how to design a webpage

when i design a webpage.. i have an idea of what i want, I write the html code for it.. and then design all the buttons and boarders in photoshop to go with it.

Is this how most designers work?

should I be starting to design my websites in photoshop to begin with and then writing my html to fit the design I make? Or am i talking crazy and got the wrong end of the stick?

 

Wow, I work the other way around. When I get a design, I first design it in photoshop, and then code it in HTML.

I like working with photoshop first becase you can edit the graphics, move it around, etc.

 

First design the entire page is Photoshop or similar software. Then make any changes you want. Usually, if you spend a little more time after creating you the design in your mind, you can improve your design by a great deal. So try various combinations, design the buttons and things so that it matches the design. Then finally, once everything else is over, go for the HTML part.

 

Yes you should make your grahics first.... then build your html (layout)

 

Photoshop, PHP Designer, Photoshop, PHP Designer, Photoshop, PHP Designer... Repeat if needed. I tend to change my design about 10 times befire it is uploaded.

Yeah, you should design the graphics first, make a few drawings in pen and paper to help you with the coding and code away.

Pen & Paper - I recently tried it. Saves me quite a bit of time. Usually you code everything and go into css and edit it like every 2 minutes. This way you can design it, code it, and not have to make much changes since it will probably be in place.

 

I tend to draw it up on paper, test some things in code and then do it in Photoshop or Fireworks. If it looks nice I then code it all, otherwise I modify the drawing on paper and then modify it to suit in Photoshop or Fireworks.

Once i've got it all how I like it I code it, and after coding it I try and optimize it all for speed.

 

I usually have an idea of what I want in the head. Then I open photoshop and do the whole design there first. When I'm happy with the design I start with the coding.

 

Drawing it on paper? I've never done that before.. (my clients who don't use photoshop do and send me the paper.. ). But isn't it more faster to draw it up in photoshop, or no? You can't exactly draw out layer styles on paper.. atleast with photoshop you can. But I guess drawing out the layout (how the content is going to be placed) must be faster by pen

 

Make it by hand if you're too inspired, and photoshop isn't around.
Eh, sometimes I miss pen written letters, I only receive envelopes with bills these days. World has changed
P.S. I was drawing designs when I was young, too

 

I use photoshop to create/modify image and banners, then use dreamweaver to code html for static sites.

 

Not neccessarily faster in Photoshop (for me that is). I find it alot faster to draw it all up and alot easier, but I guess thats just hot it works for me. lol

 

I design it in word first (I know, I'm a freak!) and then get the html done!

 

Bad Idea.
Microsoft Frontpage is not a fantastic tool designing a webpage either, but Word is even worse. It gives you dirtiest code possible. You know, from the two I'd pick Frontpage, still.

Maybe you should give Dreamweaver a try. Time to take it seriously

 

No I mean I use word to literally DESIGN (the colours and layout) of the site.
I make the site in notepad/dreamweaver

 

Photoshop is a much better tool to design a layout. I mean it is the right tool for that kind of task.
Try it. MS Word is definitely not your best friend there.

 

Yea...MS word just aint cut out for it. Microsoft frontpage will be the best if ur starting out. But now i usually just code my html in text wrangler (its something like notepad), since it gives me the cleanest code of all. Dreamweaver is quite complex......so i suggest NVU...and besides, its free=). I usually code the site first, so i can get an idea of how the divs would be positioned. After that, i design the graphics to fit the position where they are placed.

 

How is that possible, do you mean type out the color scheme, which tables go where.. kind of like notes? That must take a long time.. yikes But if it works for you!..

 

I always do my design in Photoshop and then transfer that to HTML. This will give a feel for how it will look ont eh screen adn how the graphics may flow between and among tables. You can also put your navigation and graphics into individual files for re-use on your pages at this step.

I am constantly switching between Dreamweaver, Photohsop, Word Pad, etc.

Robert Rio
RFR Web Design, LLC

 

Actually, creating graphics I have a clear image of the HTML layout in my mind.

 

What I mean is i make an "image" of what the site will look like in word (takes about 30 mins) and then from that I can work out all the DIVs needed, the colour scheme i will use, etc...
It's really quick
And also, because I like using rounded boxes, word's autoshapes are really good for me to display my design!