Help with simple Backgroud image

[pengrus]

I am a happy customer at designoutpost.com. So far, I have two contests held here:

The manetwork.org
and
digital photography forums

I wonder if anyone could help me with a background image on the header that I used with Digital Photography Forum at: http://www.photozo.com/forum/

That design was done by Peter, and I am very happy about it. However, the background gradient image that orginally came with the site does not look so good. I feel it is kind of dark and not inviting. The attachment is the back.jpg for this.

I would really like to get help from you on a new background image that could go with the rest (Like the transparent lens, the text, and the black blocks on the left, and the grid mask). I am mainly looking for the color variation and the possible style variation, to get a light, inviting and stylish look. And especially, one version for the main forum (http://www.photozo.com/forum) that is more inviting, light and relaxing, and the other version for the Gallery (http://www.photozo.com/album/) that is neutral, cool (not warm, maybe some kind of blue?) and stylish looking.

I know that I could experiment with this myself, but I don't have that skills and I really trust the artistic eyes of many designers here. Please help me out here. If I chose your ideas/works here, I am willing to compensate your work.

Thanks a lot!

[Palmer]

If it's changed, won't it then not blend with the logo?

[pengrus]

Actually, I have the logo in psd files, and from what I can see, the logo is comprised of the following:

transparent lens
text
black blocks
grid mask

And all of these are put on top of this back.jpg.

If needed, I could post the link to the logo.psd file.

Thanks!

[pengrus]

Could anyone help me on this? :unsure:

[Palmer]

I'll put a link to this in the Designer's forum for you.

[lang]

I think I understand what you're trying to get at, but I'm not completely sure. I went ahead and made 5 different variations of that background image, using the same orange as the primary color. Try those on and see if that's what you were looking for. Apologies ahead of time if I'm way off the mark here. B)

<img src='http://www.mynics.net/dp/dp_bg1.jpg[/img] http://www.mynics.net/dp/dp_bg2.jpg http://www.mynics.net/dp/dp_bg3.jpg http://www.mynics.net/dp/dp_bg4.jpg http://www.mynics.net/dp/dp_bg5.jpg

Note: Those are 5 separate images above. Right-click and save each one.

[pengrus]

Thank you! :tup: I'll give them a try!

[lang]

So Pengrus, did that work out or was I off the mark?

[pengrus]

Lang,

I briefly tried out all of the pictures on, it is kind of light, and does not go well with the background. It is more complicated than I thought. I expect to have more time after one week. And I'll give you some more update. Maybe try some other colors that you think fit.

Again, I really appreciate you helping me out.

[lang]

Yep,

As Palmer initially mentioned, changes to the background may throw off the overall feel.