Avatar/Image Reflection Effect

This modification dynamically adds a subtle "reflection" effect underneath avatars and/or images on your forums. The reflection will automatically fade into your forum's background color, whatever it might be. You can also offer this effect as an option for your members' uploaded images via a BB Code.

This effect uses unobtrusive javascript to keep your code clean. It doesn't require additional server work. It works in all the major browsers - Internet Explorer 5.5+, Mozilla Firefox 1.5+, Opera 9+ and Safari. On older browsers, it'll degrade and your visitors won't notice a thing. Best of all, it's under 5KB!

"Simple. Unique. Classy. Thank you!"
- Forum admininstrator, JoeSixPack

"This mod gives my forum a slick, almost 3-D look!"
- Forum administrator, Tralala

Details:
1 file upload ("reflection.js") to forum's clientscript directory

1 template edit to "header" template

Optional edit: 1 for avatars in thread view ("postbit_legacy" template)
Optional edit: 1 for avatars in thread view ("postbit" template)
Optional edit: 1 for avatars in member profile ("MEMBERINFO" template)
Optional edit: 1 for profile picture in member profile ("MEMBERINFO" template)
Optional edit: 1 for avatars in Members List ("memberlist_resultsbit" template)
Optional edit: 1 for new BBcode (AdminCP -> Custom BB Codes -> BB Code Manager)
Optional edit, not recommended: 1 for ALL images posted inline via standard IMG BBCode ("includes/class_bbcode.php" file)

(All of the above optional edits involve simply inserting class="reflect" to the image HTML code, which adds the reflections. The code to replace for each edit is included in the .zip archive.)

See screenshots to see it in action...


My very first vBulletin hack! Kudos to the fine coders at vBulletin.org whose work inspires me.

Special thanks to Cow's Blog for the reflection.js code. Shared and distributed freely under MIT-style License.

Enjoy!!

[Snake]

Pretty nice. Works fine on Firefox!

[Tralala]

Originally Posted by OrangeFlea

What does this hack do to animated avatars?

Reflections of animated images only work correctly in Internet Explorer.

[Tralala]

Update 1.01

-added one optional edit, for profile picture in member profile
-tweaked the display for avatars in member profile and Members List, removing 1px border to line up reflection better

[The Chief]

Will give this a shot

[firstrebel]

Tried this on my dev site using steps 1 -3 and it didn't work. I am using the current version of IE.

Bob

[Tralala]

Originally Posted by Bob

Tried this on my dev site using steps 1 -3 and it didn't work. I am using the current version of IE.

Hmm... it should...
Do you have javascript turned on in IE?
Does the effect display in other browsers for you, like Firefox?

[firstrebel]

Javascript is on, and it does not show in FF either. I will try it on my live site later and let you know.

Bob

[TruthElixirX]

Awesome looking! clicked install.

[Tralala]

Originally Posted by Tralala

Reflections of animated images only work correctly in Internet Explorer.

Actually, allow me to clarify: animated images will reflect in all the major browsers. Only in Internet Explorer 5.5+, however, does the reflection animate as well. (In the others, it is just a static reflection.)

And as mentioned previously, if the visitor's browser happens to not be compatible... avatars and images display normally, just as before. The visitor wouldn't even know this effect was installed.

[Ziki]

Your zip is corrupt