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- Thread starter geekindisguise
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I changed the text on the design page.
I don't know why I put anything about designing for money.
I'm not ready for designing professionally yet, I would rather design for fun!
Maybe when I am WAY better in the web development area, I will start designing for money. But not yet...
I don't know why I put anything about designing for money.
I'm not ready for designing professionally yet, I would rather design for fun!
Maybe when I am WAY better in the web development area, I will start designing for money. But not yet...
Happy New Year's make no grammatical sense. Should be either Happy New Year, or Happy New Years Day..especially since the type is so LARGE and screams at you.
I remember when I was 13 trying to draw, design, etc. I was way ahead of my classmates, but had a lot to learn also.
Web Design is different and with what little you have to work with, your doing okay. Maybe you can get some real software to help you to design websites for your b'day, or pickup some "work", (chores around the house, or help grandparents if they live near you, or family friends), that pays after school or something.
You will progress a lot faster and further the right programs.
Adobe CS4?
In High school I can take a web design course and they have dual monitors and all of the right software for us. I just have to wait...
It would take me forever to get Adobe CS4! That thing is expensive.
What do I really need though?
Dreamweaver CS4
Photoshop CS4 (I WANT THIS ONE)
Flash (I'm not really wanting to make fance sites with this)
What else is there?
In High school I can take a web design course and they have dual monitors and all of the right software for us. I just have to wait...
It would take me forever to get Adobe CS4! That thing is expensive.
What do I really need though?
Dreamweaver CS4
Photoshop CS4 (I WANT THIS ONE)
Flash (I'm not really wanting to make fance sites with this)
What else is there?
acceptable use policy.
the name is kinda self explanatory, but its what u agree to do and not do with ur internet connection.
I do all my design and development with free programs, except one. I have BBEdit through work, so I didn't pay for it myself, otherwise I would be quite content with its free cousin TextWrangler. I mostly do hand-coding for everything. I use Gimp for graphics, Cyberduck for S/FTP, Subversion for version control, and all the browsers are free. It's all I've needed.
HTML Editor
That's all I will need too!
I had a trial of Dreamweaver CS4 but really, I didn't like it.
Dreamweaver made it harder for me to do what I wanted to do.
I guess if I was just beginning web design, then it would have been easier.
We got Photoshop Elements 6 for photo editing, but I still use it for web design. And I use EditPad lite for all of my coding. I only use it for the ability to have several files open in tabs all on one window.
I haven't really looked at any file editors made for HTML.
Do they have choices for tags and other coding stuff?
Dreamweaver had that, when ever you were typing out some HTML tag or something, it will have a pop-up menu with some closely related tags.
That was cool.
That's all I will need too!
I had a trial of Dreamweaver CS4 but really, I didn't like it.
Dreamweaver made it harder for me to do what I wanted to do.
I guess if I was just beginning web design, then it would have been easier.
We got Photoshop Elements 6 for photo editing, but I still use it for web design. And I use EditPad lite for all of my coding. I only use it for the ability to have several files open in tabs all on one window.
I haven't really looked at any file editors made for HTML.
Do they have choices for tags and other coding stuff?
Dreamweaver had that, when ever you were typing out some HTML tag or something, it will have a pop-up menu with some closely related tags.
That was cool.
The latest BBEdit has auto-complete for words and tags, though I don't use it a ton (and have taken away the auto part and settled for keyboard shortcut activation), but it's handy for calling on Clippings. You can bring up a clippings panel and it has sets for HTML (and a number of other languages), which gives you easy access to tags. It's a part of TextWrangler as well. One thing I really like about the software is you can create AppleScripts, which I did to more easily create tags, so I never have to type a < or >. Between the Clippings and AppleScript you can be really productive. You can even change the keyboard shortcuts for menu items and add shortcuts for clippings or AppleScripts you've created. Another free app that has code completion is Smultron, which is pretty nice.
Coda!
Coda + Rapidweaver + Photoshop = Easy Web Design
But I also think Coda is a great product, a worthy purchase.
Testing, testing. You are paying attention!
I got mixed up between "Happy New Years" and "New Year's Day" My bad.
New Blog
I got WordPress on my Server now and I am starting to use my blog.
Go look: http://jakes.is-a-geek.com/wordpress/
This took me forever to get installed. I hate MYSQL!!
It's just so annoying.
