Design Tips

I’ve noticed that pretty much everyone here keeps saying how they are beginners at designing layouts and using html, etc. I’ve started this thread for us all to learn together. If you figure out something that works well, and would like to share how to do it: post it in here! :)

I’m going to start with COLORS!

I found a couple of websites for anyone who is having trouble figuring out what colors go together, or even what colors to put in the backgrounds and text that will match that great image you want to use.

http://www.wellstyled.com/tools/colorscheme2/index-en.html
This one will generate a color palette. Just click on a color in the color wheel. You can adjust it by clicking on the little squares under the wheel and under the color scheme box.

http://slayeroffice.com/tools/color_palette/
This one I found useful when I have an image and I want the layout to reflect the colors in that image. You just enter a base color and two variations and it will generate a color scheme for you. You will need to be able to get the 6 digit color code from your image. I use photoshop. But you can use any image editing software. (not Paint it won’t give the 6 digit hex value) You can download a free trial of photoshop HERE.

Hope this helps!

Oh, goody more toys! I’ll be trying them out! Just an additional note. I don’t think Paint Shop Pro gives the 6 digit color code, either.

This is a great idea! I have some other links regarding colors!

http://www.colourlovers.com/

This is a site that people submit their color schemes and share with other people. Very useful because you don’t have to think yourself :)

http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2007/06/20/color-inspiration-from-the-masters-of-painting/

example of how people come up with colors :)

IMAGE HOSTING!!

I know we get a lot of feedback from Coolchaser users complaining about the photobucket bandwidth exceeded messages…so I found a website today that gives a lot more bandwidth than photobucket!

http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/

They have a 1000mb storage limit and 8000mb bandwidth limit for free.
You can even host your videos and music!! (I think you can also upload documents like pdf’s and speadsheets etc.)
It’s very easy to navigate.
You sign in and you’ll see links in the navigation menu for “My Files” and “Upload”

To get the direct link to your images to use on coolchaser themes:
1. go to “My Files”
2. check the boxes next to the images you want the links to
3. select “get linking codes” from the ‘Select file actions’ drop down menu
4. click the link that says “Just the direct URLs”

FONTS

This was posted by Tammy!
Get cool fonts to make cool images!

http://www.dafont.com/

http://www.fontspace.com/

To install a new font on windows:

1. Make sure you save the font in a place where you can easily find it.
2. Go to: Start Menu > Control Pane > Fonts
3. In the File menu select “install new fonts”.
4. Select the fonts you want to install by clicking on the folder menu in the bottom left box. Once you open the folder that holds your new fonts, those fonts will appear in the list of fonts box. Just click the fonts you want installed and click “OK”.

::Most fonts will be zipped and you need to extract the file before you can install it.

::If you saved to your desktop and are having a hard time finding it in the folder menu try this from the folder menu:
• Double click the c/: folder
• Double click “Documents and Settings”
• Double click the name of the desktop you saved on. (if there is more than one. I have more than one user for my computer)
• Double click “desktop”

for the people that are really really new to html… there’s a FREE class on about.com

http://webdesign.about.com/c/ec/75.htm

and then they also have css and other courses and when you complete the class, you can take an exam and get a certificate for it.

AmyS, Thank you. I have been looking for a html for dummies. I’ll try this one. btw, I am not being sarcastic, facetious, smart-alecky or anything else bad, I am entirely serious

your welcome. i stumbled upon the site when i was brushing up on my html a couple of months ago. it’s pretty good but it’s completely beginner so if you have any experience, you have to hang in there to get to the good stuff :0)

As I said, I am looking for html for dummies. Me, being the html dummy. LOL

Hi AmyS, nice to see you at the forum :) and thanks for helping out with the tips :)

Tammy, and all, the site Tammy lists has a link to the actual XHTML course for newbies like me. Thought I’d include it in this topic area: http://webdesign.about.com/c/ec/9.htm
It is where you can sign up for the course and have it fully explained to you, also. If you successfully complete the course, and, yes, there is homework, you do get a certificate. Lots more good information at the site.

just remember that xhtml doesn’t work very well on myspace.com
they filter out the # sign.

np sachiko, just adding my 2 cents :0)

so i found some more sites for you LostJohn, and they’re pretty good too…

http://funkychickens.com/begin.asp

&

http://lissaexplains.com/

Many thanks, Amy. Appreciate it.

were they helpful?? they looked pretty good

Lissa Explains All looked pretty good, at a glance. Will be going into it deeper this week.

Here is a very easy html tutorial that includes editors so you can try it out and see how it works.

http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_intro.asp

That is the link to the intro. Just use the menu on the left to choose the tutorial you want to learn. You can read about it first or you can jump right in to the “Try It Yourself Examples” links.

Lilgurl, thanks a bunch. Don’t mean to be slow to answer, but between doctor appointments, and my pain prescription keeping me loopy and groggy, don’t get a lot done.