Hello all - a status update. Phase 1 of the redevelopment has been implemented.

Goal: Speed up Jungle Life!

How? Using a combination of PHP and DOM scripting to create a thumbnail image gallery.

First, I'm using PHP to resize larger images into thumbnails - This has been accomplished with a customized version of a very old script from evolt.org. Using this script I can resize images to any dimension I choose - in this case a thumbnail.

Second, I implemented a customized version of Litebox v1.0 (a scaled-down version of Lightbox 2.0) to turn the PHP thumbnails into clickable gallery overlays.

Third, I enhanced the Litebox script using Muffin Research Lab's getElementsByClassName Deluxe Edition script to hide the thumbnails until the page is fully loaded. I then used the very nifty Ajax loading gif generator to extend this aesthetically.

These new features have been tested in Windows XP using IE 6, IE 7, FF 1.5 and FF 2. Once I get access to a Mac I will begin Safari testing.

I'm hoping people will figure out how to use this feature intuitively but there will likely be some tweaking while I work on usability. In short, click the thumbnails to launch the gallery and either use your keyboard or mouse to navigate through subsequent images.

Example posts to play with this feature have been implemented on: Jungle Life Featured Interview: Self Edge San Francisco, Jungle Life x Nike ID = Air Max 90 Mud, Triple 5 Soul Women's Collection Fall 2006, Triple 5 Soul Menswear Fall 2006, and Saint Alfred Fall 2006 @ Kicks Hawaii.

Ironically, the most noticeable change around here is the new Squidfingers pattern (which I've inverted). The old Squidfingers background was nice but I've been using that one for years and I thought it was time to get serious and go bold. Which leads me to...

What's next?
Revising the visual aesthetic. 800 x 600 minimal resolution is dead. Long live 1024 x 768!

Stay tuned and thanks for your patience....
Shimone @ Jungle Life

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