Hello everybody! Another newbie asking for some help :)

[kelmain]

Hi there!

 

I'm new here and I've seen here a pretty friendly community so I decided myself to ask you for some help.

 

First of all I must say that I'm a graphic designer for editorial content (not web content) and now I find myself looking for a job . So, I need to create a portfolio to show my creations to other companies and well, you know, manage to get a new job.

 

I was wondering if anyone could help me out with this, give me some advice of any good content manager (php nuke, wordpress...) and guide me through the creation of a simple but atractive portfolio were I can easily post and tag my creations. And re-design it easily of course.

 

P.S: As a side note, I've seen some blogs with some kind of media player were the owner puts the music he wants, that would also be awesome

 

I'm sorry if I'm asking for too much

 

Thanks in advance!

[falkencreative]

Well, the question is a little vague... We're here to help, but I'm not sure if it is possible to "guide you through" without doing all the work for you, which really isn't our job. If you are looking for a Content Management system to use, I'd suggest either CMSMadeSimple, or Wordpress, since both should be relatively easy to learn and work with.

 

For Wordpress, take a look at Stefan's videos on the subject (http://www.killersites.com/wordpress/) or the videos on Wordpress/converting a Photoshop file to HTML at CSS Tricks (http://css-tricks.com/video-screencasts/) or the "Wordpress for Web Designers" series (http://blog.themeforest.net/category/wordpress/) and of course http://codex.wordpress.org/Main_Page.

 

OpenSourceCMS (http://www.opensourcecms.com/) is a good place to start when looking for a CMS, since it includes demo versions you can play with online, without having to go through the hassle of installing anything.

[jlhaslip]

I am partial to sNews CMS, which has several versions/modified packages with Galleries, Tag Clouds, and many other features, and lots of users here prefer other Content Managment Systems. There are some really good ones around. Find one that has the features you need and download it. Many are Freeware.

 

http://www.google.ca/search?q=open+source+content+management+review&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=com.ubuntu:en-US:unofficial&client=firefox-a

[LSW]

Good to have you (but don't go telling everyone that I am friendly, you'll ruin my reputation...)

 

I would stay as far away from PHPNuke as the planet will let you. They look good (albeit all the same), but they are hard coded into sizes that make them useless for those with disabilities. Unless you are positive that everyone you apply with is 100% health and young etc., odds are you will have people looking at your portfolio who have anything from poor eyesight, color blindness etc., through cognitive disorders and reading impairments, to accident or age related motoric problems...

 

Now different software do different things. As far as free tools go let me choose two examples. Wordpress is a blog software that can be used as a CMS. But Wordpress is meant for writing and articles and that is what it does best. Drupal is a CMS that allows for RSS (blog) feeds. But it is an enterprise level (for businesses) Content Management System. Great for larger sites. It is meant to manage web sites and Wordpress is meant to manage writing. In your case Drupal would likely be a little on the large side being for companies.

 

So for you I guess unless you wish to pay money for one, CMSMadeSimple would be a good choice. It has a real following here in the forum... though I have never worked with it, I respect the opinions of those here who push it, so that is good enough for me.

 

the point is though that all three will do the job... the line between enterprise and private, CMS and Blog have faded to the point that choosing which to use is more a matter of semantics and personal choice. I list many more in my thread "CMS (Content Management System) : Accessibility", but these are the top three free ones.

 

I would not do the music. Music is really not a good idea for sites other than bands etc. never force it on the user, let them choose to hear it as it bugs most people with their own music playing and those who do not likely do not have their speakers on. It can cause major issues for people with disabilities like blind surfers. Odds are most visitors will not like your choice of music either.

 

Lastly it is not really seen as professional. You are a print person so it has nothing to do with your work. I strongly suggest you stay away from any eye candy and non-sence on your portfolio. The web site should do NOTHING other than highlight your skills. It would just be distracting and maybe leave the employer questioning your professionality if your portfolio for print is blaring some music they do not like.

 

Keep the portfolio focused and professional. If it does not highlight what it is that they should hire you for, it should not be there. If they wish to see your type of work that you would do for them, that is all they should see, no distractions. Leave the gimicks for your private site. Dedicate the portfolio site completely to your portfolio including your domain name. Consider JoeBlowPortfolio.info or JoeBlowPortfolio.name.

[kelmain]

Thanks a bunch falkencreative!

 

I'm sorry for being so vague at asking, I'm spanish, therefore my english is not as good as I'd like, anyways your message has been of great help. I think I'll start working with Wordpress and studying these nice videos and tutorials, and then, if I have more questions, come back and try to sort them out.

 

Thanks again, and thanks a lot!

 

Also, Ill take a look at CMSMadeSimple and sNews CMS

[kelmain]

Good to have you (but don't go telling everyone that I am friendly, you'll ruin my reputation...)

 

I would stay as far away from PHPNuke as the planet will let you. They look good (albeit all the same), but they are hard coded into sizes that make them useless for those with disabilities. Unless you are positive that everyone you apply with is 100% health and young etc., odds are you will have people looking at your portfolio who have anything from poor eyesight, color blindness etc., through cognitive disorders and reading impairments, to accident or age related motoric problems...

 

Now different software do different things. As far as free tools go let me choose two examples. Wordpress is a blog software that can be used as a CMS. But Wordpress is meant for writing and articles and that is what it does best. Drupal is a CMS that allows for RSS (blog) feeds. But it is an enterprise level (for businesses) Content Management System. Great for larger sites. It is meant to manage web sites and Wordpress is meant to manage writing. In your case Drupal would likely be a little on the large side being for companies.

