Creating pages with HTML and styling with CSS is beginner web designer stuff but fundamental for the web designer. CSS was originally coded within style tags inside the head tags, CSS is now imported using the link tag and makes styling easier by keeping all style properties within a .css file. Dreamweaver has become the best tool for creating HTML docs using CSS and goes much further than that, being capable of creating web applications using Coldfusion, ASP.NET, ASP, Javascript, PHP and JSP.

Graphics -

There are many different programs to control graphics and the web designer uses either gif's, jpeg's and/or png. Files to be displayed on screen do not need a resolution of more than 72 dots per inch, because this is the screens resolution. Gif files are good for using when the graphic is made of simple colors and not made up of different complex colors and blends like a photograph, for a graphic of this kind it is much better to use a jpeg. If I had a graphic that I want to display at its best quality, I would be inclined to use a png file, displaying significantly more colors. Another format found on the web is the vector producing image file swf, Flash is responsible for creating the shockwave flash movie and can be used to control video/animation, a vector image produces itself with mathematics rather than blocks of colors, producing a much smoother graphic.

Layout -

When laying out pages there are some important rules to consider, Alignment, Repetition, Consistency and Contrast. Keeping these rules in mind when creating a site is very important, Alignment errors are easily noticeable and can make a page look instantly wrong, horizontal and vertical alignment must be considered and when you have got a desired alignment scheme - stick with it throughout your site. Repetition and Consistency will allow your viewers to know which domain they are viewing and will make it easier for a web designer to create entire sites. Contrasting your pages correctly is also another important factor, correct use of color throughout, creating a good contrast where needed.

Dreamweaver tips and tricks -

This section of the website will grow as I discover new things. First off, if you have a page which needs some major edits, I find it is a good idea to copy and paste the area which you wish to edit into a new blank file, this way if you completely muck up the page whilst editing you can always go back to the original document and start again. When applying templates be careful not to end up with a file where the links have changed to the file:// format, there are a few ways to apply a template so make sure when you apply one, the very convenient ../ appears in your coding, ../ is simply like the dos command which will drop you back one directory from where you are.

I am not sure if this only happens with JSP, but when a file with dynamic content is opened, edited and then saved, sometimes Dreamweaver will display an error message and your edits will not be saved, I have got into the habit of making a very small edit first to make sure the file is savable, once the error message has displayed itself once, you can then save the file normally, providing that you do not close it first.

Applets -

I have become quite accomplished at programming applets for web pages, increasing web interactivity to no end. Here are some quick tips for Java2 applets, that I have picked up whilst programming the language. When you start programming these, if you are not familiar with programming techniques then it can be tricky, but you will eventually see and understand these techniques through practice. An aspect that was very elusive to me for some time is that you must repaint to a JPanel class and not the programs main class, ie JFrame or JApplet, so always nest a JPanel class and add it through the main class container, repainting will become clear and not flicker.