Web Design Resources

SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES

This is a list of recommended web sites, books, and articles that you can explore to enhance your experience in the class. This list is frequently updated.

RESOURCE DESCRIPTION

Free web images sites

www.freebackgroundzone.com I like the pinstripe backgrounds that this link takes you to. The are useful to be placed behind tables.

eosdev.com/eosdev_Backgrounds.htm A good site for web art of all types. This takes you directly to the backgrounds page. The backgrounds are less garish than on some sites.

http://www.iconbazaar.com A well organized site that provides free images, without steering you to upgrade to premium version. Lots of pop-ups though

http://www.backgroundcity.com A large source of background files

Low cost Stock Photography, generally $0-$15

CanStock Photos Good pricing and a variety of photos.

http://www.punchstock.com Stock photos that are good for practicing. Otherwise cost $79 each.

http://www.flickr.com If you get an account, you can "right click" to save pictures.

Comstock If you sign on, you can get free practice files that are usually 200-300 pixels. You don't have to pay money for signing up.

http://www.istockphoto.com This is the best I've found for a web designer on a budget. High quality photos are shared by a community of photographers, with pricing starting at $1. Over the years, however, the pricing for the larger images have increased.

Logo and button generators sites

http://www.flamingtext.com This site quickly generates buttons and logos that can be customized as desired. You can easily find matching backgrounds and images. I found this site several years ago, and by today's standards, it might be hard to create sophisticated buttons and logos, but it gives you a quick start.

http://www.cooltext.com This site is very similar the flamingtext.com. It allows lots of customization for your web art.

Tutorial and reference sites

XHTML Rules Basics of XHTML - Why, What and How (it's a nice summary )

www.webmonkey.com A great site for short, easy to follow tutorials.

www.htmlprimer.com/ Contains easy-to-read tutorials. Also contains a user forum where you can ask questions of others.

webdesign.about.com/cs/html www.about.com is a very comprehensive site. It contains lots of material relating to web site development. One of its most useful areas deals with design tips and principles.

www.w3schools.com At W3Schools you will find all the Web-building tutorials you need, from basic HTML to advanced coding and scripting.

www.htmlhelp.com This is a solid and authoritative site that offers help on a wide range of topics. The site does not look fancy, but provides great information in a reference manner. It focuses on material that helps you to create sites that work in all browsers.
www.utexas.edu/learn/html/spchar.html Special characters. This is just one of the many sites that provides a convenient list of special characters. Thanks to University of Texas.

Free web hosting

www.geocities.com Geocities, in conjunction with Yahoo, still provides free web hosting.

www.angelfire.com This site also provides free web hosting.

Text Editors and HTML Editors

www.editpadlite.com I've used this text editor in lieu of Notepad for years. Features include opening multiple files, drag & drop, toolbars, numbering lines, etc. There are two versions--Lite and Pro. Although it's worth paying for, I recommend the Lite version if you are on a budget.

www.crimsoneditor.com This freeware editor was recommended by Drew Shamrock. I've downloaded it and can readily see that it lives up to its billing. The Crimson Editor includes syntax highlighting for HTML, CSS, Perl, Javascript, and many more languages.

Colors

www.easycalculation.com Hexadecimal color chart

Color Chart - 100 plus, colors RGB to Hexadecimal color converter

Another Color Chart Wikipedia's entire color page

www.cookwood.com Hexadecimal equivalents - from 0 to 255

wellstyled.com Gain quick confidence with your choice of colors. Use this tool to generate color schemes of good-looking, well balanced and harmonic web pages.

Multimedia (Audio & Video)

online-convert.com Quickly convert various types media online. No software installation needed. Free

Other

www.lipsum.com Generates dummy text. Also tells the story behind "Lorem Ipsum Dolor Sit Amet"

RESOURCE	DESCRIPTION
Free web images sites
www.freebackgroundzone.com	I like the pinstripe backgrounds that this link takes you to. The are useful to be placed behind tables.
eosdev.com/eosdev_Backgrounds.htm	A good site for web art of all types. This takes you directly to the backgrounds page. The backgrounds are less garish than on some sites.
http://www.iconbazaar.com	A well organized site that provides free images, without steering you to upgrade to premium version. Lots of pop-ups though
http://www.backgroundcity.com	A large source of background files
Low cost Stock Photography, generally $0-$15
CanStock Photos	Good pricing and a variety of photos.
http://www.punchstock.com	Stock photos that are good for practicing. Otherwise cost $79 each.
http://www.flickr.com	If you get an account, you can "right click" to save pictures.
Comstock	If you sign on, you can get free practice files that are usually 200-300 pixels. You don't have to pay money for signing up.
http://www.istockphoto.com	This is the best I've found for a web designer on a budget. High quality photos are shared by a community of photographers, with pricing starting at $1. Over the years, however, the pricing for the larger images have increased.
Logo and button generators sites
http://www.flamingtext.com	This site quickly generates buttons and logos that can be customized as desired. You can easily find matching backgrounds and images. I found this site several years ago, and by today's standards, it might be hard to create sophisticated buttons and logos, but it gives you a quick start.
http://www.cooltext.com	This site is very similar the flamingtext.com. It allows lots of customization for your web art.
Tutorial and reference sites
XHTML Rules	Basics of XHTML - Why, What and How (it's a nice summary )
www.webmonkey.com	A great site for short, easy to follow tutorials.
www.htmlprimer.com/	Contains easy-to-read tutorials. Also contains a user forum where you can ask questions of others.
webdesign.about.com/cs/html	www.about.com is a very comprehensive site. It contains lots of material relating to web site development. One of its most useful areas deals with design tips and principles.
www.w3schools.com	At W3Schools you will find all the Web-building tutorials you need, from basic HTML to advanced coding and scripting.
www.htmlhelp.com	This is a solid and authoritative site that offers help on a wide range of topics. The site does not look fancy, but provides great information in a reference manner. It focuses on material that helps you to create sites that work in all browsers.
www.utexas.edu/learn/html/spchar.html	Special characters. This is just one of the many sites that provides a convenient list of special characters. Thanks to University of Texas.
Free web hosting
www.geocities.com	Geocities, in conjunction with Yahoo, still provides free web hosting.
www.angelfire.com	This site also provides free web hosting.
Text Editors and HTML Editors
www.editpadlite.com	I've used this text editor in lieu of Notepad for years. Features include opening multiple files, drag & drop, toolbars, numbering lines, etc. There are two versions--Lite and Pro. Although it's worth paying for, I recommend the Lite version if you are on a budget.
www.crimsoneditor.com	This freeware editor was recommended by Drew Shamrock. I've downloaded it and can readily see that it lives up to its billing. The Crimson Editor includes syntax highlighting for HTML, CSS, Perl, Javascript, and many more languages.
Colors
www.easycalculation.com	Hexadecimal color chart
Color Chart - 100 plus, colors	RGB to Hexadecimal color converter
Another Color Chart	Wikipedia's entire color page
www.cookwood.com	Hexadecimal equivalents - from 0 to 255
wellstyled.com	Gain quick confidence with your choice of colors. Use this tool to generate color schemes of good-looking, well balanced and harmonic web pages.
Multimedia (Audio & Video)
online-convert.com	Quickly convert various types media online. No software installation needed. Free
Other
www.lipsum.com	Generates dummy text. Also tells the story behind "Lorem Ipsum Dolor Sit Amet"

SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES

Common Windows and Mac Fonts http://www.ampsoft.net/webdesign-l/WindowsMacFonts.html