First Website

[bntz313]

Hello,

I just put together my first website. I did it all using photoshop, cause I don't know any html. Please tell me what you think. I am always changing it, changed it twice since I put it up. I forgot to put home link so for now you have to click on my name in the header, which sucks.

I also dont know if I like the grunge look to it.

http://www.anthonybetancourt.com

[MagicWok]

Looks great for your first site! Much better than others I have seen on here.

Keep developing it. My only advice would be to be aware of the fold.

[bntz313]

Looks great for your first site! Much better than others I have seen on here.

Keep developing it. My only advice would be to be aware of the fold.

What's the fold? Never heard about that.

[Consultant]

What's the fold? Never heard about that.

Stuff people have to scroll down to see.

[Techguy172]

I would optimize the images at least or you could get someone to code it for you. I could help if you like, Just PM me. Pretty good for your first try though!

[miiles]

I would move the boxy-guy up a little bit on the home page, and also the site is titled "index" so you might wanna change that.

Overall it looks great for a first website.

[bntz313]

I would optimize the images at least or you could get someone to code it for you. I could help if you like, Just PM me. Pretty good for your first try though!

How do I optimize it or what settings. I wouldn't mine some one coding if but then again I wanna just be able to update it when ever. I'm gonna take an html class next semester.

Thanks for the comments everyone

[opeter]

I agree with the other posters above me: for your first site it is really great.

[Samarium]

Congratulations. I'm really impressed.

[bntz313]

Thanks everyone. I'm still working on getting all the links working right now.

What's the best way to get it to load faster?

[MatLane]

I think its an amazing site for starters!

Fab




Good job, and good luck

ML

[Krebstar]

I like the header, the footer but not whats in between.

The robot seems like he's serving no purpose by being there, and only takes away from what people should be looking at.

I say use a much smaller typeface for the menu, and your "i" in portfolio is an eyesore and caught my attention right away. Fix that up, and lower the size and you'll be good.

When you go to the portfolio, you then have to click again to get to print portfolio. If there was a web and print portfolio, thats fine, but no need to have someone click yet again when you could just present it right away.

Also, whats bold draws more attention than something that is not. Your exclamation point is so bold that it draws the eyes to it, and it's at the end of the type.

Hope that helps.

[bntz313]

Thanks,

There going to be more in the portfolio part just haven't got there yet. I'm gonna update it more and more. I have been ever day since I uploaded it. I just fixed all the links now so there's no dead ones.

[bntz313]

I like the header, the footer but not whats in between.

The robot seems like he's serving no purpose by being there, and only takes away from what people should be looking at.

I say use a much smaller typeface for the menu, and your "i" in portfolio is an eyesore and caught my attention right away. Fix that up, and lower the size and you'll be good.

When you go to the portfolio, you then have to click again to get to print portfolio. If there was a web and print portfolio, thats fine, but no need to have someone click yet again when you could just present it right away.

Also, whats bold draws more attention than something that is not. Your exclamation point is so bold that it draws the eyes to it, and it's at the end of the type.

Hope that helps.


The robot has no purpose your right. But is an image on your homepage really suppose to? Which i in portfolio are you talking about?

Thanks again.

[Krebstar]

The robot has no purpose your right. But is an image on your homepage really suppose to? Which i in portfolio are you talking about?

Thanks again.

The "i" in portfolio on the menu.

As for the robot, yes, it should have a purpose. You should always ask yourself "is this necessary?" when you're doing something. It doesn't matter where the image is, it should have a purpose. It should be a total package and nothing on there just because you felt like throwing it on.

[Delameko]

The "i" in portfolio on the menu.

As for the robot, yes, it should have a purpose. You should always ask yourself "is this necessary?" when you're doing something. It doesn't matter where the image is, it should have a purpose. It should be a total package and nothing on there just because you felt like throwing it on.

But it's his portfolio site. And I'm assuming the robot is something he created himself and is thus an example of his abilities...

I like the robot and it makes me want to look at the rest of his portfolio.

[Techguy172]

Thanks everyone. I'm still working on getting all the links working right now.

What's the best way to get it to load faster?

Optimize your images in Photoshop.

[Krebstar]

But it's his portfolio site. And I'm assuming the robot is something he created himself and is thus an example of his abilities...

I like the robot and it makes me want to look at the rest of his portfolio.

If you're saying it's his portfolio site, so it's okay because he did it, that's one thing. If you're saying, it's his site, so he can put what he wants without explanation, that doesn't fly when you ask for a critique.

[bntz313]

Okay, I optimized the pictures (I'm pretty sure).

This is my portfolio, I wanted something on the home page to kinda draw someone into my portfolio. I just notice that i in portfolio also. All my pictures are .gif's is this the best to get it to load fast.

Will upload the whole thing when I get home from school.

Thanks for the replies.

[motoxpress]

I am not sure about the side pattern and the content area. I would think about how the pattern relates to the rest of the site. It seems to be an element that has no connection to anything else. I would find a way to repeat it or some form of it in the header or in subheads or something. It would tie the site together more.

-mx

[snickelfritz]

"conatct_09.gif" is way too large in terms of filesize.
This image is currently 250K(!)
Attached is an optimized replacement.

