I am trying to start web design more seriously, maybe even make a buck here and there or apply for a job sometime in the future. However there are still some things bugging me about 'web design'.

For example, what tools do the web design companies use? Up until now, I've always used a text editor to make my (simple) sites, but it has become tedious and time consuming. And I figure it needs a lot more tweaking to get to where you want. And I always find out things I want to do in a different way, but don't do it because it would require a lot of work changing all the code.


I don't mean HTML or CSS specifically but 'web design'. Do companies use mainly Dreamweaver for designing or is it all done by hand (in a text editor)? I reckon doing it by hand is still a big part in designing a web page, but is the main part made in Dreamweaver or something else? Do people doing this for money draw a page in Photoshop and chop it up into pieces and import it into Dreamweaver for "converting" it into HTML/CSS?

I mean, just how do the serious designers do their web sites? I've searched around the web for some info but there appears to be none(?). There are gazillion HTML tutorials but no guides to what tools to use to design web sites.

First off, using Dr*amw*av*r will get you into big trouble in terms of designing sites seriously. I'm not sure whether "companies" use it or not, since I don't, never have, and never will work for one that I don't own, but it's a problem.

I use Photoshop 7 and usually slice it and export the selected slices ONLY and create my own HTML using HomeSite 5. It's not that hard once you learn tableless layouts and CSS.

Designing a web site is a matter of learning and practice. You can learn a lot about how web sites you look at every day are designed, how the pages are organised, where the navigation is, and how the content is presented.

If you find a site that you like try recreating the layout yourself, and if you get stuck on how to do something search the net for a solution or ask here - you will learn a lot doing this sort of practice.

You cannot really "design" a web site in Dreamweaver or Photoshop - they are simply tools to create certain elements of the site. The actual design you could think of as a method of presenting information, the image editor is used to create/prepare graphical elements such as photos, logos, buttons and so on. The editor is used to create the HTML/CSS markup and other code to provide the framework to display the information.

for serious web designing You must:

1. learn backbone of web pages - HTML
2. use xHTML + CSS

For 2 things above: learn to code in text editor

3. use some of image editing appz (Photoshop, Fireworks...)
4. knowing of ASP or PHP would be very fine (server )

Professionals use various tools but every serious web designer know how to write, for example, code in HTML and CSS, in simple editor (Notepad!!)

On the places I have worked this is the process (simplified).

1. Interview, what does the client want? Can you add something that the client would benefit from but doesn't know about?

2. Get a approved specification on what the job includes.

3. Make quick drafts (hand drawn is ok) of the site structure and all pages/templates needed.

4. If no.3 is approved from the client, it's time to open Photoshop or your prefered design tool and make a design draft which should look much like the end result.

5. If no.4 is approved it's time to code. Dreamweaver is a good choice and GoLive I have heard is getting better at XHTML/CSS. But you can't use a WYSIWYG-tool all the way, you have to get your hands dirty in the code. Topstyle is a good addition for writing CSS also.

6,7,8. Testing and bug fixing.

9. Hopefully you have a good site that the client is happy with and that was completed within the budget

If the site is going to have dynamic parts or a back-end/CMS, then you have some more steps, like making a specification on all functionality.

Forgot one thing, make sure the client deliver texts and images on time if they should supply this.

Regarding software, it doesn't matter that much, as long as you know what you're doing.

Thanks guys! That was pretty much what I wanted to hear.

Where I work we use Dreamweaver, but not to actually drag/drop stuff. We type in it just like we used to in Notepad. So we do all the code ourselves, but where DW comes in handy is it`s coloured code, search/replace and validation (as well as the shortcuts). Basically something like DW saves time, but I wouldn`t actually want it to do the code for me (YIKES!). learn XHTML and CSS, and use something like DW or Crimson Editor to make things quicker.

i agree with stormjuice and others.
if you learn html and css you can create websites in any editor
wysiwyg - web builders are for beginners
so if you are serious about web building, you may learn html and css.

wysiwyg - web builders are for beginners

I agree.. and disagree with that. Programs like FrontPage are for beginners. Dreamweaver is used by many professionals, BUT, those professionals don't use the program in WYSIWYG mode, they code almost entirely by hand. DW has some great features for speeding up the design process and some great site management and workflow tools. I do NOT think it's a program for beginners.

Learning to code (X)HTML and CSS BY HAND is essential if you really want to get into web designing. Then, of course, there is the actual DESIGN aspect. Not all CODERS can design and vice versa. Design is a whole other area in and of itself with it's own rules.

Frontpage BABY!!! YEAH!!!

The problem with DW being used by professionals is that, for every professional that uses the program properly, there are about 149 Macrowhore "professionals" that go around using all the WYSIWYG functions and creating abominations in terms of both code and design from the functional point of view.

These sites quite often (but not always) have some common characteristics:

White text on a dark background (usually one of brown, dark lavender or black)
Diagonal lines used as colour/shape dividers
Small font sizes, set in pixels
Those disgusting MM_ functions (particularly their preloader...has anyone ever tried to deconstruct that thing to see what is going on with it? What a nightmare)
Tables nested in tables nested in tables nested in tables nested in tables nested in...

A lot of these same people tout the banner of web standards without having a friggin' clue what they're talking about.

If you must use DW, then at least learn to code by hand. I'm all for text editors with some form of colour coding system or other tools such as tag completion to make life easier, but not at the expense of good code.

Adam, This is like blaming drownings on water!

I am not going to use my own experiece so that I can make a point here.

If you have read any of LadynRed's posts it is obvious that she is more than an experienced Web developer. Also, snoop around the Adobe web site and see who is using DW. Some big time players.

Dreamweaver isn't going to make you a great designer/devloper that much is true. To say that it will make you a bad one..?? I have to disagree.


I think if DW disappeared overnight, those 149 Macrowhore "professionals" would still be around...

I too use Dreamweaver and have it set up to emulate Homesite. Gotta say that the tools that it has are pretty helpful. I agree that you must learn how to create html and css by hand.

I have used Homesite and Dreamweaver both. I prefer DW. That doesn'tmean that Homesite is crap..? Just what some people prefer...

I guess I am just confused. You usually give great advice. I was surprised at this view of a tool that is a great program.

Many things can be blamed for people drowning. Water is hardly ever the REASON for a drowning... So too, I believe that not one poorly created Web site can be blamed on the use of Dreamweaver. It is ag reat tool and program.

In a nutshell:

If you want, use dreamweaver but code everything by hand. Use dreamweaver for it's site organization, color coded text and split screen design/code. I don't suggest using notepad because there are plenty of free editors out there designed for websites, here is a great list http://www.thefreecountry.com/webmas...leditors.shtml

consider hand coding with bb-edit for mac or php designer for windows. they're both way better than notepad.

I usually use Dreamweaver is customer needs a classic tables-based template, but if he/she wants a XHTML-CSS template it's definately better to forget about DW simply because it can't properly show such template in "preview" mode (which I think is the main advantage of using DW). TopStyle is the king for the templates of this kind.