Just starting out with Web Design...bunch of questions

xJustin · Mar 5th, 2008, 20:32

I am completely new to Web Design and I would like to know where to begin. Should I start with studying up on HTML and then
move on to xHTML / CSS? And what is Javascript, PHP, Coldfusion? All these terms makes me a bit confused lol.

Also, what software would you recommend I get? How much do you really rely on the program, and how much of the work
is dependent on the coding? I can most likely get a student discount for Dreamweaver (which is the only software
that I've heard of for webdesign...well besides Frontpage LOL).

Are there any books you'd recommend I read to learn the basics of web design?

I consider myself a fairly creative person and I can easily think up ideas for a site layout wise, I just need
to learn the process it takes in order to bring the site to life. I'm not sure
what the typical workflow for web designing is, but for me I'd
like to be able to draw out on paper first the basic template for the site and then be able to create it using the coding,
and photoshop.

Which language allows for the most flexibility? I would like
to eventually be able to create fairly complex sites. I have enough knowledge in Photoshop to create
whatever graphics I need btw.

unitedcraig · Mar 5th, 2008, 21:23

Where to start lol. I would start off learning HTML definetly, when you have mastered this i would then move onto CSS, this is what you use to style your pages.

PHP can be used to add flexibility to your pages, say you have a forum and you want to home page to say, "Welcome user", you can use php along with html to add a lot more flexibility to your pages.

Javascript can be used to add more affects to your site such as hover affects, rollovers etc.

Coldfusion is another server side scripting language similar to php

I would not recommend trying to learn these three before you are confident with HTML and CSS

As for software, if you want to get seriously into webdesign i would recommend Dreamweaver, it is the best overall editor out there in my opinion, but there are lots of cheaper versions if you don't have the money. If you do use Dreamweaver however, DO NOT use design view, use code view, the design view produces c**p code. I have also learn to stay away from Frontpage lol

For learning, the best thing to do is use the web. there are thousands of tutorials, both on this site, in our creative coding newsletter and elsewhere, books get out of date quite quickly and don't help anymore than websites.

Hope this helps mate

Craig

Aesir · Mar 9th, 2008, 14:19

I'm relativly new to and learning myself and have found http://www.htmldog.com to be really useful.

I have dreamweaver aswell and use it to handcode. I think if your serious about the website design you are better off learning in an environment you are likely to be using later on in your career and developing a competancy in that application.

Also I would learn xhtml strict, or atleast this is what I have been learning as opposed to html as being able to code xhtml strict is better than being able to code html.

Also I am really new myself so what I say might be complete rubbish.

good luck all the same.

note: I don't know if i'm allowed to post links to other websites so sorry if i'm not.

hugepixels · Mar 13th, 2008, 04:37

Hi xJustin, i do not want to answer all your question one by one because they are a lot, just kidding dude

Before you go deeper, you master the basics. I will not recommend you any books because for me internet is already a big book, Just search

welshstew · Mar 13th, 2008, 07:32

if you check out some of the stickies at the top of this forum then it will help you get started:

Resources for Graphics
Resources for learning HTML and CSS
HTML Editors
Resources for learning how to use CSS for layout

just come back to us if you have a question or query, more than happy to help