 

So for you I guess unless you wish to pay money for one, CMSMadeSimple would be a good choice. It has a real following here in the forum... though I have never worked with it, I respect the opinions of those here who push it, so that is good enough for me.

 

the point is though that all three will do the job... the line between enterprise and private, CMS and Blog have faded to the point that choosing which to use is more a matter of semantics and personal choice. I list many more in my thread "CMS (Content Management System) : Accessibility", but these are the top three free ones.

 

I would not do the music. Music is really not a good idea for sites other than bands etc. never force it on the user, let them choose to hear it as it bugs most people with their own music playing and those who do not likely do not have their speakers on. It can cause major issues for people with disabilities like blind surfers. Odds are most visitors will not like your choice of music either.

 

Lastly it is not really seen as professional. You are a print person so it has nothing to do with your work. I strongly suggest you stay away from any eye candy and non-sence on your portfolio. The web site should do NOTHING other than highlight your skills. It would just be distracting and maybe leave the employer questioning your professionality if your portfolio for print is blaring some music they do not like.

 

Keep the portfolio focused and professional. If it does not highlight what it is that they should hire you for, it should not be there. If they wish to see your type of work that you would do for them, that is all they should see, no distractions. Leave the gimicks for your private site. Dedicate the portfolio site completely to your portfolio including your domain name. Consider JoeBlowPortfolio.info or JoeBlowPortfolio.name.

 

 

Woah!

 

Great advices there, LSW, really, thank you!.

 

I was willing to use a relaxed music as a background for visualizing my work, but as you said, many people wont like it. So I better leave the music away, and focus on my own work.

 

Good, now I don't know how to start, maybe I should start by trying CMSMade Simple and come back again if I have any troubles, I don't really want to bother you guys anymore. I'll do my best and see how far I can get.

 

By the way,

 

CMS Made Simple has any kind of templates or anything that I can modify easily (with photoshop hehehe)? So I can give the portfolio a more personal look.

 

Thanks guys, really, I'm amazed

[falkencreative]

CMS Made Simple does offer templates: http://themes.cmsmadesimple.org/Download_Themes/Full_Themes.html though I don't necessarily know what quality they will be. They are HTML templates, so they aren't really something that you can edit with Photoshop, though you can go in and make changes to the graphics or make modifications to the HTML to your liking. A search for "cms made simple themes" on Google will probably bring up some other options as well.

 

I've used CMSMS a bit, and I have found it pretty easy to work with, and there are CMSMS specific forums on cmsmadesimple.org if you need help. The online documentation is pretty good too.

[kelmain]

Nevermind what I said!

 

Found myself the answer weeee!!

 

http://cmsmadesimple.org/tutorials/dl_cmsms_package/tutorial.swf

 

Let's rock this

Edited May 11, 2009 by kelmain

[falkencreative]

Download this file: cmsmadesimple-1.5.4-full.tar.gz to your local computer, unzip it, and then upload the files to your site using FTP. Then navigate (if I remember correctly, you'll need to glance at the folder structure) to yourdomain.com/install, and follow the installer through. You will need to log in to your hosting control panel and set up a database for CMS Made Simple to use, and then provide those details to the CMSMS installer.

[falkencreative]

Nevermind what I said!

 

Found myself the answer weeee!!

 

http://cmsmadesimple.org/tutorials/dl_cmsms_package/tutorial.swf

 

Let's rock this

 

Yeah, that should help too.

[kelmain]

Well, I got it installed and running.

 

Now the only real problem I see is that there are very few interesting templates to work on.

 

Anyways, this is almost what I was looking for, an easy to use system were I can organize my works and show them to the world

 

Now I just need a good template...!

 

And, again, thanks, sincerly, you made my day =D

[falkencreative]

Well, I got it installed and running.

 

Now the only real problem I see is that there are very few interesting templates to work on.

 

Good to hear. I work with CMSMS a bit, I really should release a template or two -- I agree that the template selection is limited. Thankfully, CMSMS uses standard HTML for the templates, so you may actually be able to adapt a standard HTML/CSS template for your use. It'll mostly be a matter of adding a couple CMSMS tags for where you want the content areas to go.

 

Glad to help.

[kelmain]

Guess whos back? =)

 

Thansk for all your help Falken, now I'm back with more complex questions that need to be answered

 

Can I post the URL to the portfolio so you can see hows it going? Or send it to you by PM? (I don't want to spam)

 

I succesfully managed to implement a Gallery module called "Album" and it works perfectly, i'm very proud of it . Also, I managed to retouch an existing design changing colours and images, and even if its not still finished (missing the main banner), I'm getting to like it.

 

The problem comes when I try to set up a contact form, I'm just a total... idiot. I just can't do it. Im trying to set up de SMTP on CMSMS mailer and it doesn't work (and it does on Thunderbird). Also, the contact form looks ugly and I'm using the official "forms" module. Anyways, it doesn't work, it gives me this message:

 

Warning: fsockopen() [function.fsockopen]: unable to connect to smtp.1and1.es:25 (Conexi?n rehusada) in /homepages/14/d272334934/htdocs/portfolio/CMS/modules/CMSMailer/phpmailer/class.smtp.php on line 105

 

So I don't know what to do here.

 

By the way, any suggestions of any good module to put on the side bar to the left? I have a "news" module there, but it hasnt got any use for a portfolio. Any ideas? =)

 

Thanks again, as always

[falkencreative]

PM me the link, though ultimately, to fix the issue, I might have to get the login details so I can see how you have your form set up. When I have worked with CMSMS forms, I don't believe I have ever needed to set up SMTP information...