Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I was looking at our banner and I really like it. I noticed there is a lot of white space in the middle. That could be so that it displays properly on various screens from PCs to tablets to phones.

Banner_now.jpg

And I really like the default avatar, phoenix. What if we gave it a more prominent display?

Banner_new.jpg

Hopefully, that wouldn't mess everything up after all the work that it took to get the phone screens to display properly. But what if?

Although a more attractive banner looks great, caution need to be given to adding file sizes as we are not all blessed with broad band internet. Many people access this site from very poor internet coverages, and with what many of us would think of as 'ancient' devices. If our purpose was artistic, sure, go for it, but this is a trans resource site, and we sometimes need to acknowledge how important it is to so many lives.

I have personally spoken to people who told me they owed their lives to communities like this, and, although I do like pleasing pages, I hate to think it might come at a cost to someone desperately needing to access support at a critical time in their lives.

Hugs,

Allie

You make a very good point. I agree that the priority is the information and support. File sizes and display issues are certainly a priority. Thanks for your input.

@Allie Jayne

Hi Everyone

Yes Lori, I also wondered about the gaping whole in the new banner and what could fill it.  Your suggestion is a good one maybe a little bit bigger.

Allie, I hear your concerns about image size and you are right.  The banner keeps the same dimensions.  The file moves from 268 KB to 304 KB.  About 0.15 s at 2 Mbps.  That adds about 0.03 s at 10 Mbps.  On 3G near 1 Mbps the extra 36 KB is about 0.29 s.  On 4G at 10 Mbps it is about 0.03 s.  On stronger 4G at 25 Mbps it is about 0.01 s.  For home PCs the slowest satellite reference is about 12 Mbps down 1 Mbps up, so the impact of this change is virtually insignificant.

I am aware the situation is mainly for Australia and Australia is now on 4G or 5G.  Even if someone overseas only has 3G the small change in banner size is not going to create any significant issues for anyone seeking Susan's resources.

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
@Lori Dee @Allie Jayne

Size wise it's not a problem, the size difference is minimal

Just to add my two pence... I am not sure a phoenix is the right message. It gives people the impression that their previous life is ashes they have to somehow rise from. I do not think that's... I think that someone's life pre-coming here should be incorporated into who they are and who they will be. We aren't people trying to overcome who we were. We are people trying to come to terms with how that life blends into who we are and who we will be. To try and separate those two things is... I'm not sure it's a good thing. Mentally speaking.

I would suggest that the simplest image to sum up this place would be a simple mirror. With someone not immediately identifiable looking into it. Susan's Place is a hand mirror. Showing the reflection of who we are. You could make the letters in each box mirrored. That would do the job nicely. :)

This is Susan's post about why a Phoenix.

https://www.susans.org/index.php?topic=251966.0


@Sephirah

What would be really cool is if the phoenix had a clickable hotspot that would link to that post.

I do like that image. Especially the wings. It's very clever. :)

@Susan

The Phoenix has gone 3D! It is so beautiful. It looks great on the website banner.

TransPhoenix.jpg

Imagine that on a black tshirt or coffee mug :)

Don't imagine :P
gemini-mockup.jpg

Quote from: Susan on March 09, 2026, 06:18:36 PMTransPhoenix.jpg

Imagine that on a black tshirt or coffee mug :)

That would be AWESOME!
It is truly beautiful. I would hang that in my living room.

I avoid black t-shirts (too hot), but I MUST have a coffee mug!

Well I for one love it. I know it won't be the same for everyone, but for me, I do think the metaphor works. My male life has been a bit of a misery but when I'm on here my personality is reborn - rising from the ashes so to speak. My vote is aye!

I doubt the avatar would be particularly large in file size, particularly if it's a vector image rather than a raster. Unless you're using a steam powered computer attached to the internet with yoghurt pots and string I don't think it should cause too much of an issue.

Quote from: Susan on March 09, 2026, 06:21:34 PMDon't imagine :P
gemini-mockup.jpg

I would absolutely LOVE this!!  It is beautiful! 

I would definitely buy merch with this on it!

This is the first I've been on the site from my computer in awhile (usually mobile, lol). I see the new banner is up, LOOKS AWESOME!

Quote from: CynthiaR on March 14, 2026, 10:39:45 PMI would definitely buy merch with this on it!

Me too, especially the coffee mug.

