Photoshop website tutorials

Even as a fairly experienced photoshop user, I sometimes find myself forgetting the most simplest commands. Tutorials are to teach a person how to do something. I found this a problem in the tutorials I selected in this assignment.

The first tutorial I selected was the Photography Portfolio one. The step by step was great except I if I were a newbie, I would have had trouble figuring out how to do all the steps on the gradient and its parameters. The more I got into it, I found it needed to be more new user friendly. I liked the pictures of the steps though. I find I can learn better this way if I can visualize something,.

The second tutorial I picked was Making your own portfolio page. Again I encountered the same type of tutorial in which a new user would have found themselves having a hard time. More detail needed to be had in where to find the blending modes, and where to find the parameter screens. There were webshots of the screens but not enough detail to readily find them.

The third tutorial was Portfolio Web Layout. This tutorial was a nice design and what I figured to be relatively easy. I was fooled. All of these tutorials were about the same. If you are an experienced photoshop user they are wonderfully helpful. However for new photoshop users, I think they need more details. I think there was a lot to be learned from these tutorials with just a little more explanations in the instructions.

The site development process and what my role is in it

The site development process and what my role is in it

            There are several steps in publishing a website. There is a whole development strategy that takes usually a team to create. Let us explore the steps for developing a website.

            First there is the concept. A concept is an idea that can be put to use. In this phase, mockups or sketches of ideas are created then presented to narrow down the final concept. For me this is the hardest part. Once I have an idea, then carrying it out is more technical which is where I shine.

            Once a concept has been picked, then the information has to be organized into a manageable easily understandable format for the web.

This would include but is not limited to which information goes on which page, how does the information flow so it is not jumbled up and confusing.

            The next step is developing a “look and feel” of the website. This would be choosing the color schemes, the layout of the pages, the logo, etc.

            Next a working prototype is created to better visualize the project and notice what is working and not working visually. At this point you want to test it. All the pre steps mean nothing if when you launch the website it does nothing.

            Work out the bugs do a final test run and if all goes well, then you are ready to launch the site. Still you are not done. Once the website has launched there is always maintenance to be done. Information that has to be updated and just the technical maintenance has to be watched to make sure the site is always up and running as well as everything is working.

Goals for This Class

     My goals for this class? That's a good question. I have had so much trouble creating that perfect website to showcase my skills as a photographer. During this class, I hope to learn the skills to create that perfect site. I know what HTML is and CSS, but I want to know how to create it not just what it does. I want to be able to create it myself not copy and paste something someone else has created.

     I want to learn how not to get so intimidated by the knowledge that one space, one period, one extra space, one element out of order can cause the whole program not to run when initiated. I want to learn confidence and control of web design and how to use it for any project that I want to start.

     Another goal is to keep up and not fall behind since there is so much to learn in this class. I plan to use good study habits and keep my assignments done on time. With that said, I also want to make sure that I am not just mimicking the instructor but make sure I truly understand the material before moving on.

35th class reunion

I just attended the 35th class reunion of the Bicentennial (1976) graduates of Carthage High School, Carthage, MS. We had a blast at the reunion and are looking forward to many more get togethers in the future.