Day 5: Wrapping up your Site and Publishing It

Today we will discuss the different options available for hosting your web site. We will also discuss domain names, how to buy one, where to buy one, and how to use one. Once you decide on where you will be hosting your website, that will determine the method you will use to uplaod your html files. Remember that you only need to upload the actual files used in your site, html, jpg, gif, swf, mov and NOT any psd or woking files you have been using.

Day 4: Review of Presentation Methods

Here are several examples of ways you can present your images in a slideshow format. You can use the Export To Web Page plugin in iPhoto or Photoshop to create web pages. There are web sites that offer free Javascript that you can use or alter. It helps to be able to interpret and have a basic understanding of an HTML page and be able to follow the instructions step by step if you don't want to get frustrated in implementing the Javascript. There are also templates in Flash that can be used, with a basic working knowledge of Flash you can produce some interesting fades and dissolves. I have used a Flash Component called Slideshow Pro ($30.00) that produces nice slideshows.

Examples:
iPhoto export
Photoshop export (1)
Photoshop export (2)
Javascript example (tutorialdog.com)
Slideshow created using Flash
Flash slideshow template
Slideshow Pro (http://wiki.slideshowpro.net/)

Day 3: Rollovers, Swapping Images, Slideshows

This morning's demonstration will show you how you can use Behaviours in Dreamweaver to create rollover effects for your navigation, or use the Swap Image behaviour to create interesting ways to swap out images on your web pages when you mouse over a specific image.

Links:
Dreamweaver & Behaviours
Dreamweaver Rollovers
Creating Rollovers - Video

Examples:
Swap Image
Navigation Rollover

Day 2: Tables and Columns and Rows and Cells

The majority of you will want to use tables to position the elements of your web page into your desired layout. At first, tables seem to be a convoluted and non-intuitive way to work, especially if you are coming from a world of print design, but if you layout your idea on paper, and follow some basic rules, it isn't too difficult.

Dreamweaver allows you to insert a table on your page, you can specify the number of rows and columns, the width of the entire table, the width of individual cells (TD's) and the height of the rows.

Links:
Setting Up Tables
Changing table and cell sizes
Combining and Dividing Cells

Day 1: Planning

Introductions and Planning Your Website
Today you will be thinking about the structure and design of your website. What is the information that you plan to present? What is your intention? Who is your audience? What websites do you think work well and what presentation styles do you like?
Using paper and Photoshop, students will be mocking up their ideas and choosing colours and styles.

An Overview of Dreamweaver
I will do a brief demonstration in the afternoon of how you can take a Photoshop mockup and translate that into a web page using Dreamweaver. This process includes cutting out the graphics that will be used on the page, deciding on page width (always in pixels) and table widths.

Links:
Web Graphics Explained
Optimizing Graphics

Welcome Class!

Welcome to this summer's 'web design for artists' workshop at the Visual Studies Workshop. We will use this blog as a repository of notes and links from our daily meetings this week, and a place to share ideas, information and to ask questions.

The blog will also be available after the class is over, and the class blogs from previous years are linked from the sidebar.

I am looking forward to a wonderful and engaging week with you all.