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

--- Gary Barber <gazbe(at)omen.com.au> wrote:
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> Lisa Scribes
> 
> > ROFL Gary --
> >
> > Here is a direct quote from the master himself --
> >
> > "I have no intention of being a web designer so I
> dont need this stuff"
> > (but hes "designing" this web project) -- They
> think I am "so funny"
> > here for being so involved (and for "caring way
> too much") -- that
> > includes groups like this one ---------
> 
> This is just so true... I know a lot of people like
> this, especially some IT
> graduates doing web design while looking for a REAL
> job.  I hate this. Its
> like Web Design is down there with waiting on
> tables, deliveriing papers
> etc...
> 
> I get the "why are you so passionate and over the
> top on the design and look
> all the time" from IT people all the time. Its funny
> they can't see that
> creative element the visuals and process is why some
> of us do it. Its a
> labour of love (sometimes not I must admit!).  They
> just can't understand
> when you're presenting a proposal you can act out
> the movement of the object
> on for a MultiMedia StoryBoard.  They think you are
> crazy.  Now you go talk
> to the Marketing and Public Relations people and
> they welcome you with
> comments like "we just don't understand these
> techheaded geeks IT" . The web
> designer is in both camps, its a  funny road we
> travel.
> 

Yes -- funny and dangerous sometimes it feels like. I get so fed up with graphic designers who cant give a hoot to be bothered with technology and IT traditionalists who think that "creatives" are freaks. And then the Business people who think both sides are "geeks" ---- hey I earn a decent living and if the cap fits I am wearing it with pride.

Factionalism doesnt help the industry ---- but for those of us willing to hone our skills and ride the ever changing waves I think there will always be good opportunities. 


> > But a question for my purposes at least?
> >
> > I create the images needed and use Quark to lay
> them out. This includes
> > backgrounds, frames, images, etc.
> > It serves the same function as your laying things
> out in Photoshop --
> > to get the client to give his approval to design
> and layout etc from a
> > visual perspective.
> 
> Now you see I personally can see Quark is good at
> what it does, But I'm
> really more a home in PS, I just live and breathe in
> it and my WYSIWYG
> Editor.
> 
> If I had as much experience in Quark as I have in PS
> then yes, I would
> layout in Quark or Pagemaker.
> 

Nothing wrong with that -- whatever you feel comfy with -- it gets the intended result. 

But I will say I find Quark more "user-friendly" than Pagemaker. Quark has gotten a lot more "fluid" in terms of being able to sort out how to get things done. And the Quark Bible comes in handy as well. Now apparently they both can be save as HTML -- go figure (I dont plan on finding out).

I will also add that PDFing the files is a handy dandy way to send them to clients (at a distance) -- but of course I am not crazy enough to rely on email. 

> > Given that I am using the pantone system in all of
> my applications,
> > including their internet pallette, I ensure that I
> am working with the
> > same web-safe colors across the board for all
> elements.
> 
> Do you use version 1 of their web palette or version
> 2.  Version one was out
> on some of the greens thats all.  I have both.

I believe I have version 2 -- have only had it for about 3 weeks. 

> 
> How good do you find the little bit of supplimentary
> software with the
> palettte.  I don't use it much.
> 

The only thing I cared about was the palette -- havent even looked at everything else. Usually these CDs are just filled with demos that die after 15-30 days and stuff I wouldnt use anyhow -- so I have a habit of ignoring the rest of the stuff.


> > A huge part of it is the client and their
> willingness to work with the
> > constraints of a difficult medium that is
> constantly changing. Some
> > clients will be difficult regardless of the medium
> in which they need
> > your services.
> 
> > Lisa
>
> Yes this one of the biggest problems with a client
> that is new to the
> medium.  I now walk them through a mini introduction
> to the web and bill it
> back as consulting if I can, most cases they are
> happy that someone has
> shown them the ropes.
> 

Hun its a problem even with clients who "think" they know the medium.

Thats why I call myself an Internet Consultant -- Im not always designing a site or doing the production. Some clients have me do corresponding print work, marketing, strategic and creative plans, etc --- sooner or later its inevitable if they have it in their head that you can serve another purpose - they will have you do so. And of course if you say no -- theres always someone who will say yes -- and might be more clueless. I am careful tho -- to only tackle what I am sure I can deliver. I dont know everything. But feel confident about what I do know and the direction I am going in.

I figure they are contracting me because they cant do these things themselves --- and Im careful to give details for projects on invoices - even for "education and instruction".

> >
> > --- Gary Barber <gazbe(at)omen.com.au> wrote:
> > > Heather
> > >
> > > I'm very glad to hear that someone does this
> too. I
> > > find it a very fast way
> > > of getting the mockup of the comps to the client
> for
> > > the signoff on the
> > > visuals.  After this the normal separate
> development
> > > of the image sections
> > > and graphical page areas is dealt with in FW/IS
> or
> > > PS.  The final page is
> > > never one sole image (well unless we are talking
> > > Flash). The point is here
> > > that some people, (me included) find for the
> > > graphical interface design the
> > > use of Photoshop or whatever as a mockup tool to
> be
> > > fastest way to go from
> > > the hand sketches (which some clients think are
> > > cute!) to a screen
> > > representation of the site.
> > >
> > > The thing is if you know your HTML well enough
> while
> > > you are putting the
> > > mockup together you should be deciding how you
> are
> > > going to implement the
> > > final product.  As this will have a great baring
> on
> > > your design.
> > >
> > > As for the 200+ layers a Final copy (not mockup
> or
> > > scratch file) PS file.
> > > I'm with Lisa, max I use is about 20.  And this
> will
> > > be a very complex
> > > image.  Mind you thats after I delete the just
> in
> > > case this doesn't work
> > > duplicates; hey I don't trust things these days,
> and
> > > time is sometimes very
> > > short.
> > >
> > > 200 is just unworkable, it'ld take you five
> minutes
> > > to get from top to
> > > bottom of the layers, I hope he named them well
> too.
> > > Maybe he's lurking on
> > > this list ;>
> > >
> > > Gary
> > >
> > > radharc.
> > >
> > > >
> > > > While not responding directly to the original
> > > post, I do have a related
> > > > comment.
> > > >
> > > > I use Adobe Image Styler extensively to create
> my
> > > web graphics.   It is
> > > > extremely simple to arrange the graphics I've
> just
> > > created in
> > > > approximately
> > > > the layout I want on the final page.   I find
> this
> > > very helpful
> > > > in deciding
> > > > where I want the elements to go and it is
> > > lightning fast compared
> > > > to messing
> > > > with coding a page.  After all, I already have
> the
> > > program open to create
> > > > the graphics in, so why not just move them
> around
> > > the screen into
> > > > how I want
> > > > my page to look?
> > > >
> > > > While Image Styler does allow me to save the
> > > layout as html, I
> > > > never do this
> > > > (I haven't ever tried actually, but I would
> > > imagine it would make some
> > > > pretty funky tables to get things exactly as I
> > > have in my trial layout).
> > > > No, it is only a tool for me to quickly decide
> if
> > > I like how the
> > > > images are
> > > > interacting with each other etc. I might even
> slip
> 
=== message truncated ===
<hr size=1><b>DO YOU YAHOO!?</b><br><br>Get your free (at)yahoo.co.uk address at <a href="http://mail.yahoo.co.uk">Yahoo! Mail</a>.<br><br>

HWG: hwg-graphics mailing list archives, maintained by Webmasters @ IWA