As a web designer, we know that we can apply different stylesheets for different media. The following is the most common method used.
The above code requests two separate stylesheets, one for global media styles (screen, print, handheld, tv…) and one for print only. There is nothing wrong with the above, but if load time is an issue you could save yourself a server request by combining your CSS files:
If you want to install and set up a dynamic web server with Apache, a lot of applications such as Apache web server, mySQL database, PHP and Perl scripting language, and not to mention important extensions and tools to manage the web server’s applications. It’s not a easy and simple task. But luckily, there is XAMPP from Apache Friends.
XAMPP is a collection of free software applications for installing and using the Apache Web server. There are different combination of applications depending on which XAMPP distributions. Currently there are four type of XAMPP distributions available: XAMPP for Linux (previously known as LAMPP), XAMPP for Windows, XAMPP for Mac OS X, XAMPP for Solaris. Typically, XAMPP is a full featured AMPP (Apache MySQL, PHP, Perl), an Apache distribution that includes the Apache Web server, MySQL database, PHP, Perl, FTP server and phpMyAdmin, with several other important and commonly used extension built-in, such as SSL.
Nowadays, we can found a lot of online store which selling website templates at the low cost. Website templates are very affordable and they save you a lot of effort and time when you want to create a new layout for your website. However, many people make their mistakes in the process of choosing and using a web template and end up with something that was unlike the image they had in mind. Here are some guidelines to help you avoid those mistakes.
Avoid to use popular template
If many people use the same template, your website will not appear unique at all and your credibility as a solid, different website will be tarnished. In other words, you will appear generic just like your next-door neighbours.
Do not redesign the template beyond recognisation
To whole point of using a web template is to save time and effort. You just change the title and appropriate details and you’re done. The biggest mistake one makes is to customize the template beyond recognisation. While that may be good in the sense that you are creating a unique graphic, you are defying the very purpose of using a web template — saving time and effort.
Repetitive Strain Injury (or RSI) describes a group of conditions that arise from overuse of the computer. It affects muscles and nerves in the back and arms when these areas are kept tense for long periods of time due to repetitive motions, poor posture and stress.
Warning Signs
Look out for:
* Pain in the upper body, such as in the neck, shoulders, upper back, wrists, hands or fingers.
* Tingling or numbness, as though the affected area has lost circulation (this can also sometimes be present when lying in bed at night.)
* Weakness or fatigue in the affected area. (more…)
A compilation of tools, sites and code snippets to create tag cloud:
ZoomClouds: create a tag cloud using any RSS feed. Using a small snippet code embed the cloud on any web page (e.g. TechCrunch tag cloud). It has its API using which you can have better control over the cloud you create and also build powerful mashups.
I would like to present some useful analytics services, validation tools and monitoring services you, as web designer especially, should be aware of. Some “standard” tools – such as W3C Validators – are skipped; instead I’ve tried to focus on tools you probably don’t know that much about.
This is probably the most prominent analytics tool in this overview, delivers a detailed report on dozens of various design-related aspects. Every single key point is evaluated and rated according to its performance on the scale from 1 to 10. Among other things Sitescore analyzes the quality of incoming and outgoing links, keyword density, page titles, plagiarism, popularity rank, the usage of popups and the effectiveness of site’s structure. Sitescore also grades the printability, readability, spiderability and usability of the page as well as spelling and W3C compliance.
Web designers face unique set of challenges to generate client leads. Since most of us are freelancers, this means that we need to have trust base with our clients. This is not easy, as we need to find The Client, Build Trust and Keep this client.
We have put together some ideas to help you find the right client and keep. There’s something for everyone to try and I guarantee there will be a return.
Here they are, your 101 hotkeys to Find, Build and Keep:
1) Start and Write Your Own Blog
First comes first………PORTFOLIO. You need to build yourself a very convincing portfolio website to be a showcase for your best only best piece of work. A blog is one of the most effective forms of self promotion. If you write an effective blog, you can get thousands to your blog.
2) Make Yourself seen
1. Search-optimize your website to get quality Traffic
2. Use some Freelance Websites to get work, many of them is very usefull.
3. Submit your articles, tips and tutorials to sites like Digg, del.icio.us, Dzone, etc…
If you are trying to do pixel-perfect cross-browser CSS layout, then you have probably ran into problems with IE . I am going to highlight the top 7 CSS hacks that we often use to have pixel perfect design.
1) Box Model Hack
The box model hack is used to fix a rendering problem in pre-IE 6 browsers, where the border and padding are included in the width of an element, as opposed to added on
This extension shows you the raw HTTP headers that a webserver returns. It’s very handy for debugging issues with 404s, redirect, monitoring cookies and so on.
Greasemonkey is a useful tool that lets you write scripts to modify different websites. It enables you to change the way a website displays and install different scripts to customise HTML pages.
This extension will prevent your browser from following the forwarding specified by the refresh parameter of the META tag element. It can also be handy for debugging.
Show you the IP address of a website and allow you to copy it to the clipboard. It also allows querying custom services by IP (right mouse button) and Hostname (left mouse button), like whois, netcraft. Additionally you can copy the IP address to the clipboard.
Here is an amazing flash component for photo album with 3D flipping effect and motion blur. PhotoFLIP can help you to build a 3D photo album easily (full Action Script 3.0 API). The following is the live demo for PhotoFLIP. For more information, you can visit its website – http://www.digicrafts.com.hk/components/
This is a site to share my knowledge, discovery and experience related to my hobby and work. Most articles on this site are related to web design, web development, graphic design, short reviews, tips and tricks. I sometimes write some about Microsoft Office Application too.
