How to make a website?
- Thread starter twocik23
- Start date
Jim Brennan
VHS Member Old Skool
You need an app that will set it up for you. I'm not sure photoshop will do that. Something like Dreamweaver is supposed to be good, but I find it kind of complicated. If you are on a Mac you can use iWeb which is pretty simple, but effective.
Then you need to get hosting somewhere (I use godaddy)
Once you design your site, you publish to a folder and upload it or (like with.mac) you can publish right to a server.
Then you need to get hosting somewhere (I use godaddy)
Once you design your site, you publish to a folder and upload it or (like with.mac) you can publish right to a server.
Kirk Gillock
Rebel with a cause
To do everything you'll need Photoshop, Dreamweaver, FTP software, and a webhost. I recommend Bluehost. They're great, cheap, and they'll give $65 to Isara Charity. Free!
Referral Link: http://www.bluehost.com/track/isara
As far as actually designing/building the site. Just start with a basic site. Don't try to design an empire. Start with a village (one page with logo and text) and work from there (adding other pages). If you try to do too much too soon then you'll get overwhelmed and your site will look like a real mess.
Here's a tutorial for beginners on how to make a website. I think it is a 3 part series.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HnFlm9pV48
Of course there are other ways you can get a website online. Many sites offer "Get Online Quick" or "Build a Site in Minutes" promotions, but if you want to do it right, and learn how the pros do it, then there's no easy short cut. Just dive in and start learning to swim.
Good luck!
Referral Link: http://www.bluehost.com/track/isara
As far as actually designing/building the site. Just start with a basic site. Don't try to design an empire. Start with a village (one page with logo and text) and work from there (adding other pages). If you try to do too much too soon then you'll get overwhelmed and your site will look like a real mess.
Here's a tutorial for beginners on how to make a website. I think it is a 3 part series.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HnFlm9pV48
Of course there are other ways you can get a website online. Many sites offer "Get Online Quick" or "Build a Site in Minutes" promotions, but if you want to do it right, and learn how the pros do it, then there's no easy short cut. Just dive in and start learning to swim.
Good luck!
twocik23
Veteran
Well I'm a little familiar with the website thing, but didn't know the process. Another member here actually coded my current website www.ifocusfilms.net , which is thru godaddy & Galatix.com.
I have something else planned for the new site, but wanted to make it a learning process at the same time. I really don't have the big money right now to fork out for another website, so why not learn how to. Well at least the simple stuff.
My questions is once you have the files coded, where do they go ? Now from what I remember they go in something called a cPanel or something like that.
I have something else planned for the new site, but wanted to make it a learning process at the same time. I really don't have the big money right now to fork out for another website, so why not learn how to. Well at least the simple stuff.
My questions is once you have the files coded, where do they go ? Now from what I remember they go in something called a cPanel or something like that.
pmark23
Veteran
No need to learn Dreamweaver or FrontPage or the like. Most use CMSs (Content Management Systems) like Drupal these days.
Most hosting services these days have a system that can automatically install most CMSs. I use TotalChoiceHosting, but there's many others out there that are just as good.
If you're technically competent, it'll take a couple days to learn the CMS, and then a couple weeks to get the template made and the content put in. If not then you should probably try to find someone to make the pages for you.
Most hosting services these days have a system that can automatically install most CMSs. I use TotalChoiceHosting, but there's many others out there that are just as good.
If you're technically competent, it'll take a couple days to learn the CMS, and then a couple weeks to get the template made and the content put in. If not then you should probably try to find someone to make the pages for you.
Capt Quirk
Veteran
The first thing you need to do, is learn about the code structure. Yeah, it's dull, and it certainly isn't as simple as "making it in photoshop and slicing it up", but it is necessary. www.Webmonkey.com has good starter tutorials, and the public library will have some good starter books. If you don't bother to start with learning the basics, you might as well just hire somebody to do it right.
Anhar_Miah
Veteran
I would really encourage you to first learn HTML, (Hyper Text Markup Language), in fact you already know some of it, because just like some of the tags you use when you post in these forums, HTML is just that, it is text that has tags that allow you to do things with the text and layout.
w3school is a very well documented place to have a look into HTML (its not programmng, it is scripting).
