What method/software do you use for web design??

[masterworksintl]

WordPress is kind of taking over the world these days. There are lots of free templates out there, but even the premium templates can be had for a very reasonable cost.

You might check out the StudioPress collection at studiopress.com. Visually very attractive, and fantastic for SEO.

 

[nightkingdoms]

Personally, I only use WordPress for what it was intended for: blogs. It's pretty restricting on what you can do unless you are either a plugin developer or heavily modify the code.

It's also a lot of overhead for what amounts to a static page. It has great SEO, but if a competent web designer makes it you should have the same benefits. I personally overkill my site with using PHP scripts for a basically static site, but I add things here and there to the site to boost SEO and offer better functionality when I want to add it later.

 

[jay007]

Have you tried sitegrinder. Might be worth a shot when you do all the design in photoshop. It does all the coding for you. there is a free trial

http://www.medialab.com/

 

[mikeroq]

I used to use AceHTML for the syntax highlighting and line numbers. But I switched to Notepad++. I use notepad in a pinch, but it is all by hand.

Nice things about using notepad++ are the highlighting, line numbers, the ability to collapse sections, easily launch in multiple browsers. Just makes my life easier. Photoshop for the graphic aspect.

Don't forget spell check, and its nice that highlighting changes if you miss a quote or a bracket or the like. Which most syntax highlighters support that.

 

[BigFrog_Computing]

Microsoft Windows, brought you by the same people that brought you Edlin....

I used to edit things like mad in edlin. Picking up vi 20 years later was easy
thanks to edlin. I use ultraedit under windows, but vi when using linux/unix.

Can anyone confirm if the 32-bit version of Windows 8 still has edlin?
I've got this sudden urge to do live edits of my website with it.

Nah, maybe I'll just use skybound stylizer, edlin might be a bit lacking in
network and long filename support.

 

[nightkingdoms]

I use ultraedit under windows, but vi when using linux/unix.

That's why I use gEdit. Native program in Linux with sytax highlighting and use a port of it on Windows, too. #1 issue I have with editors is the annoying autocomplete. Gets in the way of me 99% of the time. lol

I use notepad, notepad++ or textpad. I personally cannot stand using a program like DreamWeaver. but everyone has their own taste in how they make sites

When I used Dreamweaver I used it for generating large amounts of table code easily then re-editing it in a text editor, or with div's but gave up on that because the browsers didn't catch up with div's across the board until much, much later. Now I just edit them by hand in a text editor as well.

 

[FixedIT]

If you aren't using wordpress start now.

It can host almost any kind of website. Once you know your way around customising templates, themes and plugins then you're going to be a website ninja. Put dreamweaver in the bin and realise that there is a reason ImageReady is no more.

 

[BadBoy House]

Template Monster sounds like the most cost effective way of doing it.

 

[CLC]

I use blue fish and gimp, it's not flashy but it gets the job done.

About word press, everyone says use it! No I haven't searched yet, but is there a good knowledge base or DIY site you would suggest?

 

[EmpireDigitalTech]

I started using wordpress to convert over some older websites of mine, I got the Ultimatum theme for it as well which is completely customizable and helps a lot with the process. worth looking into

 

[Disposable_Me]

I disagree with doing things yourself if you don't really have an idea on how to get where you want to go. I enjoy fumbling around and doing things I've never done before, but I usually have an idea what I want and the rough steps I need to get there.

I'd suggest either using some prebuilt template on some framework (Joomla, wordpress, etc.) that's already out there. I'd recommend using something ubiquitous as it'll have a lot of support, and a lot of options to choose from. As well as addons and extensions for tweaking the site properly. You can even just find a template that has the layout you want, and modify the pictures to make it how you want.

As for tools, Notepad++ and Photoshop (GIMP, Paint.Net, but there's no real replacement for photoshop) are all you really need.

True dreamweaver will insert code for you, and some rough debugging and templating but none of that is really useful because it takes too long to learn how to use the application, than it does to know how the individual tags work, and which ones you want to use.

 

[ac1]

True dreamweaver will insert code for you, and some rough debugging and templating but none of that is really useful because it takes too long to learn how to use the application, than it does to know how the individual tags work, and which ones you want to use.

Sorry. Just noticed your post. I am curious to know whether others prefer to code their all website or just use applications like Dreamweaver etc to enter parts of the code for various aspects of their website?

 

[Ctrl-z My PC]

I prefer to code my site myself. Its the easiest for me instead of trying to fumble around inside a wysiwyg editor. You have complete control over your code and how it'll turn out. Plus with editors like sublime text you get code completion, macros, snippets, code highlighting and more.

 

[Vyper28]

I started using wordpress to convert over some older websites of mine, I got the Ultimatum theme for it as well which is completely customizable and helps a lot with the process. worth looking into

Ultimatum is pretty handy, but not amazing. I found it does have some limitations but for most sites it's quite enough.

If anyone is after it there's a discount through wphacks at the moment. 50% or something like that.

http://wphacks.com/ultimate-wordpress-theme-builder/

Up there^

 

[DocGreen]

Have you tried sitegrinder. Might be worth a shot when you do all the design in photoshop. It does all the coding for you. there is a free trial

http://www.medialab.com/

Do you know what the limitations are on the free trial? I looked on their site but didn't see anything. Is it full featured for a limited time period, or is it feature-limited until you purchase?

 

[OneClick]

Ultimatum is pretty handy, but not amazing. I found it does have some limitations but for most sites it's quite enough.

^

Are you able to expand on it's limitation. Or recommend a theme.

My WP skills are very limited and I'm in the process of trying to find a WP template to build my site.
Thx

 

[Rosco]

I still use the good old FrontPage... Yes, I'm a dinosaur.

Frontpage... wow. I used this back in high school before i had even heard of dreamweaver. I didnt think they made this anymore. What was the last version 2000 or 2003?

 

[Vyper28]

Are you able to expand on it's limitation. Or recommend a theme.

My WP skills are very limited and I'm in the process of trying to find a WP template to build my site.
Thx

I don't really know how to explain it best but.. it's a framework, you must work within the framework. I don't do a lot of web design but sometimes a client will say they want something here or there and it's just difficult to get it right in ultimatum. In terms of drag and drop it's the best.. Headway is probably a close second. But as with any drag and drop theme builder, you are limited to the elements they provide you with. Ultimatum has the most by far, but sometimes.. you just can't find the right loop or menu icon and you have to dive in and do it the old fashioned way.

 

[OneClick]

Thx Vyper28.
I'll probably give it a go.

 

[Vyper28]

Use the link in my last post and it's 50% off made it much more worth while for the developer edition!