Which looks better / What can I do to improve?

[Picatta]

OK, I suck at making banners, I was wondering what I can do to improve? The best I can do is like

http://picatta.homeip.net/index.php?img=697970&dat=1
http://picatta.homeip.net/index.php?img=608154&dat=1
-_-;

[cfioncn]

Hmm...site's a bit slow, try ImageShack.

For a banner, it's a bit small, but the idea is sound :)....I like the pattern on the former better (the one on the second is a bit bland), though it's a bit strong on the right side and hard to see the picture. Also, make the text a bit more readable maybe by increasing the size or adding a stroke or something similar.

If you decide to make it bigger, just a picture, pattern, and text might be a bit boring (unless you're going for a very simple look) so you MAY want some other stuff in there.

[Picatta]

Yeah, I just downloaded GIMP and was using it, still trying to get the handle on it. Before I did everything in MSpaint.

Also, my site is slow because it hosts a proxy :/ too many users at once. That and the server runs Windows ME on a 1 meg upstream speed.

[D_Marx]

I liked the first one, awesome photoshop with the lines going around the eye. The second one takes away from the main focus of the image.

[Picatta]

TY, though the lines are part of the image :(, I got it from the alchemist handbook.