If you want to get more indepth learn about ssh (PuTTY and openSSH) as well. But if you really want to get uberGeeky, then you need to code your own webserver host and install your own Apache on your home PC and serve your page that way (as a side note, I've seen a mini Webhost for a Nokia phone!)
w3school is a very well documented place to have a look into HTML (its not programmng, it is scripting).
If you want to get more indepth learn about ssh (PuTTY and openSSH) as well. But if you really want to get uberGeeky, then you need to code your own webserver host and install your own Apache on your home PC and serve your page that way (as a side note, I've seen a mini Webhost for a Nokia phone!)
Capt Quirk
Veteran
I suggest you avoid the W3 until you have a better grasp of the basics. They are not very user-friendly for beginners. It might just leave you more confused, but that is just my opinion.
William_Robinette
Shallow Member
I don't know, I went to w3 schools right off the bat and it worked well in laying out HTML/CSS for me.
Capt Quirk
Veteran
Maybe it is just me that has a hard time with them.
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
These days, one can use a Wordpress Theme to do most anything you need.
Jason Adams
Section Moderator
I would recommend YOU get your hands dirty with the web process. Use a WYSIWYG editor from a host or even a Wordpress template as J.R suggested. The consolidation of the web and film/tv realms makes knowing the basics of getting media onto the web a must. Knowing how to set up and maintain an FTP site is becoming just as necessary as pulling good focus in our business.
Just my Opinion...Good Luck
Just my Opinion...Good Luck
snowleopard
Well-known member
If you're someone like me who doesn't have a lot of time, or is heavily right brain (creative) weighted , I'd recommend you simply find someone to help you out. You supply graphics, text and ideas, and let them deal with the rest. I found someone to make (finish and upload) two simple sites for me for free. So it stands to reason you can do the same, or at least find someone inexpensive if you're not asking a lot. Try asking around at schools, or even somewhere like Craigslist.
twocik23
Veteran
I've found this site to explain FTP. I kind of understand what that means, but not so much of where this thing is, or how to use.
I found this part very interesting
"The virtual 'key' to get into an FTP site is the UserID and Password. If the creator of the FTP site is willing to give everyone access to the files, the UserID is 'anonymous' and the Password is your e-mail address (e.g. name@domain.com). If the FTP site is not public, there will be a unique UserID and Password for each person who is granted access."
http://www.ftpplanet.com/ftpresources/basics.htm
As for basic HTML coding, this is what I've been reading for the last 4 hours (including all of the following links). I understand most of this stuff just from using myspace and doing little things here and there.
http://www.htmlgoodies.com/primers/html/article.php/3478141
.
I found this part very interesting
"The virtual 'key' to get into an FTP site is the UserID and Password. If the creator of the FTP site is willing to give everyone access to the files, the UserID is 'anonymous' and the Password is your e-mail address (e.g. name@domain.com). If the FTP site is not public, there will be a unique UserID and Password for each person who is granted access."
http://www.ftpplanet.com/ftpresources/basics.htm
As for basic HTML coding, this is what I've been reading for the last 4 hours (including all of the following links). I understand most of this stuff just from using myspace and doing little things here and there.
http://www.htmlgoodies.com/primers/html/article.php/3478141
.
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Capt Quirk
Veteran
If you want to test your scripting, open it in your browser. It is nothing but a file, and if it works you'll see it. If it doesn't work, you'll know that too.
what do you need it for? Do you just want a website up and running? I suggest getting a template, like at www.templatemonster.com
Do you actually want to learn it? Try www.lynda.com for great tutorials
Do you actually want to learn it? Try www.lynda.com for great tutorials
MiniMan13
Well-known member
If you do want to just design the entire thing in photoshop, and have it pop out a webpage on the other end, try using a service like
http://www.psd2html.com/
The rates are reasonable.
http://www.psd2html.com/
The rates are reasonable.
Anhar_Miah
Veteran
hmm interesting site, but the eight hours claim seems over optimistic, I know from first hand, just how much refinement and testing is required to have abug free cross browser site coded.
Get a qoute from those guys and show me your PSD project and I'd probably be able to undercut his price (if your willing to wait until I'm free to do it)
Get a qoute from those guys and show me your PSD project and I'd probably be able to undercut his price (if your willing to wait until I'm free to do it)