25 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
25 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

What tools to use as a web designer

by successmonster234
22 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
    • |
Hi Warriors,

I'm looking to get into low priced web design and therefore need a tool to use that I can build websites with quickly (else I won't make any money lol!).

Do any of you have any views or experience on the best tools to use to build websites for small biz's, I've looked at a few options (including Wordpress) but most look to complex.

Thanks in advance!
#designer #tools #web #web design software
  • Profile picture of the author hotelofnewdelhi
    Coder's Notepad is what I am using currently. Wordpress is something where you dont need any HTML Tool
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6955532].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author cssbros
    For Web Designers (one that designs a web page)- Use Photoshop, Illustrator

    For Web Developers (one that codes the web design into a functional HTML pages)- Use Dreamweaver, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Filezilla
    Signature
    Premium Web Design and Development Service

    Website - www.cssbros.com
    Email - arman@cssbros.com
    Skype - cssbros
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6955573].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bheadrick
    Definitely go with WordPress. For a theme, I'd look for one that was very flexible that allowed you to customize the look and feel quickly and easily. A lot of themes from WooThemes let you customize them pretty extensively without having to really know any programming or even css. Pagelines Platform also does this, and there is a free version, but the paid version does give you more options.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6958144].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author 3dy
    Get a good and free text editor (Notepad++ for Windows, Kod for Mac, Gedit for Linux) and learn to create designs for a specific CMS (WordPress or pretty much anything else you want).

    That's pretty much all you need to know in the field - given that you can market your services properly and get some clients.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6958278].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bhmseoservices
    Here's my list, if your doing a website for the first time without any knowledge of web development code you should use a free CMS. Wordpress is very friendly to new-web-users.

    Adobe's Dreamweaver is more advanced by a great tool to work with because it has all tools and a lot of references.
    Signature
    webdesign company| seo services | Search engine optimization company
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6958313].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ArcherWylde
    It really depends on your budget where you will end up in the tools.

    Web design is my full time gig, I use Photoshop and Dreamweaver all day long.

    You can try out Adobe Creative Cloud for like $49.99 per month and have access to all the cool Master Suite stuff that cost me $2500 recently.

    Adobe Creative Cloud | Adobe.com
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6960488].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author vgvetter
    WordPress looks complex because of the unlimited capabilities it offers.

    As pointed out by cssbros, there is a difference between design and development.

    With WP, unless you intend to get real code proficient, available free themes, theme options, and plug ins pretty much establish the design. Development involves your creation of content and format that gets the job done for your client.

    Have used FrontPage, Expressions, Xara, WYSIWYG, and a couple of other packages over the last 10 years, and in my mind right now, WP is where it's at.

    Would be interested in what you decide.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6964713].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Hostnetric
      I agree with many of the people here. I have used WP as a basis for many sites I create because of it's ease of use and the many plugins that are available for it and best of all most of the best plugins are free.

      There are a lot of themes available which can be easily changed to meet your customers needs.

      Another factor is that from simple blogs to ecommerce and even web hosting WP easily meets the needs of most sites.

      I use dreamweaver cs6 to edit with and have tried many others over the years, but always have stayed with DW. On a different note though I do not use Photoshop to do my images. I use CorelDraw Graphics Suite x6. I find it easier to use and does everything that photo shop does that I need. It also can open photoshop files and edit them with no problems.
      Signature

      █ SSL Certificates - All Major Brands
      █NameShark - Premium Web Hosting
      █ NameShark offers Shared, VPS and Dedicated Web Hosting Solutions.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6964850].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Kingfish85
    First, using Wordpress does not make you a web designer or web developer. It takes web developers to build the platform itself.

    Second, if these look "too complex", why are you trying to sell websites in the first place?

    Designers design, developers develop. Design = graphics, ui etc. Developer = coding.


    You need to learn the basics first. What happens when there's a problem and you have no idea how to fix it?