I got WordPress on my Server now and I am starting to use my blog.
Go look: http://jakes.is-a-geek.com/wordpress/
This took me forever to get installed. I hate MYSQL!!
It's just so annoying.
Here is a very quick mockup of what I would change from a design perspective. Get rid of that awful gradient in the background. Make the fonts smaller. Make everything a little bit more compact. And the header, background and color theme should be the same everywhere, now the blog looks completely different. The blog actually doesn't look too bad, but please get rid of that horribly pixelated space picture in the background, make the same neutral grey as the main page for example.
Attachments
I like that design, but I am not ready to work on it just yet. When I figure out a way to insert my blog straight into my site already, then I will.
But I just don't know how I can add it without redesigning my site around it.
But I just don't know how I can add it without redesigning my site around it.
I like that. Still the difference between the background and content page grey is a bit...flat?
You Really Are Amazing
If you are 13 and are so passionate about what you are doing...you will become astounding as time goes by, based on what I see. I would agree that simple is better. There are so many sites out there with Flash and special effects and noise. I've had several sites over the years and now that I have no need to impress anyone (I'm nearing 60) and just want to have fun, I can say I am absolutely impressed that you are doing what you're doing.
Certainly the design elements need to be improved. But, you'll learn that as time goes by. If you favor the programming and technical side more, you can always hook up with someone who is more design oriented.
I used to spend hours in photoshop trying to make the most beautiful design and spent endless hours compiling pages with great detail. Now, since I'm an artist by trade, I just doodle up some images and plunk then on a page using...iWeb. So simple and pain free.
Of course for those of you who are braving a long term future, there are so many exciting opportunties for new creative thinking. Geek...have fun and do what you want. You are looking to others to vindicate your efforts. Well, other opinions are interesting, but don't take them personally. Other's opinions can change the path of your heart. And, following your heart is the ONLY way to become the great person that you were meant to be. Respect those opinions of others, and, it they fit your goals, use them. Otherwise move on and CREATE!
I admire your desire to have PS4...I'm upgrading my art department to that in about 2 weeks. I'm excited also, even though I've been through all the other versions...literally since the begining. I've been in the art business for 35 years.
Copy is the text that is put into advertising, websites, blogs, etc. In other word...words.
Geek, I've decided that you can e-mail me with questions if you wish...this would relate to graphic design and art. I'm not the expert at website development that you are but I DO know design.
So just for you (and anyone else who reads this...my e-mail...yodelman@mac.com. (Yes I yodel too. if you don't know what that is go to my website...www.sownsew.com.
All the best!
If you are 13 and are so passionate about what you are doing...you will become astounding as time goes by, based on what I see. I would agree that simple is better. There are so many sites out there with Flash and special effects and noise. I've had several sites over the years and now that I have no need to impress anyone (I'm nearing 60) and just want to have fun, I can say I am absolutely impressed that you are doing what you're doing.
Certainly the design elements need to be improved. But, you'll learn that as time goes by. If you favor the programming and technical side more, you can always hook up with someone who is more design oriented.
I used to spend hours in photoshop trying to make the most beautiful design and spent endless hours compiling pages with great detail. Now, since I'm an artist by trade, I just doodle up some images and plunk then on a page using...iWeb. So simple and pain free.
Of course for those of you who are braving a long term future, there are so many exciting opportunties for new creative thinking. Geek...have fun and do what you want. You are looking to others to vindicate your efforts. Well, other opinions are interesting, but don't take them personally. Other's opinions can change the path of your heart. And, following your heart is the ONLY way to become the great person that you were meant to be. Respect those opinions of others, and, it they fit your goals, use them. Otherwise move on and CREATE!
I admire your desire to have PS4...I'm upgrading my art department to that in about 2 weeks. I'm excited also, even though I've been through all the other versions...literally since the begining. I've been in the art business for 35 years.
Copy is the text that is put into advertising, websites, blogs, etc. In other word...words.
Geek, I've decided that you can e-mail me with questions if you wish...this would relate to graphic design and art. I'm not the expert at website development that you are but I DO know design.
So just for you (and anyone else who reads this...my e-mail...yodelman@mac.com. (Yes I yodel too. if you don't know what that is go to my website...www.sownsew.com.
All the best!
Yeah that's probably right. I did make it in like 5 minutes, and it was meant as an inspiration for the op, not to copy it 100%. Since I'm no native english speaker it was easier for me to just make a quick mockup than to write everything down.
