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Ask the Ninja...

by KarlWarren
26 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
    • |
Now that I got my own way and Allen added a forum for website designers, I thought it best to pay back the community the only way I know how.

So, I, eCoverNinja will answer your questions about minisite graphics.

Whether you want to learn how to be a minisite designer, or want to achieve a specific effect in photoshop - post your question in this thread, and I'll do my best to answer it, or point you to a resource/tutorial that will walk you through it.

Ready, set, GO!!!!
#ninja
  • Profile picture of the author Jose Delgado
    I need to learn how to use that damn thing called "Joomla"!

    I installed it already but I don't know what to do now. How to change the header, footer, well make it seem like a squeeze page and make people become a member.

    Confused You? :p
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    • Profile picture of the author KarlWarren
      lol, you had to pick something I don't do. Joomla and CMS design and coding are a different beast entirely. I installed Joomla once and never bothered using it - wordpress was just so much easier.

      Sadly, the question isn't about minisite graphics as such - so if anyone else can help, feel free to jump in.

      If not, I'll go on the hunt for a tutorial and report back.

      Kindest regards,
      Karl.
      Signature
      eCoverNinja - Sales Page Graphics & Layout Specialist
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      • Profile picture of the author Didier Faucher
        Hi Karl,

        * What do you think is the most important : the design, the copy, or both
        (I bet you'll answer both ), and why ?

        * True or wrong ?
        - A good design is nothing if the copy is bad.
        - A good copy is nothing if the design is bad.

        * With a lot of copywriters and IMers say the most important is the copy ?
        Why some IMers never use any graphics on their sales site ?

        * Why some IMers say : "the proof the design is not important at all is the
        tremendous results achieved by David DeAngelo (Eben Pagan) for Double
        Your Dating" (old site, that had no graphics on it) ?

        * Do you think an ecover should be included on all sales site, and why ?

        Thanks.

        Didier
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        • Profile picture of the author KarlWarren
          Didier, you'd be surprised at my answers:

          1) I think the COPY is more important... I can sell more with a plain white page and kick-ass copy than I could with a flashy header and poor copy.

          2) Good design is nothing if copy is bad - for the most part, true (there are some exceptions

          Good copy is nothing if design is bad - The design COULD detract from the copy, it's better not to have any graphics at all (i.e. a plain white template) than a badly designed page.

          MOST, designers say that design is more important because they are worried that people won't see the value of a good design. Copywriters, if they are good, will see the benefits of a good design but know that copy is the KEY to selling. But, design CAN increase conversions - each case should be tested.

          PROOF is only proof if it relates to a specific example. What works for DeAngelo might not work for someone else. DeAngelo has probably tested hundreds of different ways of displaying his own pages and will continue to do so. So, just because someone has an ugly page that sells doesn't mean that a prettier page wouldn't sell better - it's the different combinations, when tested, that will provide the true answer.

          I would test the page with and without an ecover to see which worked best.

          The above are my opinions from my own experience.

          Originally Posted by Didier Faucher View Post

          Hi Karl,

          * What do you think is the most important : the design, the copy, or both
          (I bet you'll answer both ), and why ?

          * True or wrong ?
          - A good design is nothing if the copy is bad.
          - A good copy is nothing if the design is bad.

          * With a lot of copywriters and IMers say the most important is the copy ?
          Why some IMers never use any graphics on their sales site ?

          * Why some IMers say : "the proof the design is not important at all is the
          tremendous results achieved by David DeAngelo (Eben Pagan) for Double
          Your Dating" (old site, that had no graphics on it) ?

          * Do you think an ecover should be included on all sales site, and why ?

          Thanks.

          Didier
          Signature
          eCoverNinja - Sales Page Graphics & Layout Specialist
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    • Profile picture of the author Carl Henry
      Hi Jose,

      Perhaps you should start a new thread for "Joomla Help" but the quick answer is that you should look for the folder "Templates".

      If you have just installed it you will be using the template called "Rhuk Solar flair" or something like that, you need to look inside that folder for the index.php - open it in Dreamweaver etc. and you will see the basic structure. (Which editor are you using?).

      Each element on the page is represented by a module position, I think some of the graphics might not show on your local computer as they could be pulled directly from online folders so you do not see a complete page.

      Frankly after building more than a 100 sites based on Joomla I have customised the templates folder so I start with standard blank .php pages & then add in the module positions I need for each site.

      Let me know if you want me to send you an example template folder.