    EDIT: I'll get a lot of backlash for this, but it seems that here on WF, if you install a Wordpress theme, you're instantly a "web designer/developer". It couldn't be further from the truth. I'd suggest learning first, then selling.
    Signature

    |~| VeeroTech Hosting - sales @ veerotech.net
    |~| High Performance CloudLinux & LiteSpeed Powered Web Hosting
    |~| cPanel & WHM - Softaculous - Website Builder - R1Soft - SpamExperts
    |~| Visit us @veerotech Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6964763].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author petebolduc
      Originally Posted by Kingfish85 View Post

      First, using Wordpress does not make you a web designer or web developer. It takes web developers to build the platform itself.

      Second, if these look "too complex", why are you trying to sell websites in the first place?

      Designers design, developers develop. Design = graphics, ui etc. Developer = coding.


      You need to learn the basics first. What happens when there's a problem and you have no idea how to fix it?

      EDIT: I'll get a lot of backlash for this, but it seems that here on WF, if you install a Wordpress theme, you're instantly a "web designer/developer". It couldn't be further from the truth. I'd suggest learning first, then selling.
      Kingfish85,

      No Backlash here...

      What you said is exactly true. Anyone can install wordpress and grab a theme. What if the client's needs require specific programming to meet and there is no plugin... and you can't code it.

      As Kingfish85 said... true designers design graphics and true write code. Someone who wants to sell websites to local business should be able to do both if they want to provide a quality service.

      Additionally, although the business owner may be pleased with a cheap website (because they do not know what they really need and what would be effective for them because they are too busy running their business), unless all on and off site seo is provided, along with social networking integration, the site will be basically useless for the business.

      I love to walk into a business 9 months to 2 years after a cheap site was sold to them... Unlike when the internet first started and it was like pulling teeth to sell a local business a site (after all they did not need to reach the world), in today's market the small business owner knows they need a website...

      These are the perfect prospects for the guy who knows how to program... can write the back end... can do a fairly decent quality in the graphics department, and knows both on and off site seo.

      They guy who goes in before the developer who really knows what they are doing, allows the experienced guy to charge more than he normally would because the old adage; "You Get What You Pay For..." is the center of the conversation.

      Regarding the original question: Acehtml Pro 6 is an excellent edits for around $60 and RealDraw for around $40 is a great graphics program. I personally have been using Acehtml Pro since 2000 and although I have Photoshop, RealDraw is my graphic program of choice.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6965221].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Fierce Brent
        Originally Posted by petebolduc View Post

        As Kingfish85 said... true designers design graphics and true write code. Someone who wants to sell websites to local business should be able to do both if they want to provide a quality service.
        Agreed. Professional web designers and developers use professional tools and know how to code. Installing a WordPress or Joomla template is one thing, but designing or developing custom websites that go beyond simple modifications to something that someone else has built requires a significant amount of skill and knowledge. It's not something that can be learned overnight.

        I've been designing and developing database-driven websites for going on 20 years, and there's more to learn each day than I can possibly keep up with. As for tools, I code everything by hand (BBEdit on a Mac) and use Photoshop for the bitmapped graphics.

        I'm not at all suggesting that everyone who needs a website has to learn to hand code everything from javascript functions to sql queries, but I am saying that if you plan on selling professional web design services that you need to know HTML and CSS inside and out, plus have a working familiarity with javascript and php. And if you want to develop websites, as opposed to just designing them, all of the above is pretty much required.

        For those just needing to put up a personal small business website, by all means, install Wordpress or Joomla, download and install a theme or two, buy some add-on modules and components, and see if it all works for you. Don't, however, assume that doing this qualifies you to sell your services as a web designer/developer -- there's lots more to it than that.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6984304].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author ArcherWylde
      Originally Posted by Kingfish85 View Post

      First, using Wordpress does not make you a web designer or web developer. It takes web developers to build the platform itself.

      Second, if these look "too complex", why are you trying to sell websites in the first place?

      Designers design, developers develop. Design = graphics, ui etc. Developer = coding.


