i want to build a site for my business, but i’ve never really made a website outside of a crappy one for an English class in college. i want to make my first real website as pro as possible. can someone point me in the right direction? do you guys use WYSIWYG editors or just straight code; and if you do use WYSIYWG editors, do you have recommendations (preferably freeware :wonder:)?
Use wordpress although its originally I blog software its started to be used as a website template, all my new sites will be using wordpress, mainly because its super quick to install, its user friendly i.e has its own internal configuration which you can customize 100x more straight forward than building css script from scratch, what I really love is that I no longer need to do webmasters jobs for clients its so straight forward that complete beginner can add or alter content on their site.
Go with Wordpress it will save you alot of time and heart ache. You can download free templates here.
http://www.templatesbrowser.com/wordpress-themes/
or purchase really professionally made ones (completely editable) here
WYSIWYG is usually a bad Idea from a professional standpoint but then again, if you don’t know much about web programming there aren’t a lot of options.
I would recommend nVu if you want to build your site from the ground up (without a template): http://nvudev.com/index.php
It’s like an open-source version of Dreamweaver and of course it is free. It is both a WYSIWYG and coding software.
I used it for a bit but my work bought me Dreamweaver so I use that now.
I really like the hulk smash and totally love the nature one!
Nice work.
ok thanks, guys! i’ll start messing around with both of them today :tup:
Yup!
I’m glad we have this thread, my college major was graphic design
and much more of a layout type person.
Do u guys prefer Quark or InDesign?
I’m looking into the links. Thanks.
If I ever complete my site, I’ll post it to be scrutinized for feedback.
gradients done in illustrator are vector right?? not raster like drop shadows, correct??
do any of you guys do any coloring in illustrator?? whats a good way to start?? u guys follow any tutorials for this??
…so I just got my Associates Degree in Computer Graphics!!!
Sweet! :rock:
Congratulations KZ! :clown:
I don’t get mine till next year. 
Thanks Sas! :bgrin:
I’ve always thought about it, but graphic design just feels so boring most of the time. . .maybe i should take some classes or something. . .
Super Bump
I have about 3 quarters left before I get my Associates. When I first started, I was truly interested in making games, but lately that interest has dwindled very much. Now I’m considering Graphic Design. After I get that piece of paper I can either go back to gaming or go with design for my BA. Hopefully I can come to a concrete decision before too much time passes.
As for this moment, I’m working once more in Autodesk Inventor. My skills are pretty rusty, but I managed to make a joystick [thanks to the I LOVE MY CUSTOM JOYSTICK thread for references. It’s missing the innards, however]. It’s for my capstone project.
I have about 10 more weeks to finish all the final touches, such as making the specific bits and pieces that the buttons and joysticks have, as well as a detailed PCB and wiring if I’m not feeling lazy. I’m feeling good so far about this project, and at the moment feel like giving it 110%, but then again…there’s always the next day.
Here’s hoping I stay focused and motivated, and good luck to all of you who are still hard at work getting your degrees and/or working at your career. 
Where you going to school man? Ventura county rep :wgrin:
I’m going to the ITT Tech in Oxnard.
Located in the somewhat nicer part of town. Haha!
You’re still in the 805? I remember you mentioning Oxnard once or twice in other threads.
Yeah I still roll in the H805, although I don’t make my way up to Oxnard too often. Shit is real there. I actually work with a dude who is going to school with you (I think). You should come down to Denjin this weekend!
So like my college has no Graphic Design program at all.Sucks cause now I have to wait a full year to even get started on working towards a degree. . .-shrug-
Guess i can practice and try to get commission work or something.
My progress in my graphic design major is seriously hindered by the fact that UH requires a bunch of bullshit liberals in order to graduate.