Looking for a good website designing software.

[Pokeman186]

I'm building a website, but the first thing I think I need is a good program to design the site. This is the sort of look and feel I want for the site. http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/ What could I make such smooth curves and a logo with text that look like that?

[Ob1]

Macromedia Dreamweaver MX

[mairving]

Originally Posted by Ob1 Macromedia Dreamweaver MX

As Ob1 says Dreamweaver but it's not cheap.

[Ob1]

30 day trial then its $400
http://www.adobe.com/products/dreamweaver/

$383
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832105017

[Pokeman186]

Any place that gives free tuturials for Dreamweaver?

[faulkner132]

For absolute control over your site, just use a text editor. I've found I can do things much quicker as opposed to using a WYSIWYG editor.
Of course it takes time, but in the long run it is well worth it.

[Pokeman186]

I was looking at dreamweaver, and yeah. I probably could just use a text editor. But, I want to create a good looking page, and then chop it up, and place it in a website piece by piece. What I'm looking for is a program to create a good looking lay out. Like a nice banner, or a good layout like the website I gave an example of in my first post.

[mairving]

Originally Posted by Pokeman186 I was looking at dreamweaver, and yeah. I probably could just use a text editor. But, I want to create a good looking page, and then chop it up, and place it in a website piece by piece. What I'm looking for is a program to create a good looking lay out. Like a nice banner, or a good layout like the website I gave an example of in my first post.

Plenty of programs that you could use that would do that from Photoshop on down.

[DynamicTech]

Paintshop Pro is cost effective.

[dogdude16]

i am going more and more in to web design and i looked at the cost for dreamweaver and it 400 but the education version is 200. now my question is that is that education version for students or schools. cause i could pay 200 but 400 is out of the question

[Tony Williams]

Go for Dreamweaver, Flash and Fireworks (or maybe Photoshop) I've seen www.lynda.com have guides but they are payfor.

[mairving]

Originally Posted by dogdude16 i am going more and more in to web design and i looked at the cost for dreamweaver and it 400 but the education version is 200. now my question is that is that education version for students or schools. cause i could pay 200 but 400 is out of the question

The academic versions usually require that you present some kind of school id.

[dogdude16]

yeah, right now im in 10th grade and i have the 2003 student version of microsoft office , i got it for around $140.

[Londoner]

Dreamweaver is the best, as far as freedom and flexibility is concerned (in my opinioin) but there is alot to learn with it and unless you are going to spend the next few weeks and months learning it then maybe its not what you are looking for.

Its a professional designers tool and so the detail and price kinda reflect that.

Actually, looking at the site you linked to, it's all in the graphics because the actual layout is pretty simple as most sites are when you strip them of their nice graphics. You have to separate ideas of graphics (content) from ideas of site design (structure)

The graphics/content are what makes it look nice, the structure is what holds the graphics in place. Programs like Dreamweaver will help you with structure - Photoshop, etc are for content.

Problem is, here is no easy way to learn how to do content - you can spend hundreds on photoshop but you still have to learn how to use it AND learn how to design! Knowing how to use photoshop and knowing how to design are two very different things!

But, back to your question - there are some easier and cheaper solutions out there - Wordpress is pretty good AND FREE So you create your graphics elsewhere then use Wordpress to build the site structure. There are loads of templates out there and it is becoming more and more flexible and cusomisable as time passes.

Another one I can recommend is XSite Pro which automises a whole lot of the site design for you and kinda works like a tutorial at the same time. Alot of people use it and its alot cheaper, quicker and easier than Dreawmeaver.

Looking at the site you link to - that could be done with XSite Pro (Although you still have the issue of content). And could actually be created in a very short time. I used it to create a couple of gaming sites and its really good for updating and that sort of thing too.

I hope this helps.