keybear

Hello.

I have a lot of experience with graphics design, but none what so ever with web design.

Now, in the near future i want to set up a website, selling websites/layouts/templates (graphics). However, Im pretty sure i would have to know some aspects of web design as well, right?

Now, i don't really don't want anything to do with code. lol...I really just wanted to stay on the graphics side of things, rather than getting into html/xhtml/css. etc etc. Code is not really my thing.

The point is, i want to know how i would go about doing this. I know nothing about this on the level of business.

I'm self thought graphics designer and wanted to know how i would go about dealing with the transaction process. I can easily get a pay pal account, thats not a problem. But what i mean is without any knowledge of code, and would you do business with just the graphics side of things. Know what i mean?. Like, how would i compile it ready to be put on to the web, or ready for code.

Would i have to crop the the layouts that i create? like banner,buttons,nav..etc Is there any certain way i would do this.

Basically, designing a layout and having it code ready. So they can put it together themselves or higher a coder.

Also, How much do i charge for a full layout, everything included even logo. Also, do i receive payment first before i start? or design first, then see if they like it, before i take payment. I don't want to be used or have my time tobe wasted.

As you can i know nothing about the business side of things, or having the graphics being code ready.

If you could help i would really appreciate it or maybe you can direct me to any sites that explain the business side of things.

MikeHopley

I'm afraid there's a lot more to web design than graphics.

Clients will generally want a web designer (or design agency) to produce a complete website. Most are unlikely to be interested in a photoshop concept graphic alone. Few clients will want to hire a coder separately.

People come to web designers with a problem: they don't have a website (or they don't like what they have). They want you to solve that problem. Giving them a graphic does not solve the problem -- it just creates a new problem: "where can I find another web designer who will do the code?"

You really have three options:

• Give up on web design and stick to making logos, icons, and so on.
• Team up with a coder to form a design agency.
• Learn some actual web design skills.

If you want to learn web design skills, there are two broad approaches. You can either use a visual design program (a bit like desktop publishing), or you can code by hand.

Coding by hand allows you to create much better websites, but it also requires a much greater investment of time for learning.

Using a design program requires much less practice, and is probably the most sensible option for someone who "really doesn't want anything to do with code". If this is your choice get DreamWeaver. DreamWeaver is the industry-standard program (it's not cheap, though).

keybear

What are the benefits of using dreamweaver, as appose to coding by hand. You say you can make much better websites, can you explain what the difference would be between the two.


I don't mind learning code if i have to, but what would be the benefits, i just don't want to beat around the bush, by learning things that i probably wouldn't ever use.

By the way, thanks for the information.

delusion

I'd combine those 2. You make create the look and feel, the coder turns it into a website..

MikeHopley

In what follows, I'm talking about using DreamWeaver's visual design view (you can also use DreamWeaver for hand-coding, by never touching the design view).

Using Dreamweaver:

Advantages:
DreamWeaver is fast and intuitive. You can drag out boxes to create a layout, while the code is created for you in the background.

DreamWeaver requires minimal training time. You can learn the basics in a few hours.


Disadvantages:
DreamWeaver is superficial. You can create something that looks good, but doesn't work correctly for many users. In particular, accessibility is an issue: for example, your website probably won't make sense in a non-visual browser. Also, DreamWeaver may create invalid code that can cause unpredictable rendering errors in some browsers.

DreamWeaver creates bloated code. Your web pages will have lots of unnecessary code, which increases their file size, and therefore they will take longer to download. This can cause visitors to leave.

No-one will want to help you when your website breaks, because we can't understand your bloated, maybe invalid, machine-created code.


Coding by hand:

Advantages:
It's much easier to create valid code that will work in all browsers.

Your site will use much less code, especially if you use CSS for layout instead of tables. Using less code makes your site faster to download.

If you learn to use CSS for layout instead of tables, your pages will be much more accessible to people using a non-visual browser. Using CSS also makes your pages much easier to maintain, because you can change an entire site's presentation by editing a single CSS file.

Because you are learning about the language (HTML + CSS + javascript), you will also become aware of important issues in web design. If you never code by hand, you will be less exposed to these important concepts.

If you get really good at hand-coding, it will become faster than using DreamWeaver -- especially if you also become proficient in touch-typing.


Disadvantages:
Coding by hand takes much longer to learn. You need to think about what you're doing. To master web design, you must study it in depth. It's complicated.

For beginners, it is much slower to create a website by hand than by using Dreamweaver.

Pádraig

EDIT: Mike beat me to it.

There are no benefits in using Dreamweaver.

Coding by hand gives you much more control over your website and how its going to look as well as many other things too.


If you are going to become a web designer, you will need to know (X)HTML and CSS.

JacobHaug

Wow Mike. Me and you are going to have to talk. Did I send you a PM or just think about doing it and ever got around to it?

Voodoochilli

If you want to be be a web designer you need to learn about code. At least learn about it, and if you choose to use a WYSIWYG then so be it. Its like if you were a photographer you would need to learn about cameras, how the camera software works, flash etc, as well as artistic and compositioning skills.