Imsanity is my favorite plugin for resizing and compressing images that are uploaded to WordPress. It's better to resize and compress on your computer prior to uploading, but many people don't know how, or simply won't do it. So, I install Imsanity to do the job for them. What Can Imsanity Do? Resize JPG, PNG, GIF. […]
Many clients ask where they can find images for their websites. Others don't ask, and simply send images they found on Google Images. My experience is that many people aren't familiar with copyright laws. You aren't free to use every image you find on the Web. You may only use images to which you own […]
What web design software do you use for creating websites? That was the question Dustin Hartzler posed for Episode 95 of the Your Website Engineer Podcast. He asked several web designers and developers what software they used, such as their OS, IDE or code editor, FTP client, graphics editor, browser, and productivity tools. The podcast […]
HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites by Jon Duckett My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the most visually pleasing web design book I’ve ever read. It’s logically organized and explains concepts well, using simple terms, code examples, and beautiful illustrations. I wish I had had it when I was first learning HTML […]
I'm thinking of redesigning the OptimWise logo. What do you think of these logos? I want a symbol that represents OptimWise. The name is a combination of optimize and wise. I'm trying to convey that the websites I create empower my clients to be better and more efficient, but it's about more than technology; I […]
The Principles of Beautiful Web Design by Jason Beaird My rating: 5 of 5 stars An excellent introduction to the artistic side of web design. Beaird teaches that a site’s design should reinforce the identity of the organization, and expertly shows how to use layout and composition, color, texture, typography, and imagery. He explains the […]
Creating a Website: the Missing Manual by Matthew MacDonald My rating: 3 of 5 stars This book is a decent introduction to many topics related to web design; too many topics, in my opinion. I expected the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, but a large part of the book teaches how to use Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, […]
Looking for a free graphics app similar to Adobe Illustrator? Check out Inkscape. It's not as full-featured as Photoshop or the well-known free GIMP, but it's simpler to learn and use. I didn't have any experience with any of these graphics apps, but within a few hours of downloading it, I used Inkscape to design […]
