T.T

Recap:
During the submission date for our web site, I had problems uploading it unto the server. It took me from 9am till 12noon; yet to no avail. After my website was finally uploaded, new problems emerged. Some allignment ran when I used Internet Explorer. Some image effects did not turn out at all but when i tested all these with my dreamweaver by using ‘Preview’,, everything seemed to be working fine. How is it that it doesn’t appear when uploaded unto the server then?!
I tried to ammend some unforeseen errors and uploaded the site again during the afternoon. It took me so long that it was passed 4pm deadline and yet it was still uploading. I hope marks weren’t deducted.

In a nut shell, this course has been a learning curve. From someone who had no prior knowledge of Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks or Dreamweaver, I am glad I managed to finish designing the Hearts Village Day site.

Web design is due on the 18th of december and all this while I had mistaken it to be due after the Christmas holidays.
This realization came when my friends were telling me to check out a fellow coursemate’s web site progress- and how cool his site was.
While waiting for him to load his site, I realised that he had already uploaded in on the university server. Curious as to why he would upload it so early, I promptly asked: “do we need to upload it now?”
He said: “no. but alot of people will be uploading it on friday.”
me: “why would alot of people be doing it this friday? “
He looks at me wide-eyed: “it’s due this friday! 18th!”
me: “WHATTT?!! isn’t due after the holidays?!”

dear lord!

I supposed better the realization now than a day before 18th itself.

As mentioned in my earlier post, i had decided to start on my own template. This is how it looks so far:

I have chosen polka dotes as my background because i wanted to insert a little of my personality into it. The polka dotes were initially much bigger and it was in pink. I resized it and painted it with different colors.

Before I could start on this, I first created my template by creating slices, so i could easily insert the DIV tags later on as I progressed. It also helped me establish a rough idea of how the measurements of each column or box would be. This is how the template slices looked:

For my menu, I wanted to insert the Spry Bar tool and followed this site for tutorials as I was encountering some problems with the drop downs.

The progress for my pages seems to be going okay, albeit a little hiccups here and there.

I also got to insert and use this Image Effect called Expando-whereby my image would be able expand once the cursor hovers over it. Although i must say it’s a little troublesome, because for this effect i need to save two copies of the same image- the larger one, and the smaller one. Another cooler effect that i managed to incorporate is called the Light Box effect. By clicking an image, a pop up with the same image (but larger) will appear.

One persisting problem that I face was that each time I start a new page using my template, certain images tend to disappear- especially the background image and the header for my page. The only way i could counter this problem, was to first delete the background image from the template and reinsert it. A very tedious process; time consuming too.

Further into designing my web site and while exchanging notes with my coursemates, I received feedbacks that my polkadot background made my web site seemed more like a personal blog. This lead to more ammendments.After much thought (while still wanting to incorporate my own personal style into it), I decided to go with this:

I changed the polka dots to colorful stars to give it a more cheerful and carnival feel to it. i also decided to change the header by taking down the previous images – onne of the feedback received was that the images looked too much resort-like. Although i must say, it was the image that inspired me for Hearts Village geogrphical location. I also created a Hearts Village logo.

As shown in my previous post, my first original template was this (second last row). Mr. Peter did point out that its irony that there are sky scrappers in the header, considering that this is a ‘Village Day’ after all. My intentions were to change the header with a design of my own while still maintaining some designs in the rest of the site. However, due to my shallow knowledge on Photoshop softwares, I had no clue how to remove the header (as it was divided by the original designer). It was then Templatemo.com was introduced by a friend.

Initial works:

Having no more time to waste, I decided once and for all to create my very own template from scratch.

So far all is good, I have been following some online tutorials for fireworks, photoshop and dreamweaver.
Progress is quite slow especially when i am working on editing and creating images using photoshop for my website. I actually find fireworks simpler. It’s easier when I have friends nearby so I can quickly ask for help. Sometimes what would take me an hour long to figure and still not have a solution; my friend could solve it within 5 minutes. =S not very uplifting. but I just have to sharpen my skills as I go.

it’s week 8! I’ve been doing more researches on templates, graphics and images.

this is one of the templates that i have been experimenting with.

I have also been playing around with the settings in this blog. Browsing through different websites has given me a few ideas of what i want to do with my website. now it’s time to start conceptualizing and creating something concrete!

p/s i realise WordPress is more complicated for usage than Blogspot, especially for beginners like me. However, it certainly exudes this sense of professionalism.

I wonder if there is another way of showing the templates i have been experimenting with besides print screening it, editing it on Paint and then uploading it here.

hmmm.. something i should ask my coursemates.

For this week, i have look through various web sites for inspirations on revamping the Village site.
I also have went through past tutorials and exercises and now have a better understanding on Dreamweaver.

I plan to start actualizing on revamping the site this week. Hopefully all goes well.
I will continue to look around other web sites for more inspirations and ideas.

I have also been having discussions with my fellow coursemates. I find these discussions useful as we get to exchange ideas and encourage each other especially when we face certain road blocks. They have also been helpful to me in providing tips and various learning resources.

I’m supposed to start working on my web page but I’m still stuck with Dreamweaver and probably 10 steps behind compared to my coursemates.

I find it so hard to understand these software tools like Dreamweaver; let alone use it. I have no experiences with Photoshop prior to this. Every time Mr. Peter is talking about photoshop, my mind is a blur.

I’m freaking out! I am going to try to redo the exercises given for each week and also borrow the textbook for reading. I shall also see Mr. Peter for tutorials because i think i really need help.

=S

FREAKING OUT!

p/s apparently i am supposed to link my lecturer in my blog but i don’t know how to do it! I am THAT technology or rather computer ‘illiterate’.