[txia007]

When u done your design in Photoshop, how could u translate that into HTML and CSS?
cheers

[Sadaf]

Website is designed in Photoshop, but to convert it in HTML or CSS another program is used. It is Macromedia Dreamweaver. Microsoft Frontpage is also used but dreamweaver is good for that purpose.

[steveb]

And stop using u for you. I'd give you advice but "u" pisses me off. U R so hip a can stand it.

[Airea]

I use photoshop to design the site, then i use dreamweaver to hand code the CSS/html, due to the fact i like the colour codes

[mystique824]

i have a magic html department for that. You just throw in a PSD file, duck down, and within a blink of an eye, there's a magic test site waiting to be checked by a creative director... ;-) In our studio, designers don't code. They should know html's limits and possibilities, but primarely focus on design. I've coded in the past, but now photoshop is my best friend.

[pixelenvy]

Originally Posted by mystique824

i have a magic html department for that. You just throw in a PSD file, duck down, and within a blink of an eye, there's a magic test site waiting to be checked by a creative director... ;-) In our studio, designers don't code. They should know html's limits and possibilities, but primarely focus on design. I've coded in the past, but now photoshop is my best friend.

This is just a smart way to do things... really focus on your strengths and manage your weaknesses.

I've done web design and web development for about 5 years, and I am just now catching on to this pattern of self-sabotage.

Designing and development both live on different sides of the brain... Development lives in the logical left-side of the brain.. very analytical, and linear. Design, on the other hand lives on the right side of the brain.. very perceptual, visual, intuitive.. this the realm of creativity.

The sabotage comes in when having to shift between the two sides of the brain... If I'm working on a complex sign-up form in PHP/MySQL.. I have to immerse myself in the left side of my brain, and it so tough for me to jump into designing, and get inspired to produce something I am proud of.

It's funny... when I am shifting back in the the right-side of my brain.. I can tell through my designs that I am so in my left because all my designs are just square and linear..

Just a little (or a lot) of random advice for anyone.. hah! Cheers!

[d*d]

Originally Posted by pixelenvy

Designing and development both live on different sides of the brain... Development lives in the logical left-side of the brain.. very analytical, and linear. Design, on the other hand lives on the right side of the brain.. very perceptual, visual, intuitive.. this the realm of creativity.

No offence, but that is a load of old twaddle

[Dusteh]

One side of the brain deals with mathematics, logic, the other does indeed handle the artistic process. In that sense he is right. Although I'd say design uses a bit of both.

[d*d]

Originally Posted by Dusteh

One side of the brain deals with mathematics, logic, the other does indeed handle the artistic process. In that sense he is right. Although I'd say design uses a bit of both.

methinks that's a bit of an old wifes tale mixed with some misiunderstood science - why is 'switchin' between two disciplines so difficult and why can't you be creative with code?

[keonne]

methinks that's a bit of an old wifes tale mixed with some misiunderstood science - why is 'switchin' between two disciplines so difficult and why can't you be creative with code?

I have to agree with d*d on this one

It is a misconception that "anyone" can code, no its much like design anyone can LEARN to code but that dosent mean they can be creative with it.

[pgo]

Originally Posted by d*d

methinks that's a bit of an old wifes tale mixed with some misiunderstood science - why is 'switchin' between two disciplines so difficult and why can't you be creative with code?

I agree. The right brain/left brain thing is a complete cop out.

In terms of web design, it's a cop out for people too lazy to learn how to write simple HTML and CSS, which are piss easy to learn.

[John Good]

Originally Posted by txia007

When u done your design in Photoshop, how could u translate that into HTML and CSS?
cheers

maybe you could download a free page template, you could see the .psd and how it's been transformed in HTML/CSS. it would give you some advice.

[pixelenvy]

Originally Posted by pgo

I agree. The right brain/left brain thing is a complete cop out.

In terms of web design, it's a cop out for people too lazy to learn how to write simple HTML and CSS, which are piss easy to learn.

