> a) do people think that templates are a good idea or not?

Not really.  I get a lot of fun out of coming up with new looks for
websites.  This "artistic expression" is the only real fun I get from
creating a website, the rest is hard work scanning, shooting photos and
typing.  That's creative too, but it's not as much fun as coming up with a
new look.

> b) has anyone any experience with amazingtemplates  and if so can
> she/he  comment?

Sorry, no.

> c) are there other/better/cheaper sources of templates out there?

Hotmetal 6 comes with lots of templates and it's a good editor for someone
starting out because it writes good code if you put the proper DTD in new
web pages.  The only problem is that they have abandoned supporting this
product for now because they assume that XML is the only future.

Another good editor is Homesite, but I don't think it has any templates, but
then I never looked for them either.  Dreamweaver is another great editor if
you have enough memory.  The Macromedia website has lots of templates, but I
don't care for them.

I don't get enough control out of templates.  I tried them in the early days
of my designs for the same reasons you stated but they ultimately didn't
work for me.  Templates are never exactly what you want or need.  The other
problem is that someone is bound to recognize them unless you have someone
design a "one of a kind" look for you.  Sometimes I see these and I still
recognize them for what they are because someone is using similar colors and
layouts across many websites.

I use several graphic programs, but Paint Shop Pro 7 is very useful for
coming up with new looks.  It has dozens of built in textures and color
styles that are easily applied.  Add the dozens of effects like drop shadow,
inside & outside bevel, cutout, embossing and many other effects and you can
see why it is so popular.  The jasc.com website has many links to tutorials
that teach you how to create professional looking images.  It has export
filters that allow you to control image size too.

 Here's what I do.  Start with a new 640 X 400 file.   You can pick your
background color befoire you start.  Then you pick a foreground color and
use rectangles, circles and other shapes to draw your page layout.  I do
this by adding layers so I can reposition each individual element.  When I
have all my elements added and I am satisfied, I merge them and use the
magic wand to select my elements and then I add bevels or drop shadows to
highlight the design.

I may do this a  couple times using different filters and effects adding to
the complexity of the page, but you can get great results keeing it simple
too.  That's probably what you want to do when you start anyway.

Be sure to use anti-alias or your elements will have jagged edges.  Also be
sure to draw using 16 million colors, it allows you to use all effects and
filters.  Many PSP effects are grayed out in 256 or 16 color modes.

There are many great tutorials at the PSP website.  They also have many
third party tutorials where people share their secrets at
http://www.jasc.com/tutorials/tptsites.asp?

Paul Wilson
webguroo(at)tampabay.rr.com

HTML: hwg-basics mailing list archives, maintained by Webmasters @ IWA