      Best regards,

      Carl Henry
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    • Profile picture of the author Simplweb
      Originally Posted by Jose Delgado View Post

      I need to learn how to use that damn thing called "Joomla"!
      I have a crap load of Joomla template guides on my blog (sig link)
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    • Profile picture of the author jallen001
      Originally Posted by Jose Delgado View Post

      I need to learn how to use that damn thing called "Joomla"!

      I installed it already but I don't know what to do now. How to change the header, footer, well make it seem like a squeeze page and make people become a member.

      Confused You? :p
      Try DotNetNuke.com
      I use it and it works the way you expect it too. IMO, Joomla blows. It's too confusing and time consuming to use. DotNetNuke has an extremely large base of developers. I built the websites in my signature line in a day or two using it.
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      Register first, then while you are still logged in, paste into address bar: "http://www.secretwebstash.com/Default.aspx?rsvp=Warriors"

      www.pdmwebsolutions.com Web Hosting & Website Design - Riverside, CA

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      • Profile picture of the author Alan Petersen
        I started a new thread about this before I saw this one...so I'll ask the ninja :-)

        I'm putting the design specs for a squeeze page design. I'm going with a content area width of 974px. Optimized for 1024x768 resolution. Does that sound right for a traditional squeeze page (non IM niche)?

        Thanks!
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        • Profile picture of the author KarlWarren
          Hi Alan,

          it certainly sounds reasonable - it will fit in nicely within a maximised browser window.
          The only thing I find (I have a large screen) is that I don't use the whole window for my browser. I tend to keep it only 3/4 of the width of the screen.
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          eCoverNinja - Sales Page Graphics & Layout Specialist
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          • Profile picture of the author Quilst
            It is nice to see you Karl helping people understand graphics better.
            Don't have any questions, just saying it is good to know you Karl ^^
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            http://www.npromote.com
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  • Profile picture of the author Asher
    Originally Posted by KarlWarren View Post

    So, I, eCoverNinja will answer your questions about minisite graphics.

    Whether you want to learn how to be a minisite designer, or want to achieve a specific effect in photoshop - post your question in this thread, and I'll do my best to answer it, or point you to a resource/tutorial that will walk you through it.
    Hi Karl,

    I've been dabbling in the arts of Photoshop for a few years and know how to make simple little graphics. I can say that I'm still but an intermediate in the arts of image manipulation and creation.

    Having viewed some Minisite Graphics, I was extremely impressed by the quality of the designs. All of them were so alive and energetic! Really makes me want to stay on the website longer just to read it because the graphics are so cool.

    Since I've been in the Internet Marketing scene, I wanted to do everything by myself so I can learn faster if I know the basic fundamentals that can get quite overwhelming for people. I understand that graphics are absolutely essential to encourage the viewer to stay.

    So, I beseech thee, oh eCoverNinja, to teach me (or refer me) to a place where I can learn the art of designing my own graphics and thus, one day, be able to proudly use them on my own site!

    Grasshopper-in-Photoshop-arts,
    Asher
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    Asher Aw
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    • Profile picture of the author Arindam Chakraborty
      Thanks to Karl, I didn't even know that this section existed!

      I just saw Karl's post and went on to read, and found this new forum.

      I gotta visit here regularly, just to lurk and read the experts' suggestions.


      OK, a question: which type of minisite do you like: the one which has loads of images and graphics, or the one that is plain, CSS-based?

      Arindam
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      • Profile picture of the author KarlWarren
        Hi Arindam,

        Whether it's a CSS only website or graphic laden doesn't matter to me, but...

        I think that everything should be done in moderation. A graphic heavy website isn't necessarily going to add value to a proposal.

        I like nice fluid designs and the clever use of graphics in moderation. If something is graphics heavy it will also load slower.

        Kindest regards,
        Karl.
        Signature
        eCoverNinja - Sales Page Graphics & Layout Specialist
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    • Profile picture of the author Don Schenk
      For Asher and others who want more Photoshop knowledge...

      One of the Photoshop gurus here in the US is Scott Kelby. His site has lots of info and training products.

      I am not an affiliate.

      He is at Welcome | Kelby Training

      Don
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      • Profile picture of the author KarlWarren
        Thanks Don, that's a good resource...

        One thing I found helped me when I first started minisite design was to look at ALL the portfolio designs of the competiton. Never copy, but, look at their techniques - look at what they try to achieve. When you see something that works, see if you can emulate it - look for tutorials on specific techniques and master them. It's better to do one thing good, than lots of things bad. Once you've mastered something, move onto another technique and you'll find yourself progressing much quicker.
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        eCoverNinja - Sales Page Graphics & Layout Specialist
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        • Profile picture of the author Asher
          Okay, that's what I've been doing as well. Another question I have is do you guys know of any good resource site? When I viewed the competition pictures, they've got really nice pictures of money, of computers, of bars, of people in nice poses and stuff. Are they available for free or must you be a paid member to some websites to get good pictures like that?