I think every designer needs to absolutely HTML and CSS, and, if required, be able to code their layouts... but I don't think that is smart business.

It's about capitalizing on your strengths, so your strengths become stronger. That's how people become masters at what they do. If you're a designer and you're not so strong at coding your layouts... then I would say.. hire some else to do it--manage your weaknesses.

If you're throwing all your energy at weaknesses, trying to get better... you're just going to be mediocre all the way around.

If you're a web designer, and don't know HTML and CSS... there is a definite problem.. hah.. but, I think for a web designer to be a master.. I think he needs to design.

[pgo]

Of course, if writing code is your weakness, then you can't be a web designer. 90% of what I do is write code.

Also, you're wrong about it being smart business. Why hire two people (one for Photoshopping, one for HTML/CSS) when one person can do the job for half the cost?

Unless you're pumping out websites like a factory, there's no way that's a smart business move.

[pixelenvy]

Originally Posted by pgo

Of course, if writing code is your weakness, then you can't be a web designer. 90% of what I do is write code.

Also, you're wrong about it being smart business. Why hire two people (one for Photoshopping, one for HTML/CSS) when one person can do the job for half the cost?

Unless you're pumping out websites like a factory, there's no way that's a smart business move.

That's the goal, isn't it? To produce as highest quality, in as little time?

If you get two people that are strongest in what they do.. you could pump out some awesome work. It makes sense to me.

Sub-contracting out the coding part of a project, frees up so much creative energy that allows me to take on a lot more clients. How is that not smart?

[d*d]

Originally Posted by pixelenvy

Sub-contracting out the coding part of a project, frees up so much creative energy

There you go again with the twaddle, I can code my sites - are you saying I'm doing this at the expense of my 'creative energy'

[pixelenvy]

Originally Posted by d*d

There you go again with the twaddle, I can code my sites - are you saying I'm doing this at the expense of my 'creative energy'

Quite possibly... if all you did was focus your energy on design or development, think about how much more masterful you'd be with your craft..

Tiger Woods does this when he trains. His mastery is on the green.. his putting is out of this world. So, when he is training.. he is not so good on his chip shots, so they mitigate this weakness by training enough to get him out of the sand.. and they focus heavily on his putting.

This isn't the only way, but it does apply to a lot of people.

[pgo]

I don't think that's a good analogy at all. Tiger Woods has a better chip shot or fairway game than 99% of golfers. He's not the best golfer in history because he can putt. He's just the best - all around.

It really comes down to the business. If you have enough clients, then having one person devoted just to visual design (just Photoshop) might just be worth it, but I'd venture to guess that's not the norm. You need to have a lot of clients knocking down your door before even considering that. It doesn't make sense to outsource unless you're incapable of doing the job due to time or skills.

I'm the only web guy at my job. I do design (within corporate identity guidelines), front-end, and back-end coding as well as user support and brand management. Plus I manage content on the intranet and act as the administrator for our WebEx services. I'm only one guy working 40 hour weeks and I get it all done just fine. I struggle more on the server-side stuff because that's not my strongest point (yet).

[d*d]

Originally Posted by pixelenvy

Quite possibly... if all you did was focus your energy on design or development, think about how much more masterful you'd be with your craft..

you call it 'energy' but you're just talking about time management there, and that's an administration skill - I daren't waste any of my focused energy in an administrative mindset, switching from that to creative mindset and then to a development mindset requires such a volatile mixture of different 'energies' that it's dangerous enough without the prospect that I may now never become a design 'master' as a result

[Dusteh]

Localization of Function and Brain Lateralization

Lateralised functions aren't an old wives tale. Its a basic fact that one side of your brain is dominant, and that also each half of the brain has different functions. I wonder how many designers are left handed on here? Will it be one in ten like the national average?

Why can't we be creative with code? This is a semantic mistake. Yes, you can be creative, no you can't be artistic. Code is a language based on structures and patterns. Artistic skill is visual / spatial.