Making templates

docquesting · #1 (**permalink**) 12-16-2004, 10:47 PM

I need to know how to start with making templates. Make like I am a total idiot and with an extreme limited knowledge of getting around in p/s. Got to do this for city website so need all the help I can get asap.

PS Am doing site free but it comes with other side benifits that doesnt invlove money.

Vey important I learn fast. Thanks so much.

docquesting · #2 (**permalink**) 12-16-2004, 11:04 PM

Will starting with a 1024 by 768 new image be right or something else?

docquesting · #3 (**permalink**) 12-16-2004, 11:52 PM

Ok so maybe I am going about this wrong. I started creating 1024 by 768 new image. Then used eleptical tool square to draw square new layer. Then new layer added flag and new layer and logo and so on. I downsized to 800 by 600 so would fit in dreamweaver work window correctly. Then added table and added links. This is what it looks like. I think I have the basic idea but somehow turned out not right at all. Please tell me what I did wrong and best way to go about this.

Thanks Doc,

http://www.onway.us/index1006.html

Atom · #4 (**permalink**) 12-17-2004, 07:58 AM

This should go in Web Design I think, Doc. Anyways, I don't care for building websites ... I'm not very good at it either. I like to stick to strictly graphics, that's what I enjoy. Sorry I can't help you. Maybe ask Jazzee or someone to post this in the Web Design Lobby for you, you might get better results, not sure.

se4b4ss · #5 (**permalink**) 12-17-2004, 08:08 AM

i would suggest online tutorials. www.good-tutorials.com is a good site.

Atom · #6 (**permalink**) 12-17-2004, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by se4b4ss

i would suggest online tutorials. www.good-tutorials.com is a good site.

Yeah, they've got all different kinds of tutorials.

DaveyBoy · #7 (**permalink**) 12-17-2004, 09:27 AM

is it just me or are you a bit limited at everything to be making your own design company?

Atom · #8 (**permalink**) 12-17-2004, 09:52 AM

Doc, you are trying to build a site without proper knowledge of even PS, and you have no money to pay someone for help, and you want it done quick. I think that maybe you should concentrate on at least learning PS before you take on building a site, or aquire some money to pay for some help. Maybe you should be looking into government grants or something. If you can get a grant, then you'll have money to pay experienced people to get things done relatively quickly and properly. And you can be studying and learning all the while.

Find out if you're eligible for a grant, some you don't even have to pay back, from what I understand.

docquesting · #9 (**permalink**) 12-17-2004, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveyBoy

is it just me or are you a bit limited at everything to be making your own design company?

LOL. Maybe but then that could partly be why I am doing things for free b/c what I do know is not worth getting paid for. Plus what I will do gives me a portfolio to let folks see what I can do. And it is very important I be able to get a design done for the city b/c it is not every day a guy gets to do that.

Sheez do yall always hold a guy back like this from trying to learn fast.

I have that tutorial site already but it is not what I need. I need to know what I am doing wrong. And Atom you should be able to make templates easy as they are graphic and not just web design stuff.

Cant someone just look at what I am doing and say hey this is what your doing wrong and this is how you need to start. It would greatly be appreciated.

SVB · #10 (**permalink**) 12-17-2004, 10:56 AM

Well what you should do i make a template 750px wide. Any length is fine, start at 600 or so. Start with a simple template, just make a big box, put simple rectangular content boxes in it. Then, get out the slice tool (thats in photoshop) and cut the template up into each component. Save as images&html, then load into dreamweaver. With careful slicing, its ready to edit

docquesting · #11 (**permalink**) 12-17-2004, 11:02 AM

Now when you say cut image into each component can you explain this in more detail? And Also what about making the bg a differant color than main table ect.

DaveyBoy · #12 (**permalink**) 12-17-2004, 11:04 AM

the slice tool is awful lol, i just self-slice, probably cos i'm useless at it.

Atom · #13 (**permalink**) 12-17-2004, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docquesting

LOL. Maybe but then that could partly be why I am doing things for free b/c what I do know is not worth getting paid for. Plus what I will do gives me a portfolio to let folks see what I can do. And it is very important I be able to get a design done for the city b/c it is not every day a guy gets to do that.

Sheez do yall always hold a guy back like this from trying to learn fast.

I have that tutorial site already but it is not what I need. I need to know what I am doing wrong. And Atom you should be able to make templates easy as they are graphic and not just web design stuff.

Cant someone just look at what I am doing and say hey this is what your doing wrong and this is how you need to start. It would greatly be appreciated.

Making page templates requires more than just graphics skills, it requires web design skills as well, believe me. I don't like web design and am not good at it as a result.

I'm quite serious about the government grant. You should look into it, at least see if you're eligible.

docquesting · #14 (**permalink**) 12-17-2004, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveyBoy

the slice tool is awful lol, i just self-slice, probably cos i'm useless at it.

Self slice?

DaveyBoy · #15 (**permalink**) 12-17-2004, 11:30 AM

yeah i dont use the slice tool, i crop the images into smaller parts myself, strange but just my method

Atom · #16 (**permalink**) 12-17-2004, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveyBoy

yeah i dont use the slice tool, i crop the images into smaller parts myself, strange but just my method

My sister does it that way too.

<edit> seems I'm mistaken, I just asked her and she said that she uses the slice tool in ImageReady, I could have sworn she said she didn't use the slice tool.

docquesting · #17 (**permalink**) 12-17-2004, 12:11 PM

Ok now I think I have the basic understanding on how it works. Now I need to know how to make a "table with rounded" corners. I did figure out to use the eleptical square tool to make "tables". Or should I do this some other way as when you put it in d/m your tables in there might not fit properly as the above link shows. Some ideas on this please. Also is there a way to make sure you have everything centered like a ruler tool in p/s.

imaginemn · #18 (**permalink**) 12-17-2004, 12:20 PM

There are many articles here. Why not learn from the "best", I mean "worst", I mean "whatever".

http://webdesign.templatemonster.com...ates-&-tuning/

imaginemn

docquesting · #19 (**permalink**) 12-17-2004, 12:45 PM

Umm did I ask for tutorials.

imaginemn · #20 (**permalink**) 12-17-2004, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docquesting

I need to know how to start with making templates.

Hmmm. YES!!!

imaginemn