DIY Websites

[eNZee]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Find yourself a good web designer. Enjoy

I would love to find a good web designer but from some prices I've heard I simply cant afford that right now especially since i need some more equipment before i get into it big. im just looking for something decent for now that can nicely represent me so people have something solid to check out but thats affordable. my goal is to definately evantually walk in that direction and have it done in a way that i originally envisioned.

I've see a DIY webpage site called Homestead. Anyone heard of it or have any opinions or tips to offer?

[tokyorush]

Hiya all,

Recently I had a similar dillema, how to make my own photopage. Have a blog for quite a while on BlogSpot and just felt I need to move on from WYSIWYG editors to something more complex. So I went on and learned some code (HTML to start with, some Jawascript and ect., all tutorials available for free on W3Schools Online Web Tutorials), produced my photoblog, paid for hosting, found a domain name, so I might as well share how I got there.

To begin with, you need a template, here you can find a truckload of free web templates:

Open Source Web Design - Download free web design templates.

Browse through them, make notes as you go along on color schemes, design features you like (1 or 2 sidebar pages, navigation vertical or horizontal, etc.), and pick something. After that, you can work on applying the stuff you want in there....

Also, on this page

Dynamic Drive DHTML(dynamic html) & ********** code library

you can find plenty of free scripts for dynamic page elements (navigation menus, scrollers, etc.) you can later on incorporate into the page. Didn't use them, but learned a lot through them and built my own navigation hybrid (template's existing and my idea)

Used free flash viewer for the photos, although personally not a big flash fan (brainded now, can't remember the name of the software).

Couple of tips, think of a logo for the page, make it simple (max 3-4 colors for the logo and the whole page), and then incorporate it into every aspect of the page (branding really sells/leaves an impact on visitors). As said above, 3-4 colors for the whole page, nice contrasting tones, use this page to test your idea or steal somebody's:

Color Combinations | Color Schemes | Color Palettes

If you like some website colors, type the link into the GRAB WEBSITE COLORS box on the left and it will grab the color codes we can use later on.

The mentioned "DynamicDrive" website offers an online favicon maker, use it to create a favicon icon (look up to your addressbar, favicon is the DPS logo on the left of the address):

Dynamic Drive- FavIcon Generator

This should be enough to keep you busy for a while....

Feel free to ask me anything about it, google it first since most of the answers are already out there (Google is your friend) and good luck. Don't be affraid to venture out and try to code your own simple gallery website, you'll learn on the way and sooner or later finish the site. The process of learning is what makes this experience valuable...

R

[eNZee]

omg i just checked that out but im so overwhelmed. im really not techsavvy so when i see all those codes i truly dont even know where to start. thats why i've been looking at these more simpler websites that you can customize and publish it all in one.

im so confused....

[tokyorush]

It looked that you are not looking for something so geekish, but trust me, give it a try, not that hard, lots of it is copy/pasting without any or minimal coding knowledge. Or pick a template you like and edit it in a WSYIWYG editor, most common one found in almost all PCs is the MS Word.

I wanted to share this since there might be people who are more into it but don't know about the links I posted. Might come handy....

[PowerPix]

You could check out www.000webhost.com. You can design an easy to use free website with hosting and they have a lot of nice professional looking templates to choose from. Your subdomain name (if you don't own a domain name) would look a litte more professional then Webs or Wix, etc. It would be something similar to www.mywebsitename.comuv.com . They are my top pick for free websites. Let me know if you have any questions and I would be glad to help.

[eNZee]

thanks guys for all your help and input. i found homestead.com. i pay a little a month but im alot happier with the templates they offer. i've also bought my own domain name so i have a professional look.

[MWerner]

I am currently putting together a site using an interface from www.FlashPalette.com. They are awesome because they let you download as many interfaces and the editing programs to go with them as you want, but you don't have to pay for the interface until you're ready to upload it to a real server and go live. However, while you're editing it, you can preview it in a web browser window and see how it would look as a real website. I've been pretty impressed so far. And the editor is pretty easy to use. I also think their prices are very reasonable considering that you only pay for the website interface once and then its yours forever. I think you can get hosting through them too, if you wanted to, but I can't remember.

There's also www.BluDomain.com. They have some gorgeous websites too, but they're a little more expensive and I don't think you can try them out without paying for them.

[cdgaskin]

contact a member on here by the name of: FoG

he built my website to my idea and hes very good!! if you dont get him to do it he can help you to do it. (hes in my friends list on my profile to save you searching)

im surprised he hasnt commented on this thread already actually

[eNZee]

Originally Posted by MWerner

I am currently putting together a site using an interface from FlashPalette Web Design.. They are awesome because they let you download as many interfaces and the editing programs to go with them as you want, but you don't have to pay for the interface until you're ready to upload it to a real server and go live. However, while you're editing it, you can preview it in a web browser window and see how it would look as a real website. I've been pretty impressed so far. And the editor is pretty easy to use. I also think their prices are very reasonable considering that you only pay for the website interface once and then its yours forever. I think you can get hosting through them too, if you wanted to, but I can't remember.

There's also www.BluDomain.com. They have some gorgeous websites too, but they're a little more expensive and I don't think you can try them out without paying for them.

hey i just have to make a comment - i looked at your blog. nice pics!!

[FoG]

Originally Posted by eNZee

So i've taken the leap and decided to start my own webpage thanks to some tips from wonderful contributors on DPS.

I've tried out webs and weebly but im not quite that happy with the templates they offer (webs being a bit better than weebly). i find i dont have enough freedom as far as what i want to do (please keep in mind that from a technical computer sense i have no idea what im doing so any "special" effects are far over my head) so really i cant do this unless i have a template im happy with. unfortunately i cant afford a fancy web designer to do it for me.

so on with my story....
im wondering - does anyone else know of any other websites besides the ones ive mentioned above that are good. i am willing to pay if i have to but i need something straight forward like the ones i've mentioned above.

thanks guys!!!

Hello !! Right I can help as I have done a couple for users here basically send me a PM with what you want and I will do the rest will PM you now with some links to the sites I have done (will post here so moderators know I not spamming)...

Gaskin Photography

Joshua Rohm

and one for a lady I work with

DMR Photography

The last one is on my test site as it is very much a work in progress if you wish to see what Chris and Joshua had to say about my sites for them feel free to check the testimonials on my site .. *looks up in fact cd is on here lol*

I know it can be quite intimidating but also would say templates can be a bit drab if not same ol same ol