Here are the old link buttons:
88x31

120x60


And here is a graphic I was playing around with earlier!

Scholars of Shen Zhou (The only type of button for SoSZ)

Other Common Sizes
234x60 and 100x25
468x60 = standard banner size.
Photoshop Link Button Guide

>>>> Download <<<<
I made this snazzy little Photoshop link button guide to help anyone interested in this project. And no, it isn’t instructions on how to make your buttons—it is just a handy little working space for comparing the different link buttons as you work on them. It also includes all the forum signature graphic effects pre-applied on layers to save you pain and trouble. The document is also pre-sliced for easy exporting. This would be the best way to deliver submitted buttons, too. They could be stacked in one document or delivered in several if there are multiple sets.
(You will need your own fonts, of course—search for “pixel fonts”).
Suggestions?
I am not ‘hip’, nor am I ‘with it’, although I am ‘down’ with the web.
I know there are all sorts of new link banners and such out there. I know there are those goofy forum image strips that everyone seems to get. I don’t know much at all about any of these things, though. Does anyone else here know something about them? If anyone wants to make something like that, and they can make an image that looks, feels, and smells like KMA, SoSZ, or SimRTK, I’m interested to see it.
Alpha-Transparent PNG
They are in! If you want to include drop shadows and the like to make things snazzy, they are now a viable option. Old school is, of course, encouraged in addition.
What is needed?
What are the standard image formats? What are the standard dimensions? If anyone has this information and wants to share, I would be thrilled. I don’t really use link buttons on any of the pages I make, so I don’t really know! If I get this information, I’ll outline the details!
The graphic should mention the site's address (kongming.net) and should use the site’s name in English or Chinese (as appropriate for the design). I like to use the Chinese name in many cases as it has a cool feel to it, and I always use the site’s full name in any button but the smaller ones. It should be noted, though, that creativity can win out. If you have a wonderful idea that needs to break some rules, try it out.

Kongming’s Archives in Chinese
孔明案卷
What do I get?
I’ll solidify the ‘event’ rules in short order, but I’ll probably pick out at least the top entry. If several people make beautiful graphics that remind me of the Three Kingdoms and Kongming’s Archives, I would be thrilled to give people a new selection—and I would be thrilled to select several ‘winners’. At the very least, each of them will get Odds & Ends access and perhaps a soundtrack request of their choice (in addition to what is found in Odds & Ends).
When is it due?
We’ll go with February 1st for the time being!
Feedback and thoughts are welcome!