... and generate a Flash Movie File.
I hope the above makes sense...
I'm sort of typing as I'm thinking...
That's all from me... let me know what you think - and I'll try and get to it ASAP.
(NB: The strange dark banner area to the right of the logo is actually the barrel of an AK47 - but this is not easily apparent! Jan)
These are the areas/slices/breakdown Gene refers to in his text above:-
This is how Gene envisages it it:-