[Ryvius]

The site appears down and requests a root login to proceed.

[bntz313]

The site appears down and requests a root login to proceed.

Yeah I just notice that too. It just started today when I got off work. I have no idea why this would happen

[bntz313]

Is there another way I should make my portfolio. I'm taking HTML in the winter semester, I don't know any of it. Could I do it in flash? or what's the best settings for web in photoshop.

I normally go save to web and just save everything with the default settings. Tried looking on google but didn't really find my answer. I would like my site to just open fast.

[Techguy172]

Is there another way I should make my portfolio. I'm taking HTML in the winter semester, I don't know any of it. Could I do it in flash? or what's the best settings for web in photoshop.

I normally go save to web and just save everything with the default settings. Tried looking on google but didn't really find my answer. I would like my site to just open fast.

You have to adjust Sliders and get the Best Quality you can while Maintaing small file sizes. I can help you if you want.

[snickelfritz]

Is there another way I should make my portfolio. I'm taking HTML in the winter semester, I don't know any of it. Could I do it in flash? or what's the best settings for web in photoshop.

I normally go save to web and just save everything with the default settings. Tried looking on google but didn't really find my answer. I would like my site to just open fast.

Flash is always my first choice for portfolios and other rich multimedia projects, but I think you'll be faced with the same dilemma.
Flash is technically just an integrated development environment for Actionscript programming.
Not only would you still be faced with learning a scripting language, Actionscript 3.0 is a full-blown OOP language; far more complex than learning how to write simple HTML/CSS.

The upside of using Flash is that it's far more flexible and powerful than HTML/CSS based development environmants; it's easier to get the results you're after.
Direct import of layered Photoshop and Illustrator files, with layers, text, layer styles, transparency etc... makes Flash well suited to designers and artists that are already skilled in those applications.

For example, you can use the stack script in PhotoshopCS3 to automatically load a dozen or more images as layers in a new PSD, then import that PSD into Flash with the layers set as keyframes in the timeline.
Add a few buttons and custom graphics and some basic actionscript and you'd have the basis for a navigable portfolio site.

I can help you with the scripting if you decide to tackle something like this.
GL

[motoxpress]

The downside of Flash is poor search engine performance and accessibility. IT really depends on your objective for your site. If you want to sell yourself as an interactive designer, then Flash will work great. If you want a more general approach, think simple, clean and unique to you.

-mx

[snickelfritz]

The downside of Flash is poor search engine performance and accessibility.
-mx

In the past, most forms of online rich media have had issues with search indexing/SEO and accessibility, but this pretty much a thing of the past for Flash.
Google and Yahoo launched a fairly significant initiative to address the indexing problems last Summer, and I can attest that it is working fabulously with my own projects.
SEO, per se, is not really required beyond making sure your text content is exposed to the stage.

Information on Flash accessibility can be found at the following URL.
http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/products/flash/

[motoxpress]

In the past, most forms of online rich media have had issues with search indexing/SEO and accessibility, but this pretty much a thing of the past for Flash.
Google and Yahoo launched a fairly significant initiative to address the indexing problems last Summer, and I can attest that it is working fabulously with my own projects.
SEO, per se, is not really required beyond making sure your text content is exposed to the stage.

Information on Flash accessibility can be found at the following URL.
http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/products/flash/

I am aware of the Google/Flash initiative but, it is still in the an awkward stage. You have to specify flash content in order to get any significant results.

Meanwhile, there are lots of options for portfolios that don't require Flash. OTOH, just because the portfolio is in Flash it doesn't require the whole site to exist there. Flash is best used in specifics at this point. Of course, "appropriate flash usage" is highly subjective and surrounded by volatile opinions. My view is to use it when it makes sense and don't when something else is more appropriate. I have built sites with the content being delivered 100% Flash (with html containers obviously). I have also built sites with pieces of content in Flash. I prefer the latter for overall performance.

An amazing example of integration is Blizzard's Diablo3 website. It is so seamless yet, it is made up of an assortment of technologies.

http://www.blizzard.com/diablo3/characters/wizard.xml

-mx

[bntz313]

I'm looking to have my portfolio I'm a print designer, and I'm gonna take classes for web design. I took an course on Flash and know how to produce and simple web page in flash. I wanna be able to change the look, and content when ever I want.

[bntz313]

You have to adjust Sliders and get the Best Quality you can while Maintaing small file sizes. I can help you if you want.

Yeah I would like that.

[Techguy172]

Yeah I would like that.

Ok Pm me the PSD or Slices and I will optimize them and send them back to you.

[motoxpress]

I'm looking to have my portfolio I'm a print designer, and I'm gonna take classes for web design. I took an course on Flash and know how to produce and simple web page in flash. I wanna be able to change the look, and content when ever I want.

Actually, I would look at using Wordpress. It makes for a wonderful CMS on the cheap. That way you can modify and existing theme and have a setup that is easy to maintain and will be dynamite for SEO. Most web hosting companies have easy installs for it so at the click of a button it's running.

You can see an assortment of themes here (http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/). My own site (http://georgeloch.com) is a wordpress driven-site and I love it.

-mx