Looking for info on making layouts for website...

Sugarflower · Post by **Sugarflower** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 6:35 pm

I've recently decided to make a non-Rubberslug gallery for my cels (I'll still be keeping my RS gallery). This way I can have other items up for viewing and such.

For the past two weeks I've been searching all over the net for forums, tutorials, free layout sites, etc. so I can learn how to get started with making my own creation. However there are some things that I just can't find. For instance how to get started.

Do I make the graphics layout first in Photoshop and then transfer the graphics to Dreamweaver in which I would then start making the web layout? Or vise versa? I only know the basics to Dreamweaver right now and am very new to using Photoshop. I have been reading tuturials to help get me familiarized with Photoshop better though.

Well, here is an example I have borrowed from a website that makes free anime layouts. I could just download and use a free layout to use for a website but it's just not the same as making my own. If I have to I will do this for a while just until I can get my own layout created.

So, does anyone know of good, up to date message boards or tutorials I can view? Or even if you have any advice it would be highly appreciated.

This is some pretty interesting stuff I'm finding and I was shocked to find out that 14 year olds or younger are making some of these beautiful and interesting graphics, lol. Some are even doing so without the help of programs such as Dreamweaver and they just use a notepad file to make their web layouts.

zerospace · Post by **zerospace** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 3:24 am

Though I'm not really active here anymore, I figured since I maintain my own non-RS gallery I'd chime in. This is really a matter of preference. I usually lay my pages out in Photoshop and then decide how to incorporate the graphics into my HTML (I write all my HTML by hand with notepad

). If you have a program like Dreamweaver, there's not even a need to work from anyone else's templates--Dreamweaver should make things pretty simple to put together.

I'm sure I could say a ton more on the subject, but I'll leave you with that for now-I know there are others here who maintain non-RS galleries as well.

usamamo · Post by **usamamo** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:09 am

I do not know anything about dreamweaver, so I cannot help you there. But I can share with you my experience.

For starters I try and figure out what I would like my site to look like. Usually using Photoshop but also my head

From there I decide if a Table or Dividing layout will suit. I use Notepad to create my site and find it easy for me. I am still learning alot of things and am sure I will for a long time yet.

If you have no experience with web design and HTML then can I recomend that you use a free layout to get you started. They are excellent.

When I first began that is what I did and I learnt from reading the codes from the free layouts.

My first layout was a freebie. My next step was to fiddle with a free layout and sorta make it more my own. For example, change around the pictures, the CSS, the tables etc. That will give you a feel of HTML.

Then if you feel ready you can make your own. It may not be as fantastic, but it is a start. If not you can always keep tweeking pre-made layouts until you feel more confident.

My site atm is a combination of a free layout and my own tweeking (I got lazy and couldn't be stuffed coding my own this time around

) I am busy making a website for my Dad and haven't got time to make 2.

But the moral to my story is you should learn from the free layouts. I found it easier to understand than by reading pages of text.

My little siteys address is here if you want to looky.
http://www.geocities.com/usagiseternallove/

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:11 am

That is quite a milestone.

RoboFlonne · Post by **RoboFlonne** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:13 am

Hi! Hi! You can do it like Kymaera and just use frames!

Sugarflower · Post by **Sugarflower** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:38 am

I know very little about html, just a few basic tags here an there. What is a CSS? I've seen that refered to many times on the forums and websites I've visited for info on creating a site.

Zerospace, you said that you make your html layout first and then fix the graphics around that? Is it easy this way or could you made the graphics first and then place the html? I'm shocked that you can just use a notepad file for keeping track of your html. I wouldn't even know where to begin or how to do that.

I'm still totally confused, lol.

RoboFlonne · Post by **RoboFlonne** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 4:19 pm

You need a basic knowledge of HTML if you want to do your own site!

CSS are cascading stylesheets and will be beyond your grasp unless, you are really gifted with computer skills.

Zerospace is like a computer guru if I remember correctly so she's speaking on geekspeak and really it's not going to help for you.

But what Zero space meant is by using 2 programs mainly!
1. Adobe photoshop to chop up images for placing into Dreamweaver! Notice how on some websites squares of a logo pops up? It's because the logo was cut into little pieces in photoshop.
2. Dreamweaver deals with all the css stuff.

You should probably get something with a Wysiwyg(What You See Is What You Get) web editor.

I don't use any, so I can't recommend any. But Frontpage is a good place to start.

Templates are a bit too difficult for you unless you learn dreamweaver and enough HTML to code decently in notepad.

P.S.
I JUST SAW YOUR LINK TO WHAT YOU WANT YOUR WEBSITE TO LOOK LIKE!

For you to make a website that looks that professional.

The easiest way is to use something like PHP Nuke, E107, or some other Content management system. It'll need a webserver with some free SQL databases. And you'll need to learn alot.

Now Some people will setup a PHP Nuke, E107, etc for you but they'll charge you a little bit to get those systems up. After that you would add hacks, plugins, etc. to get picture galleries, and forums and stuff.