Maggi Norris is webmistress of seven award
winning sites, including her own Ask
Nem5 – Nemesis World Index, where you can find original literature displayed with
original graphics and photography, web awards and more. Free resources for the new
and advanced webmaster include: email accounts, web and desktop graphics for personal
sites, several short tutorials, email greeting cards and an HTML help forum with a web
design software review. She recently contributed an article titled
Design Concept to the web site planning section
of IB Helpware. Following are excerpts from that article. You now have an idea what you want on your site,
where you want it to be, and how you want it to work. It is time to create the
actual design using all this information. A friend taught me an important shortcut
for getting the design right the first time. The first thing I do is draw a crude
outline on paper. Then I use an imaging program to render that drawing on the
computer. I use the image to make the first of two templates that will help put
the final touches on a design. In your imaging program construct a new file the
size of an open browser window. My browser uses the toolbar across the top and I view
my computer at 800x600. So I make my files 800 pixels wide by 450 high since that is
the size I see in my browser window. I use this new file to represent the area that
will be my page in a browser and it becomes my Image Template. Make the background color of the template the same
color you want on your site. Place your images on the template the same way you would
want them on the page. Place your text and any other objects you would want on the
model. The result will be your main Image Template. It should look like a screenshot
of a web page. You can use the template to build the actual images that will go on
your page. Simply crop them from the template. Using your Image Template will help
you see how to set the spacing on tables and other HTML basics as you make your
next template. After I finish the Image Template it's time to create
the HTML Template that will help me layout each page of the site. The first thing I
do is put the colors, fonts, head tags, logo and tables in place. Then I build the
navigation system into the code. I name this page Template.html and use it to create
all the other pages. Next, you can copy and paste the content from a text
or document file into the HTML Template and once you name it, you have a new page.
Placement of images and objects may require adjustments to the basic template, but
most of the work will already be done. To view the entire article, please visit the
web site planning section here at Internet Brothers. While
there, avail yourself of the other features that will help you get a nice
jump-start on this important phase of web site development. My sincerest
thanks to Maggi Norris for her contribution to
this expanding resource.
22nd of July 2000
net.weblogs.com
...an experiment in freeform discourse