Re: web design -- one Photoshop file with everything ???

In the early days of the WWW (not so long ago in people-years), most pages
were created using a text editor. This approach had the advantage of
simplicity but lacked the flexibility found in DTP programs (PageMaker,
Quark, etc.).

One approach that may be helpful in laying out and composing a page would
be to use a graphics program. Photoshop can be used for that purpose.
Illustrator also can. Of course, in the end, you're going to need to
convert everything into something that can be read by a web browser.

I suppose that the improvements in page design programs that offer a
WYSIWYG view may supplant the use of general-purpose graphics programs for
page layout, although each approach has its advantages.

At the present time, though, there is really no one program that does it
all and also does it best. Even photoshop benefits from certain plug-ins;
and some things, like text, are probably better done in Illustrator. BTW,
ImageStyler can be used to create a page and can export an HTML file, but
even here there are many things better done with other applications.

Reagarding the notion, "do everything in Photoshop because its much more
creative," -- the creativity is in the person, not the application.

With many of the current-generation web design programs, some may argue
that you don't really need to know HTML. You really should, though, because
all these programs have their weak spots, and there are times when writing
the HTML directly makes more sense. Or when you need to figure out why
something isn't working. Maybe more important is the understanding and
appreciation of the various limitations, constraints, and trade-offs in
designing a web page.

--Jeff






>Im not sure if this goes outside of the guidlines of "acceptable"
>topics for this area -- but it seems very relevent to me -------
>
>
>How scary is this?
>
>Im working at a major Fortune 500 company at the moment -- they've
>decided to let someone who is essentially clueless develop their latest
>intranet site.
>
>He decided to "do everything in Photoshop because its much more
>creative" ---. This includes text, icons -- everything. There are over
>200 layers to this PSD file --------- and hes sorely ticked at trying
>to make the doezens of changes they were asking for all morning. He is
>a traditional Graphic Designer.
>
>Now he's upset because the IT people informed him that if he's going to
>design the intranet site -- then hed better learn how to code -- they
>cant do a thing with his file -- AHEM lets not even talk about the
>Linking issues -------- everything -- links and all are in this one PSD
>file.
>
>They are arguing about it now -- this "designer" says that he "can't be
>bothered" to even learn HTML let alone javacript or DHTML -- he doesnt
>think its necessary ------
>
>This is what I was thinking of when I said in another post that I am
>glad Im driven enough to want to learn and be stronger with my
>programming skills. To me design is a synergy of graphics and
>programming -- not either of them as separate entities.
>
>Any thoughts on his approach? Ive never heard of anyone using what is
>essentially an image-editing tool to build a whole site --------------
>
>Lisa
>_____________________________________________________________
>DO YOU YAHOO!?
>Get your free (at)yahoo.co.uk address at http://mail.yahoo.co.uk

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