      You need to learn the basics first. What happens when there's a problem and you have no idea how to fix it?

      EDIT: I'll get a lot of backlash for this, but it seems that here on WF, if you install a Wordpress theme, you're instantly a "web designer/developer". It couldn't be further from the truth. I'd suggest learning first, then selling.
      I couldn't agree with you more!

      I build websites everyday. About 50% of our business is re-designing websites for companies that hired one of those self-proclaimed "hey i built a site with godaddy's website tonight, I'm a web designer now!" people.

      Don't get me wrong, I love WordPress because of the shear simplicity of it's design and I use a highly modified version of it for clients websites regularly.

      With that being said it's not even a CMS in my eyes, it's a blogging platform that can be customized into a website.

      If anyone thinks WordPress is too complicated they should try out a REAL CMS like Drupal.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6979518].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author RK Corbes
        Archer is right there. Completely agree. I have started from scratch and 4 years ago after my first project in wordpress, i love it. Day by day I am learning to do the coding not just the design, a little search there , search here in google, in forums, in everywhere. You will learn it if you are willing to do it. I prefer tweaking wordpress themes for clients rather than creating a website from scratch. It will definitely save your time and you can work with other clients website.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6980644].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author introandsimplelog
    use photoshope anb illustratore
    Signature
    Best Hosting For You
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6964764].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author aars
    Wordpress
    Notepad ++
    Paint.net and Photoshop
    WAMP for local development instances
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6965057].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author outNabout
      Originally Posted by aars View Post

      Wordpress
      Notepad ++
      Paint.net and Photoshop
      WAMP for local development instances
      Ditto
      These are free tools that you need.Except Photoshop.You can search for tutorials on Youtube on how to create websites from scratch.If you not willing to learn a little bit of CSS,HTML,PHP,Javascript and Design in general.Those are many skills to learn at once.Video tutorials always teach me a lot of things.with a receptive mind you will overcome even using wordpress.
      Signature
      Just do it
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6984563].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author RK Corbes
    For 4 years of experience, I only use Notepad++ for coding and Photoshop for the design. I've learned to be flexible. For the ideas, look for the css websites gallery on google.

    Learn css coding through w3schools. Don't be afraid on what it will turn out in your first few designs, create it and tweak it. You will gain experience and will get better if you practice everyday.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6977732].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ronc0011
    I do almost all of my work in Visual Web Developer and I work entirely in the code view I just like the code hint functionality and err checking on the fly I just find it I to be a very coder friendly coding environment I also find it to be completely free
    .For graphics I work mostly in Photoshop. However I also work a lot in Coreldraw. For creating things like arrows and banners, your basic web graphics I use Coreldraw simply because it'd very fast and simple to work with. I will often save those graphics in a psd file and do further tweaking on them in Photoshop For instance if I want an animated gif like a flashing arrow or something I'll do that work in Photoshop.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6978574].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author soniamit
    WordPress is best choice. if you think its complex system better check in YouTube.com tutorial for WordPress then very easy for u.

    Most Website Designer make website in WordPress.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6982768].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author parvinvaidhya
    Photoshop and Illustrator both best tools for designers.
    Signature
    Wordpress Developer
    PHP Developer
    WordPress Plugin Developer
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6983555].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Chuck Dimon
    I would like to recommend Aptana. This is without a doubt our favorite for straight up web development.

    If your interested in expanding your offerings to mobile application development, then I suggest Titanium Studio as the only tool you'll ever need. Titanium studio bought out Aptana last year and integrated it with Studio. It's a one stop web/mobile application development shop.

    We have put out 7 apps cross platform in the past 9 months and dozens of sites.

    Good luck with you business plan. Hope you have great success.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6983930].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    As long as we have people seriously stating that WordPress is a web design tool... every thread like this is completely in vain and I will be closing and/or deleting them.

    Learn the basics if you want your posts to stay.
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6985848].message }}

Trending Topics