Free Design Software

Dr. Simon posted three different links to free design software which was really nice of how being many of the people in the class are new to web design- including myself. The three types of software are Nvu, Komposer and Gimp. Each software is extremely useful to know about for someone starting out in web design. Nvu is a now defunct html editor. Komposer is the new software developed by the group that created Nvu. Komposer is a web development software like Dreamweaver and it appears very easy to use. Gimp is a photo retouching and image creation software. Despite that these are free, I think I am more likely to use something like Dreamweaver since it is a good idea to build my skill set with software that is the standard in the industry. I have used Photoshop in the past but I have not used it for a while I will have to see how different it is and if I might find something else more easy to use.

Text Book Web Sites

I looked at the two web sites for our text books in the class. The first one, Principles of Beautiful Web Design site gives you a basic overview of web design (what the book is about) focusing on the various elements of design: layout, color, texture, typography and imagery. It is an excellent example of an aesthetically pleasing web site. It is easily readable and the points that the textbook author Jason Beaird is trying to convey are easily understood. It is clever in that when you scroll over each element a visual description appears on the page pointing out examples of what makes for good use of that specific element. For instance, layout shows the correct amount of white space on the page with arrows depicting this. Also, shown is the fixed width on the web page through the use of arrows, as well as, how to isolate the graphic of the bookcover (also using arrows). Check out http://www.principlesofbeautifulwebdesign.com/index.php

The second textbook web site I viewed was Creating Websites: The Missing Manual - Missing CD-ROM. This is a good web site as well because it is visually appealing and the information is conveyed in an easily viewalbe format. Each title is a chapter of the book in numerical order. Under each chapter title is a series of hyperlinks with helpful information on the topic. For instance Chapter One "Preparing for the Web" has links to the historical internet sites and broswer sites. This site can be located at http://missingmanuals.com/cds/creatingwstmm/

Blogs

Chapter seventeen of Creating Web Sites: The Missing Manual deals with blogs; specifically using Blogger. I have used Blogger before to write a blog following my efforts to complete 23 things. 23 things was a web 2.0 project that over 190 libraries and organizations have participated in. The Palm Beach County Library System (PBCLS), that I work for, had staff participate in this project to learn about new technologies on the web. The PBCLS blog for this project is at http://pbcls23things.blogspot.com/
I found this project to be a very rewarding experience. My blog for that project is located at http://jausten24pbcls.blogspot.com/

I found this chapter a very good review of Blogger. It was helpful in knowing that there are other elements that can be changed if you would like to. I like that if I want something more elaborate you can add them by adding tags using the Edit Html button in the postings area of Blogger.

Creating Your First Web Page

I read Chapter two in Creating Web Sites: The Missing Manual which was about the framework of a web page. Web sites are created in HTML which is a language that converts your web site content (such as text or pictures) into viewable web pages. In this chapter I learned how to write HTML in Notepad and how to view the web documents using a browser.

First I used Internet Explorer since most people utilize this browser to explore the web. I practiced using the different types of tags. Then I tried out Firefox. Container tags are formatting instructions for the text or other elements you include within a start tag and end tag. Standalone tags do not effect formatting, instead they are used to added a single element to a page such as an image. Nesting tags are tags that are used to create more elaborate formatting; for instance being able to both bold and italicize fonts.

The common mistakes associated with writing in HTML were noted such as missing a closing tag which renders would for instance result in the formatting of text to continue throughout the document; the formatting is never turned off.

I found it interesting to change and add tags to create more sophisticated type.

Preparing for the Web

I read chapter one in the class' text book Creating Web Sites. The Missing Manual by Matthew MacDonald. Chapter one focuses upon "Preparing for the Web". I learned about the history of the Internet which I found extremely interesting because it was used expressly for exchange files for academics and the government. That is exactly when I first encountered the Internet myself in an academic setting. In 1989 when I began attending The State University of New York at Buffalo (UB) a friend, who was an engineering major, recommended that I should set up an email account so that I could keep in touch with other students and friends at other universities. I really loved being able to email. They also instant messaging at the university which I thought was really cool. I met other people at the university that way. One friend even met her husband on a chat group from another university in New York.

I never really thought about the difference between the Web and the Internet. Now I realize that I have been using the Internet long before I surfed the Web. That the connections I utilized at the computer labs at UB and then at the State University of New York at Binghamton (SUNY Binghamton) were a new and exciting way to share information with other people at other computers at my universities as well as other universities. Searching the world wide web did not come into play until I used my computer to sign on with the service provider AOL in 1994 or 1995. Back then I found going online so much fun that I would spend hours just exploring.

I read about web browsers used to navigate web pages. One thing that really made an impression upon me is the need to test out web sites that you have created in numerous types of browsers to ensure that your site looks relatively the same in each browser; that a web designer needs to focus upon how the user is able to view the site properly. This differs from say, creating print materials for an organization where it is very clear how a page looks and will look the same to everyone.

The standard web browser is Internet Explorer however some other popular browsers include Firefox and Opera. Unfortunately Netscape Navigator, which I remember using quite often in the mid 1990s, has been fazed out.

I learned how using a web server is used to host a web creators web site so that others can view the site. This is very important since otherwise nobody can view your web site.

The different types of web sites were then described:

• Personal Web sites- about yourself
• Blogs- which are online diaries and I am currently using one.
• Resume sites- to showcase your job skills and pass along to possible employers.
• Topical sites- focusing upon subjects of interest to one such a writers forum and guides to book discussions.
• Event sites- which are temporary sites for a specific event like a wedding. Many of my friends and family have done this for upcoming weddings. They list things such as gift registry information and directions to the wedding ceremony and reception.
• Promotional sites: which are used to publicize a product or service.
• Small Business (e-commerce sites): to make money from a product or service. This is more of a small scale venture.

I noted how it is very important to know exactly the purpose of your web site, so that you can best design your site for its intended audience.

When designing the site I learned it is important to take into consideration that computer monitors differ in terms of resolution. This creates problems for users with smaller screen resolutions since portions of the site can be cut off for these viewers. Also, colors can be reinterpreted by monitors unable to support certain colors creating an unappealing color on your site. Non-standard fonts many be substituted on a users screen creating a look that is unintended by you as web designer. Larger graphics may take a really long time for users who are using slower connections to the web. Plug-ins, movies, and browser-specific limit who can view your site and benefit from it. As much as I like being creative, I really need to keep these facts in mind when I begin my web site.

I learned that I need to stay simple when creating a web page. It needs to be easily readable for others, logical in that is remain consistent in its layout and suitable to the needs of the intended audience.

In The Beginning...

Today I am starting my blog for my Instructional Graphics class at the University of South Florida. In the end, I hope to learn how to produce an interesting and aesthetically pleasing web site that is easy for users to navigate.