          Asher
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          Asher Aw
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          • Profile picture of the author KarlWarren
            Hi Asher.

            What you're referring to is stock photography... there are LOADS of stock photo sites.

            The best paid ones (I use all of these) are:

            iStockPhoto.com
            BigStockPhoto.com
            Dreamstime.com

            The best free one (although I don't use them) are:

            stock.xchng - the leading free stock photography site

            Kindest regards,
            Karl.
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            eCoverNinja - Sales Page Graphics & Layout Specialist
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            • Profile picture of the author Amanda K. Jones
              Hiya Karl,

              When purchasing images to use in templates that are re-sold I know there are certain rights involved. Have you found that certain stock photo sites offer better deals when it comes to resell rights or would you still recommend the ones listed above?

              Thanks
              Amanda
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  • Profile picture of the author Carl Henry
    Hi Karl,

    I have been using macromedia studio for some years but have always felt that photoshop is a better alternative that Fireworks, is that the case?

    One effect I have always wanted to do is the liquid metal effects, in fireworks the effects I have been able to achieve are a little crude.

    How do the two tools compare? Does Photshop have a lot of built in effects or are they add-ons?

    Is it worth me getting on the learning curve to switch to photoshop?

    Thanks,

    Carl Henry
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    • Profile picture of the author Simplweb
      Fireworks is built for web graphics
      Photoshop is built for physical media

      ... in a nutshell
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      • Profile picture of the author Jose Delgado
        Thanks alot Carl and Simpleweb...

        Man, I've been trying to get that thing but It's just so difficult to understand.

        I think i'll just stick to the life without joomla.
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    • Profile picture of the author KarlWarren
      Originally Posted by Amanda K. Jones View Post

      Hiya Karl,

      When purchasing images to use in templates that are re-sold I know there are certain rights involved. Have you found that certain stock photo sites offer better deals when it comes to resell rights or would you still recommend the ones listed above?

      Thanks
      Amanda
      Hi Amanda,

      I'll be honest, I haven't been looking... I know most stock photo sites don't allow templates to be resold.

      BigStockPhoto allow you to create a template, and sell the template.
      You can also, create a template for one person, and that person can sell the template.

      BUT, your buyers aren't allowed to resell.

      I've had long discussions with BigStockPhoto about this, and they did discuss the potential of re-writing their extended license ($90) to allow for reselling, but it didn't prove cost effective.

      Originally Posted by Carl Henry View Post

      Hi Karl,

      I have been using macromedia studio for some years but have always felt that photoshop is a better alternative that Fireworks, is that the case?

      One effect I have always wanted to do is the liquid metal effects, in fireworks the effects I have been able to achieve are a little crude.

      How do the two tools compare? Does Photshop have a lot of built in effects or are they add-ons?

      Is it worth me getting on the learning curve to switch to photoshop?

      Thanks,

      Carl Henry
      Hi Carl,

      I've been involved with MANY different programs, including:

      Xara
      Fireworks
      Photoshop
      Paintshop Pro

      My preferred medium is Photoshop, however, I find Fireworks just as powerful. In fact, they all are if you have the time to invest in learning the features.

      Can you show me an example of the liquid metal effect you're trying to achieve? I'll then be able to let you know if the built in effects would be sufficient.

      Kindest regards,
      Karl.
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      eCoverNinja - Sales Page Graphics & Layout Specialist
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      • Profile picture of the author Amanda K. Jones
        Originally Posted by KarlWarren View Post

        I've had long discussions with BigStockPhoto about this, and they did discuss the potential of re-writing their extended license ($90) to allow for reselling, but it didn't prove cost effective.
        Oh OK--so let's say I'm interested in creating PLR header graphics for minisites. Something with a standard design that people can customize with their own text. I can't purchase a photograph of let's say--a woman typing on the computer--with an extended license and use that for my design? Maybe I'm confused about what you mean when you say "reselling"? The people who purchase the templates/headers aren't reselling them--they would use them for their own personal use only.

        Amanda
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        • Profile picture of the author KarlWarren
          Hi Amanda,

          if the header isn't to be resold - and the graphics (apart from the text layer) are flattened, then you should be ok. I'd personally confirm it with BSP if I were you,
          just send them a support ticket - and keep their reply on record.

          Kindest regards,
          Karl.
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          eCoverNinja - Sales Page Graphics & Layout Specialist
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