Display thumbs and main image on same page?

[mightyatom]

Hope you 'guys' can help with my site!

My portfolio site (first attempt at web designer, so I'm no pro!) is well over 2 years old now and I want to revamp the lot.

My initial site contains many individual pages, including a page for each set of thumbs (and there are many categories) plus a page for each enlarged thumb. So there are loads of images and files as you can imagine!

However, I've learned a lot since then and now know what I'd really like, not just for ease of editing and organising but also as a personal preference: I don't like loads of page changing or new windows opening/pop-ups. Just my opinion!

I'd like to make it into an easy-to-use gallery?
I want to always have the 'thumbs' page/s with small images (and possibly text?) on display AND allow the visitor to either click or rollover the thumb and see the enlargement on the same page.
(Sorry - I'm not very good at describing my ideas sometimes!)

For example:
Imagine a square (or circle) with lots of little squares (or circles) surrounding it - like a daisy.

The visitor would select a small image/thumbnail on the ouside either by click or rollover effect and the detailed/enlarged version would appear in the large centre shape. (I really like the rollover idea, I admit!) Not quite sure where I'd put the text description of each item - that depends on the final idea.

Hope that make sense?

In all, I want to minimise the viewer's waiting, clean up the site and save myself a lot of tedious work (and web space) at the same time! Nice, clean and easy to navigate. I like those kinda sites: sadly I just can't find any examples right now.
I don't mind hard work to achieve that!

Seems a simple enough idea to me but, although I've searched for the formula, I'm not qite sure what to look for! Is it Flash, javascript? I dunno...

Any ideas would be very welcome! Even some example sites?
Many, many Thanks!

[Mr J]

For some Javascript galleries have a look here, may give you some ideas

www.huntingground.freeserve.co.uk/scripts/img_gal3_v3.htm

[mightyatom]

MrJ!! You are a diamond!

I just checked out your suggestion and guess what?
That's exactly what I've been looking for!! I'm quite excited about it!

Next problem is: how the hell do I do it coz it looks a bit complex for me! The scripts I've used so far are for 'no right click' and keeping the background from scrolling with the page! (S'pose it's a start eh?) :(

Don't worry, I don't expect you to help me through it! I'll go through the Huntingground stuff and see what I can do. If I need help (and I will), there's a 'contact me' link on it which I may have to use!! (On saying that... it would reassuring to know that someone's there for me...) :rolleyes:

[mindlessLemming]

Just one small side note:

When you implement this, can you PLEEEAAASE set the display DIV with a high z-index and make it stay open until the user chooses (little 'x' in the corner is easy enough).
When I viewed this site from dial-up (56k) I nearly quite before the main image finished loading, only to accidently click off the img and lose the thing forever! Very frustrating.

[Mr J]

mightyatom

If I can help I will :)


mindlessLemming

I have incorporated a function so that if you double click on the page body you are taken back to the index page but I'll see what I can do next time I update that page.

Image size is a major issue when downloading on 56K


:thumbsup:

[mightyatom]

Dear friends,
The dial-up issue is a good point which I'll keep in mind for my new site idea! Although I'm now on Broadband, I haven't forgotten dial-up and I do consider this when I try to design, especially coz I use loads of graphics.

I like the click idea. Not entirely sure bout the 'high z index' thing but I think I know what you're getting at: I'll let you know when I get to that stage - you can help me!
I'm gonna start messing around with some images soon - bear with me guys: this may take some time! :o but it'll be worth it!
Many cheers and beers!