Designing A Webpage

[slayer202]

Originally posted by: notfred
CSS based layout is great about making boxes and putting them wherever you want. That's essentially all your layout is.You've got a box at the top with some images in it, then three boxes underneath that, one with links in it, one with another box that is a main content area, and one with banner ads.

I'm really not sure what your question is, but that wouldn't be a difficult layout to do with CSS.

Personally, I think it's ugly and I don't know how many people are going to want to read a "Dirty Morrison" website, but that's irrelevant.

alright thanks. so my question would be, what benefits would CSS give me over html. im guessing it would display the page better for users of all resolutions, rather than just what I design it in?

lol, yes i know its ugly, hopefully i can fix that up. and its gonna be a sports related site btw, just the "theme" is "dirty" adam morrison

 

[pkme2]

I started with HTML, Frontpage and now Dreamweaver. I use the various templates, with a design in mind before I get started. I use PhotoShop, Illustrator and InDesign for content.

Follow these rules:
1. Make sure the webpage opens in less than 4 seconds (56K modem) or users will go elsewhere.
2. Make sure your webpages are maneurable, easy to get around and getting back to homepage easy, in case they get lost.
3. Heavier content like videos and graphics can be linked within. Once you got them, you can run longer stuff to keep them interested.
4. Check out prize winning websites. Copying is flattery to the originator.

Something that is original usually works if you're artistic and capable. I've seen many website designs done by amateurs and professionals over the years, but I prefer something simple and pleasing to the eyes. Its your choice, wish you good designing.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: slayer202

Originally posted by: notfred
CSS based layout is great about making boxes and putting them wherever you want. That's essentially all your layout is.You've got a box at the top with some images in it, then three boxes underneath that, one with links in it, one with another box that is a main content area, and one with banner ads.

I'm really not sure what your question is, but that wouldn't be a difficult layout to do with CSS.

Personally, I think it's ugly and I don't know how many people are going to want to read a "Dirty Morrison" website, but that's irrelevant.

alright thanks. so my question would be, what benefits would CSS give me over html. im guessing it would display the page better for users of all resolutions, rather than just what I design it in?

lol, yes i know its ugly, hopefully i can fix that up. and its gonna be a sports related site btw, just the "theme" is "dirty" adam morrison

Loading off of one stylesheet makes the load on the server a lot smaller. You're pulling code once, instead of a bunch of tables repeated over and over. Also, something one can't deny is the cleaner code. Personally, I'd rather see something like :

<div id="content">Content</div>

Rather than...

<table border="0"><td><tr>Content</tr></td></table>

Also, CSS is much, much cleaner and easier to manipulate to get the desired effect.

Say you wanted to get rid of all the borders on your images, instead of having <img src="blah.jpg" border="0" />, could simply put img {border:0;} in your CSS and it's all done for you.

 

[totalcommand]

you could sketch it out on photoshop, then slice it up in fireworks, then import that into dreamweaver.

 

[TheSophist]

^

What he said. Best way in my opinion.




The Sophist

 

[slayer202]

that's what i was planning to do, but just slicing in photoshop. so are you guys saying no CSS? I don't plan on having tons of content and 8 million different pages if it helps, like i've seen on some basic CSS sites

 

[imported_LoKe]

Your site would be built aorund images if you used no CSS. Images take time ot load on a 28.8 or even 56k connection. If you refuse to abandon that route; at least compress your images properly.

 

[slayer202]

well with CSS, what would be different? could i not have pictures at all? if thats not the case, i don't see how they would load any quicker with CSS.

 

[imported_LoKe]

You can definitely use images with CSS. CSS is basically used to space things, decorate things, change their default appearance, organize, etc. Generally, with CSS layouts, you'd have fewer images. This isn't a requirement; it's all up to you. Personally, I design with as few images as possible. On the page you've shown; there's a lot of white and gray space. You could use a colour code instead of using an image. Same with your spacers. Images can be loaded via CSS, meaning that they're all linked on simply the style sheet; so if you change the path to the image, you only have to edit the stylesheet to correct all of your pages.

Personally, I find it much easier to work with.

 

[slayer202]

ya, the white space and grey would be cut out once i bring it to dreamweaver, so thats no problem. interesting with the images loaded via CSS, but i don't think i would really benefit from this, since i can't think of a situation i would need to make a change like this. ill work on the layout more and eventually post what i got and i'll go from there, and you guys could make suggestions on how i could make it work. thanks guys