Myst's Ancestrial Home

Family Viewing

First and foremost, your site, we hope would be able to be seen by anyone no matter what age that visitor is. Best way to think of this is, if your site was a movie what would it be rated. If it is rated R then it is not safe for family viewing.

(*)= You can post a pic rating at this site: IRCA Website Rating Program

Design

Does your site show us originality?

Your site design would show us something about yourself, keep away from that been there done that design. Show us your personality not someone else.

Does your site have a consistent theme from page to page?

We would like to see a consistent theme in each page that we visit, try and keep the background the same, do not have a solid blue background on one page and then frogs on the next, then a fantasy background on the next.

Do you have a skip flash on your flash page?

We have all been to sites that have a flash entry page and while they can make a site look great, sometimes you do not want to have to wait till the movie ends. So if you have a flash entry page give us the option of skipping the flash and going on into your great site.

Does your font color compliment your background?

You have worked hard on your site and the information you have written is just as important to a visitor as your graphics and pictures. So make sure we can read what you have put on your site, have your text color in such a way that your words can be seen. If you have a dark background keep your text color light, same as a light background keep your text color dark.

Is your font style easy to read and consistent from page to page?

I know that great looking font style you found out on the web or bought in the store looks good to you, but your visitor may not have that same font style installed on their computer or they may find it hard to read, so keep your font style in such a way that it can be read by everyone and keep it the same throughout your entire site.

Is your text properly justified and have you used the paragraph tags?

With the hard work you have put in, you want your site to look professional, so you want the text to look the same way so we would like to see your text justified left instead of all in the center. This is the best way to post a more professional look use the paragraph and justify tags in your coding.

Does your images and graphics show a professional appearance and in a table?

Images and graphics look great on your site but having too many on a page or having the bunched toposther gives a cluttered look at takes away from a otherwise great design. What we recommend is that you put your graphics and images in a table(*) this will keep a more organized and professional look about it.

Do you have a back to top button on long pages?

Sometimes you have so much to say and to show someone that the page becomes very long. So on long pages ( more than 3 mouse clicks ) have a back to top button on the page so your visitor does not have to scroll all the way back up to the top. (*)= this is a great place to learn about tables and html coding: Page Tutor

Navigation

Is your navigation in the same place on each page and easily found?

With all the work you have put in on your site you want your visitors to find their way around on your site. It is best that your navigation be in the same place on each page, that way your visitors will know where it is on each page.

Do you have a text version of your Java menu?

There are some great Java menus out there but the bad thing is sometimes they do not work or your visitor may not have Java enabled, so provide a text version on your site for those visitors.

Can you post to any page from any other page or is a site map provided on each page?

Sometimes your visitor want to jump around from page to page, for those that want to do this make sure that each page can be reached from any other page. A site map is a great way of doing this, if you do not want a site map then make sure your menu is on each page.

Do you have a home link on each page?

A visitor sometime needs to post back to your main page when they are looking through your site. So make sure that your main page can be reached from any page on your site.

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Technical

Are your links properly code for internal and external links?

Your links that you have on your site are very important so you want to make sure that if you have a link that goes to other parts of your site that the proper coding is in place (target="_top") same applies to your links to external sites coding should be (target="_blank).

Do you have alt, height and width tags on all images?

We all love to see your images but some do not have the ability to see images so alt tags and height and width tags need to be in place for all graphics and images on your site ( alt="my frog prince" height="433" width="212" ).

Do you have any visible coding on your pages?

The fastest way to turn a great looking design bad is to see visible html coding on the page, please make sure your coding can not be seen.

Do you have your images set as thumbnails for fast loading and opening in a new window?

You want your visitor to be able to see those great graphics and images on your site, in order to do this the proper coding should be in place. We would recommend for loading time that you use thumbnail that allow a visitor to click on the thumbnail and it open in a new window(target="_blank").

Does your site have any popups that you have inserted?

While we do accept applications from sites on free servers and we do understand that many free servers put on popups that you can not control, do not add any popups unless it is required for a particular subject or for compliance for w3c(*) and bobby compliance.
Even though not required if your site is marked as being w3c(*) or bobby compliant it will be checked.

(*)=learn more about w3c and accessibility at Webmates

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Content

Does your site have the proper amount of content and pages?

We would like to see at least 6 pages of content. Content would be a combination of written information and images or written information of at least 3 paragraphs.

Is there any content in guest books or forums that is not family safe?

If on your site you have a forum or a guest book remember that you are ultimately responsible for what is written or showed in it, make sure that it can be looked at by anyone ( see Disqualifiers )

Copyright

Do you have a copyright statement?

To protect your work that you worked on so hard a copyright statement must be included on your site and must be able to be accessed from any page on your site.

Do you have a privacy statement?

The privacy of your visitors information should be a great concern for you and your site. Your visitors would like to know what you do with their information.

Do you show proper credit for images not belonging to you and show permission for use?

We know that some can not make the graphics necessary for a site, so if you use someone else's work we want to see you give them credit and have a copy of the permission to use their work on your site. We highly recommend that a permissions page be in place and a copy of the permission letter be on that page.

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Last Updated: May 25, 2008

Copyright Statement:

All material used in the Myst's Ancestrial Home is either the work of the site owner, and is copyrighted to Myst's Ancestrial Home, (All rights reserved, unless permission has previously been requested, and has been granted in writing) or has been reproduced with the written permission of the Artist.(see permissions) Under no circumstances will I use any material not created by myself, or unless I hold written permission from the owner. Any Awards won, and any membership graphics, remain copyrighted to the respective programs or organizations.

Jaded Heart Awards Criteria

Family Viewing

Design

Navigation

Technical

Content

Copyright