I'd like to dabble in creating website...mostly for fun. Is there a program you use that doesn't require a massive learning curve? Or is this something that really requires a class or two at the local community college?
Please fill me in on the in's, out's, the good, the bad, and the ugly of it.
Oh, and I'd like to get fairly fancy...animations, jiggly buttons and "stuff".
[ November 11, 2003, 01:18 PM: Message edited by: Todd Gill ]
Posted by Jason Schultz (Member # 4281) on :
Hey there,
I work mostly in print, however I have done a couple of websites in my day. In my opinion, either way you should learn HTML. That will give you the basics, after that if you want to get into more complicated stuff... well it can get pretty expensive and you probably would benefit from some courses. Learning programs like flash, dreamweaver, fireworks, etc... can be very difficult on your own. I believe you can download trials of most of those from the macromedia website, that would give you a good idea of what your going to be up against.
Hope that helped!
Posted by Jason Schultz (Member # 4281) on :
By the way.... HTML (hyper text markup language) Is easy stuff .. it might look comlicated at first, but it's simple.
Posted by Henry Barker (Member # 174) on :
I just moved host and didn't realise they didn't move the site too, so I am redoing my site after 4+ years of not doing anything with the old. I have lots of ideas, and frustration, I have Dreamweaver MX Studio, just got hold of an e-book Dreamweaver weekend crashcourse about 15 hours study I think, so will see how I get on, there are lots of programs available for building sites or you can download or buy templates as a starting point like at www.thetemplatestore.com for example.
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Todd,
Programs like Dreamweaver (my fave) and FrontPage are pretty simple to learn basics in pretty quickly in my opinion, they both work just like word processing programs. I didnt have any problems learning Dreamweaver on my own. I did pick up a book "The Dreamweaver Bible" but for 99% of web work Dreamweaver is pretty straight forward. I use the book mostly for customizing the dreamweaver program itsself.
Graphics wise, I use a combination of CorelDRAW, Illustrator, Photoshop and Adobe ImageReady. I create my core graphical layout using Corel and Illustrator AFTER I write up an outline of my site's main navigation scheme. This way I know which main categories I need buttons/navigation for. Basic graphic elements are drawn in vectors, this way it's easier (for me) to resize buttons and other features. The vectors are then taken into Photoshop for full-blown color and effects. ImageReady does the final prep for web, optimizing images, creating image slices for faster downloading, it then creates an HTML page with all the images laid out that you can edit using Dreamweaver, FrontPage, or Notebook.exe for the hardcore HTML geeks.
Then using Dreamweaver I make that HTML page into a Dreamweaver Template, which ensures all pages are identical in layout and color scheme. You can then make updates to the template and Dreamweaver automatically updates all pages that reference the template.
Posted by Henry Barker (Member # 174) on :
Mike,
If you were doing a layout in your favourite vector program, of which we are all familiar what sort of size document are you going to make?
If I sit in my sign program (Omega) and set out how my first site page should be what sort of dimensions should it be, to then take into Photoshop or Fireworks for 3D effects and then into Dreamweaver? Standard lettersize or smaller?
That would be a big help and I think make life alot easier or am I thinking wrongly?
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Henry, I start off with a 7.6 inch wide x 5.5 inch tall vector document which fits into a web browser window on a computer set on 800x600 screen resolution when the vectors are finally exported to raster at 100 pixels per inch.
I dont know how Omega works but if you can get Omega files into Photoshop or Fireworks, you can do it that way.
My site was originally all designed in vectors.. the chrome "s" logo, the tribal designs along the top and down the left side, the navigation buttons... all started as solid color vectors that I enhanced with Photoshop.
Mike - that sounds great...I checked out your site and it's really cool. I'd like to be able to do some wild stuff as far as buttons reacting when you toggle over them and goofy stuff like that.
It's a Christian Church site, just to let you know I'm not pushing anything...but it has some really cutting edge buttons, animations, music and things like I'd like to do.....can these things be done in Dreamweaver?
How much is Dreamweaver? Thanks for the info.
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Thanks for the info also Jason! I'll need to pick up a book on HTML. Posted by Mark Matyjakowski (Member # 294) on :
Todd, that is a flash site ... a very nice one ... my guess is whoever made that had schooling in flash ... or has at least been doing it quite a while.
No, dreamweaver wont do that ... a great program, but.
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Todd,
There's not a lick of HTML on that church site, 'cept a little bit to open up a new window. That's all done in Flash, so you need Macromedia Flash or a program called Swish to do something like it... and while the programs are a little tricky to learn, tweaking the animation is even trickier, although thoroughly fulfilling when it all comes together.
Flash costs about $500 for the latest version, you can probably find a license for an older version for sale cheaper, Dreamweaver (which is an HTML generation program) is about $400.
You can check out www.macromedia.com Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Ok, thanks Mark & Mike for clarifying that....I'm developing a picture now...$1,000 roughly to get the programs and some heavy duty study....
Looks like I need to decide if that is a hobby I am ready to undertake. Sure would be cool though. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
There is a great alternative Netobjects Fusion. ITs really good for the begginer through intermediate user. It will do just about anything the big dogs do and has tons of support and templates and wizards. IF you see a site not built by dreamweaver then you are likely to see a site built with Fusion. It's in ver 7.5 now and i reallly like it. around 100 bux. And you can import flash or flash clone animations, too.
You can have a fully functional good looking site built in about 2 hours. You can upload the site yourself thru Fusion too.
Then if you get proficient with html then you can edit your site yourself within Fusion. you can try it for free.
[ November 12, 2003, 09:53 AM: Message edited by: Curtis hammond ]
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Thank you Curtis, that's interesting and I'll definately check out their site....
I just listened to the Flash Overview on Macromedia's site...sounds cool, but like anything would require some dedicated study.
Have a great day all...be successful today!
Posted by Catalin Dretcanu (Member # 4136) on :
Hi, I know a lot of programmes to do websites, but Dreamweaver is the best(I like Flash MX ). Swish is very simple for animation and other stuff. If you want to do more things(like server parts) you must to know some PHP or Java. I will be very happy to help you, if you want! Free of charge, of course! Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Catalin,
Thanks, that's very kind of you to offer help. This may be something I get into eventually...and if/when I do...I'll email you w/questions. Have a great day. Posted by Catalin Dretcanu (Member # 4136) on :
Todd,
You're wellcome anytime with any problems. Have a nice day!
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Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.