A print to put on the wall would be really good too.

Am I missing something? I don't see a banner change?

Quote from: Stottie Girl on May 11, 2026, 02:41:20 AMAm I missing something? I don't see a banner change?

I think the banner changed shortly before you and I joined the site. As far as I can tell anyway.

Quote from: PhilippaRees on May 11, 2026, 04:04:29 AMI think the banner changed shortly before you and I joined the site. As far as I can tell anyway.

Oh right, I thought Cynthia was referring to the addition of a trans eagle as per Lori's earlier post.

Quote from: Stottie Girl on May 11, 2026, 04:06:57 AMOh right, I thought Cynthia was referring to the addition of a trans eagle as per Lori's earlier post.

She was, because the last time she logged on was before the banner change.

I love the eagle I see it more as a phoenix. I'd love to get a .jpg of it, I want it as a tattoo

Yeah, but I don't see an eagle on the banner?

Quote from: Stottie Girl on May 11, 2026, 05:51:32 AMYeah, but I don't see an eagle on the banner?

Oh now your question makes sense. I do see the eagle on the banner, its always been there from my point of view.

I wonder why you don't see it.

Dunno. I'm on a macbook, maybe that makes a difference?

Quote from: Stottie Girl on May 11, 2026, 06:55:14 AMDunno. I'm on a macbook, maybe that makes a difference?

I'm not an apple fan so I'll keep my snide remarks to myself.

😗

Cynthia was commenting that she hadn't seen the banner because she was on her phone. When she logged in from her computer, she saw it.

@Stottie Girl Sarah, can you see the first post in this thread? Do those images show up for you?

Yeah I can see the first one but not the one with the phoenix on. As far as I knew it hasn't changed since January?

Don't you see both images in this post?

https://www.susans.org/index.php?topic=252371.msg2317437#msg2317437

Yeah I can see both images in your link, I think I'm getting the wrong end of the stick here. I thought Cynthia meant that the banner had changed from the linked top one to the bottom one with the phoenix on it. But i'm guesing no, it's just the one on the top but Cynthia saw a different one from before I joined?

Quote from: Stottie Girl on May 11, 2026, 05:58:12 PMYeah I can see both images in your link, I think I'm getting the wrong end of the stick here. I thought Cynthia meant that the banner had changed from the linked top one to the bottom one with the phoenix on it. But i'm guesing no, it's just the one on the top but Cynthia saw a different one from before I joined?

That could be. And now the phoenix is 3D!

Quote from: Lori Dee on May 11, 2026, 06:03:18 PMThat could be. And now the phoenix is 3D!

OK I'm totally confused. Are you saying the banner at the top of the site on the web version is supposed to have a 3d phoenix on it? Because that is not what I see. I see this:-

(https://i.ibb.co/wNKN5Rqj/Screenshot-2026-05-12-at-00-24-49.png)

It has one. I would log out. Clear your cookies, cache and history. Close each tab, then the browser. Once you do all of that open a new browser without bring back the prior session. Then go to Susans.org. You should be able to see it then. If you are using Google Chrome, then this also maybe why you don't see it. Chrome loves to show old information without updating things. If you are using a mobile device such as a tablet or phone that may cause that issue too. Hugs
Mariah

Quote from: Stottie Girl on May 11, 2026, 06:28:07 PMOK I'm totally confused. Are you saying the banner at the top of the site on the web version is supposed to have a 3d phoenix on it? Because that is not what I see. I see this:-

(https://i.ibb.co/wNKN5Rqj/Screenshot-2026-05-12-at-00-24-49.png)

Disco! There she blows! Thanks Marie!


I agree with Cynthia, that looks cool! ha ha!

Life used to be so simple before computers came along and confused everything.

Quote from: Dawn Kellie on May 11, 2026, 05:34:58 AMI love the eagle I see it more as a phoenix. I'd love to get a .jpg of it, I want it as a tattoo

If you click this link you can download the fullsized image: https://www.susans.org/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=46051

Since bandwidth is an issue for some, I've made a minified version which is only 53 kb. Maybe it helps <3

(https://i.ibb.co/k65xGRsq/susans-logo-minified.png)

Bandwidth isn't an issue for me, I have a 300gb connection. But I know there are a few people who have said they struggle with bandwidth so that might be quite useful. I'm sure the admins will be grateful for your efforts Val.