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PhotoScape 3.3 Review
PhotoScape (Freeware: Windows Only) (Sidenote: if you are looking for freeware photo editing software and you run Mac OS X or Linux, skip this article and check out Gimp.) First and foremost, PhotoScape is a free and feature-rich alternative to paid photo-editing programs and it’s been downloaded over 6 million times (according to CNET) with […]
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Corel Paint Shop Pro X2 Review
Corel Paint Shop Pro (Windows Only) Corel’s Paint Shop Pro can (and has been) referred to as a poor man’s version of Photoshop (the real deal, not Elements) and with this new version, it may be worth giving it a shot. Paint Shop Pro X2 includes more features (layers, for one) but is still […]
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Table to Tableless
Table to Tableless Migration This tutorial requires intermediate knowledge of HTML/XHTML. It only requires basic knowledge of CSS. All of the properties I am using are being added to an embedded page style sheet, which is between the <head> tags in the document. You must use this to define header CSS: <style type=”text/css”> and </style>. […]
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The Universal Principles and the Business of Web Design
It has been a while since I’ve posted on this subject – I’ve been busy working on upgrading the clarity of my videos. You should see the results of that work soon enough. What are the ‘Universal Principles’ … and how do they apply to the business of web design? These are some of the […]
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How To Properly Use Web 2.0
Using Web 2.0 for the Right Reasons The term, Web 2.0, has become so common that it’s now almost one of those labels that everyone knows, but nobody knows the definition of. In fact, clients often ask me—with complete seriousness—if I can provide “Web 2.0 ” for their site. My reply is typically along the […]
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iPhoto ’09 Review
iPhoto ’09 Review Part of Apple’s “iLife” package, and bundled with every Mac, iPhoto is more photo-management than photo editing. iPhoto’s been around for some years now, but it’s not usually regarded as a powerful editing tool although Apple has improved its editing capabilities in this release. Definitely a winner for those of you who […]
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The Journey of a Thousand Miles
There’s a pretty tired cliché used all the time that goes something like this:
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
Like all clichés it’s true while at the same time a bit trivial. In the case of building websites, this particular cliché can help teach one of the most important lessons to learn. Let me try to put it in terms of what we do: it’s not how you end a project that gives you success as a web designer/developer; it’s how you begin it. -
GIMP 2.6.5 Review
An acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program, GIMP is another word for “free, powerful image retouching software”. Emphasis on the word free. You may ask, “how well does a free, volunteer-managed photo editing app stand up to the pricier software options?” Quite well. Unlike most of the other freeware photo-editing applications, GIMP has the more […]
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Don’t Be Afraid of the Third Party Solutions
“I make everything in-house!” As the owner of a web-design business, hearing this exclamation from competitors puts a smile on my face. As a web design instructor, however, I admonish my students for the same declaration. I don’t know why so many web designers feel the need to try to make everything themselves. Maybe it’s the innate creativity flowing through their veins, or the fact that web design is a very artistic enterprise. Whatever the case, the philosophy that everything on a website should be proprietary costs designers time and money.
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Web Design in a Recession
I wrote a quick article today on what to expect in the web design business because of the recession we are now in. I’ve seen this before (in the last recession) and I also see what’s going on now … so I got some answers! I also give you some clues as to how to position yourself so you can actually profit in this environment.
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How to Manage your Money
A key part about having a successful web designed business is properly managing your money. This may seem like a boring topic, but it still crucial. In the following podcast, I walk you through some of my basic rules of money management.