Where to start on this layout

[firestorm]

Hey,
I need to know how to go about this layout. Do I need to make it in frames, tables, or what. Sorta my first professional design I am tryin' here. Thanks.

-fire

 

[HHDomains]

Unless you are very familiar with css I would say to use fireworks or imageready to slice the image and create frames manually to insert into.

 

[firestorm]

problem with that is I don't have any of those programs. . Any other way? Thanks.

-fire

 

[HHDomains]

What program will you be using to design the site?

I have never used GIMP before but I've heard good things.
I don't know if they have integrated slicing into the program yet though.

 

[firestorm]

I have NVU, a 30 trial of Dreamweaver(just got yesterday) and GIMP. If I were to get a friend to slice it, what would I have to do on my part? Just make a pic like I want the layout to be or will each layer be a new frame? Thanks.

-fire

 

[HHDomains]

Again, I'm not familiar with the features of GIMP but you would create the page, using layers would be good for editing but would have a lot to do with the slicing, then either have your friend slice the GIMP file or save it as a web optimized file and then slice it.
Better to slice the original and save each slice optimized.

You would then create the table in DW and insert the sliced images. For blank areas you would replace the blank image with a background the same color of the image. This will make the cell expandable and also load faster.

 

[firestorm]

OK, well my friend said he would help and I found out that GIMP does slice images. Just haven't figured out how to use that part yet. Will see what I can come up with and post back with results. Thanks for the help HH, rep added.

-fire

 

[HHDomains]

No problem FS. I'm interested to see how things turn out.

 

[firestorm]

Ok, sorta stuck here. Decided to just mess around with Dreamweaver after a couple hours of tutorials. All work and no play gets old :td: . I took a template off the web and changed it alot. Still alot to go but I am stuck on the middle section. I want to make the edges rounded, outline everything with maybe a 2 pixel gray, and have a space inbetween the google ad and main area. There are 2 different tables there now. Can I set a pic back there and just format the text inside the pic area? Thanks.
First try

-fire

 

[LeetPCUser]

I can help you out. If you want to design the images I know css and can code a template with the images. I would just ask for some NP$. PM me and we can work something out.

 

[firestorm]

pm'ed thanks bryan. Still working on my mock version to see what I like image wise. Thanks again.

-fire

 

[JYM]

well if you don't know css, you should consider learning it sometime. It's not that complicated, I could actually code with it within the hour and just took me a few more hours to get the hang of it and code my layout.

If you do not have any of these programs except for Nvu and gimp, I would suggest you start manually coding it (maybe in tables since you don't know css).
Just make the layout with gimp, make the header with gimp aswell... (keep in mind you need the right sizes/proportions). As for the rest of the site, try and just use tables and color to make it look nice. The best layouts are those that are simple, fast loading, and very easy to use. No sense making a very complex layout if it's hard to navigate. If you wanted the content box to be rounded at the edges, use either css or create the rounded edges with gimp and then insert as background into that cell (not the best method but if you don't know css it's one of the few ways to do it).

Also if you need something sliced with photoshop, I'll be glad to do it for a few NP$.

 

[firestorm]

Thanks for the info. I am learning CSS through the W3C tutorials right now. Still getting the hang of it. Usually catch on to stuff fairly fast, just haven't had much time. I think GIMP can slice images, if not I'll keep you in mind . Thanks again.

-fire

 

[LeetPCUser]

Hey if you want I could also teach you and explain what the code I write does...

 

[firestorm]

Sounds good, I will go over the code anyways and anything I get stuck on I'll ask about with nps of course .

 

[LeetPCUser]

Sounds good. I can't wait to start on this. You are going to get me enough to buy my next ribbon.

 

[firestorm]

Working on the design right now .

 

[LeetPCUser]

That is very good news.