Web Design Programs

[LadyG]

Is there such an animal? Can you buy programs to design websites? IF so, what do you recommend?

 

[Bobmi357]

There are programs which you can use which ease the design process considerably. However, I know of no program that automates the entire process.

As a designer myself, I use a variety of programs for the construction of website.

Firstpage 2000 (not frontpage!) html editor
Php Edit, a php editor
Perl Edit, a perl editor which hooks directly into my activePerl installation.

On the graphics side, Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Simply3D and a few others.

I've been building sites and custom net software since the early 90's and tend to shy away from the WYSIWYG software for several reasons, the most predominate one being they tend to make sloppy html with a lot of extra, unnessary commands.

HTH

 

[LadyG]

I just want something that will guide me, so to speak. We're launching a new company and I'm the one that will be doing the website, so ....it could be interesting.

I've used PhotoShop in the past so maybe sticking with what I know is the best idea?

 

[Kissophile]

I just want something that will guide me, so to speak. We're launching a new company and I'm the one that will be doing the website, so ....it could be interesting.

I've used PhotoShop in the past so maybe sticking with what I know is the best idea?

For a very basic website you might be able to work with templates that could be provided by your web host.

One caution I will offer is that creating your own website when you are not a professional programmer is essentially a lose-lose proposition for two reasons:

You lose the use of your time for what you do best when you spend hundreds of hours learning how to create the site.

You will inevitably create a site that looks like it was built by an amateur. And unless that look will somehow make your business attractive, then you will lose more prospects with your site than you will attract.

 

[Bobmi357]

For a very basic website you might be able to work with templates that could be provided by your web host.

One caution I will offer is that creating your own website when you are not a professional programmer is essentially a lose-lose proposition for two reasons:

You lose the use of your time for what you do best when you spend hundreds of hours learning how to create the site.

You will inevitably create a site that looks like it was built by an amateur. And unless that look will somehow make your business attractive, then you will lose more prospects with your site than you will attract.

I have to agree with Kiss here, but I also realize that budgetary constraints sometimes means you have to roll your own.

The biggest advice I can offer if you must do it yourself is to keep things simple. Avoid any of the high tech items like flash and java. Both of those technologies can if not used properly, prevent your site from being indexed by the search engines.

 

[Kissophile]

I have to agree with Kiss here, but I also realize that budgetary constraints sometimes means you have to roll your own.

The biggest advice I can offer if you must do it yourself is to keep things simple. Avoid any of the high tech items like flash and java. Both of those technologies can if not used properly, prevent your site from being indexed by the search engines.

As someone who has made virtually every homebuilt-website mistake in the book, I agree with Bobmi. Keeping your site as simple as possible is an absolute must. It will help you avoid creating one that looks amateurish and such a look will almost certainly diminish the impact of your site.

You can also purchase inexpensive templates for websites that allow you to focus primarily on content. The ones I looked at were attractive and suitable for many situations. Typically they include a home page layout and one or more different page layouts that use the same header and footer materials for continuity of look. While an experienced web designer can spot a template site at first glance, most casual visitors won't know the difference.

 

[LadyG]

Yes, clean and simple for sure, nothing worse than a cluttered site!

Now..my conundrum at this moment...is there a way to interwine letters? In other words, I'm working on business cards right now and want two letters interwined...for some reason, I'm blanking out.

HELP!

 

[LLs Man]

I'd say your best bet there would be to do your intertwined letters in something like Photoshop, then drop them into your site (or onto your business cards) as a graphic image. Also, unless it slipped past my eyes, I'm surprised that no-one's mentioned what is pretty much the industry standard web design program, namely Dreamweaver. Although I've never used it (my site's all done in plain old HTML) I know a lot of people swear by it (though being a Macromedia product it's not cheap).

 

[Ezzy]

If you are looking for HTML editors, some of those mentioned like Frontpage are ok as a start.

Also you can look at www.tucows.com for AcePro and Coffeecup which are free editors, you just have to download and start the learning curve.

As Bobmi and Kissophile have said, keep it simple.

On the Photoshop image question; make your Letter's on different layers and then see which layer looks best on top, then flatten your layers and you have your image ready for the website or the business cards, letterheads etc.

If you get stuck but are going to be using a printer for large print runs, they will do the letter intertwining for you to win the order.

 

[Bobmi357]

I'd say your best bet there would be to do your intertwined letters in something like Photoshop, then drop them into your site (or onto your business cards) as a graphic image. Also, unless it slipped past my eyes, I'm surprised that no-one's mentioned what is pretty much the industry standard web design program, namely Dreamweaver. Although I've never used it (my site's all done in plain old HTML) I know a lot of people swear by it (though being a Macromedia product it's not cheap).

The reason why I never bothered to mention dreamweaver is because I do not consider it to be a useful tool for a professional designer. In fact I've dealt with a number of sites that were built using dreamweaver. Fixing them aright was a major pain in the ass.

You can make two letters appear to intertwine using something like photoshop and its layers feature. BUT that sort of freehand capability is probably best handled in illustrator.

 

[babydoll2u]

I create basic websites, including my own for my photography business. I use Arachnophilia, an html editor, and write alot of my own html as well.
And I use Paint Shop Pro 7 to create my graphics.

I agree with the general consensus, for sure....

K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple Stupid (My motto, have it hangin' over my computer on the wall)

 

[Bobmi357]

I create basic websites, including my own for my photography business. I use Arachnophilia, an html editor, and write alot of my own html as well.
And I use Paint Shop Pro 7 to create my graphics.

I agree with the general consensus, for sure....

K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple Stupid (My motto, have it hangin' over my computer on the wall)

I really loved Aracnophilia. It was a great program, but when I upgraded our office machines to Dell computers, I found on one machine (which just happened to be mine), it didn't work properly anymore. For some strange reason, with a large file if I used the numeric keypad as cursor controls (which I always did), I could blue screen the program with a control pagedown. And unfortunately reporting that to the author of aracnophilia had little result.

 

[nightmaredns]

Yes, clean and simple for sure, nothing worse than a cluttered site!

Now..my conundrum at this moment...is there a way to interwine letters? In other words, I'm working on business cards right now and want two letters interwined...for some reason, I'm blanking out.

HELP!

You sound like you're just starting out with this whole thing and need more help than the casual web forum person can offer.

I happen to be looking for sites I can design to go in my portfolio right now so I can get it going. What this means for you is that I'd do your site for free, it would be standards compliant, and also look hella sexy.

My devel site right now is http://haxt.info, where I'm gathering sites to put in my portfolio so that I can get a decent business off the ground. The more work I have, the better.

Visit my site, check out what I have done, and let me know if you'd be interested.

AIM: somacore or use the contact info on the site.

If you'd rather do the site yourself I understand, you can message me on AIM with any questions you may have.

 

[izod]

You might want to look at Macromedia Contribute. It incorporates CSS, but is REALLY easy - and the websites look pretty good!