And yodelman, that's one funny homepage you have, I like it very much.
It's a start but I think that you should try to steer away from iWeb and harsh gradient backgrounds. With Dreamweaver you can make ANYTHING you want, it's not restricting like iWeb is. Also, try to make your elements flow, a black navigation box on a grey box doesn't flow too well.
Dreamweaver
To start things off, your URL is extremely user un-friendly. Having .'s then -'s makes it hard for anyone to remember and web users generally have a very low threshold for annoyance. Remember the simple acronym. K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Stupid. This applies to everything.
Next, the background being a gradient is not a terrible thing, however to keep it from creating artifacts and melting out peoples' eyes, keep the two gradient colors closer together. So instead of light gray and black (#ACACAC and #000000) do something like a black and a dark gray (#000000 and #1f1f1f) for example. This will keep those nasty artifact lines from showing up and it keeps your background visually dynamic. Just because it isn't immediately recognizable as a gradient doesn't make it a bad thing. Subtlety is the key.
Dreamweaver: You said you used Dreamweaver and didn't like it? I personally swear by it because it has so many useful functions like code hinting and visual layout (ie where you can place items visually rather than hand-code everything). This can be a bit buggy for cross browser testing, but when you are just starting out, it can be a big help to see the layout then check the code.
You use IE7 for web design? Shame on you doubly. Go get FireFox 3 right now and download the Firebug add-on, you will never look back. Seriously. There is no better resource for learning and honing your CSS skills than Firebug.
Content is king. Proofread and proofread again. No one will take you seriously unless you can avoid grammatical errors. I realize that at your age you do not really care (as I didn't when I was designing at your age) but this a very good habit to get into early.
The next thing you can do is learn. Making a web site is a learning experience every time and building on knowledge just makes your sites stronger. Tutorials are a great way to learn new things within web design or design in general (the two are not mutually exclusive mind you). A great place to start is NetTuts.com . This site goes step by step through various examples and is quite in depth as well.
Some other sites in this network are:
http://psdtuts.com/
http://vectortuts.com/
http://audiotuts.com/
All these sites are in the Envato network, which is a great place for inspiration and education.
Sorry this post has been a complete wall of text, but I just wanted to lay my 2 cents down. Thanks!
My website is in the midst of a redesign currently, but you can visit my old, old flash site HERE.
To start things off, your URL is extremely user un-friendly. Having .'s then -'s makes it hard for anyone to remember and web users generally have a very low threshold for annoyance. Remember the simple acronym. K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Stupid. This applies to everything.
Next, the background being a gradient is not a terrible thing, however to keep it from creating artifacts and melting out peoples' eyes, keep the two gradient colors closer together. So instead of light gray and black (#ACACAC and #000000) do something like a black and a dark gray (#000000 and #1f1f1f) for example. This will keep those nasty artifact lines from showing up and it keeps your background visually dynamic. Just because it isn't immediately recognizable as a gradient doesn't make it a bad thing. Subtlety is the key.
Dreamweaver: You said you used Dreamweaver and didn't like it? I personally swear by it because it has so many useful functions like code hinting and visual layout (ie where you can place items visually rather than hand-code everything). This can be a bit buggy for cross browser testing, but when you are just starting out, it can be a big help to see the layout then check the code.
You use IE7 for web design? Shame on you doubly. Go get FireFox 3 right now and download the Firebug add-on, you will never look back. Seriously. There is no better resource for learning and honing your CSS skills than Firebug.
Content is king. Proofread and proofread again. No one will take you seriously unless you can avoid grammatical errors. I realize that at your age you do not really care (as I didn't when I was designing at your age) but this a very good habit to get into early.
The next thing you can do is learn. Making a web site is a learning experience every time and building on knowledge just makes your sites stronger. Tutorials are a great way to learn new things within web design or design in general (the two are not mutually exclusive mind you). A great place to start is NetTuts.com . This site goes step by step through various examples and is quite in depth as well.
Some other sites in this network are:
http://psdtuts.com/
http://vectortuts.com/
http://audiotuts.com/
All these sites are in the Envato network, which is a great place for inspiration and education.
Sorry this post has been a complete wall of text, but I just wanted to lay my 2 cents down. Thanks!
My website is in the midst of a redesign currently, but you can visit my old, old flash site HERE.