Posts Tagged ‘Design’
Keys Software Must Haves: CSSEdit by MacRabbit
Posted in Software, on April 20th, 2010 by Carlos.
There are tools that I use so frequently that I don’t even realize that I’m using them anymore. They integrate themselves into my workflow practically to the point as to which they ARE my workflow. One of these tools is CSSEdit by MacRabbit.
CSSEdit makes laying out your web templates as comfortable as it possibly can be (thanks IE, you do suck, as per the CSSEdit icon pictured above). As the app’s official site suggests, it truly is an app for CSS newbies and power users. In fact, I would take it one step further and say it turns CSS newbies into power users. CSSEdit takes a different approach from other web design packages like Coda, Espresso (also from MacRabbit) and Dreamweaver in that it strictly focuses on CSS file editing. There are a few features that really make this app shine.
Live Preview Live preview let’s you override a site’s current CSS file with one that you specify. Then, with its built-in Webkit based browser, you can see live changes to your layout as you edit your CSS file. You don’t have to hit save, you don’t have to refresh. It happens right before your eyes as you type.
X-Ray Inspector This nifty feature let’s you view CSS elements on a given website, and tells you what styles are applied to it, and even the parent CSS elements that it belongs to. I find this tool specifically useful for beginners who want to understand how the various CSS elements interact with each other to create a layout. I also find it useful to see what is broken on a layout I’m working on. Identifying the ‘broken’ element with the X-Ray Inspector saves time hunting for the pesky DIV box that isn’t cooperating.
Group Styles When you start getting familiar with CSS, you will quickly realize how large CSS files can become, and just how much of a pain in can be to find a particular style in a swamp of lines of code. CSSEdit allows you to create groups and sub-groups that help you manage your styles a lot easier.
Milestones Ever try to fix one CSS problem only then to realize you broke another? CSSEdit will let you save Milestones so that you can quickly go back to a version of your CSS file that was working.
These are only a handful of the features that make CSSEdit a powerful tool. As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, this is a tool that really defines my workflow. I have found it to be an indispensable tool. Even as I get more and more comfortable with CSS, there are still problems that CSSEdit helps me debug with ease. Sorry Windows users, CSSEdit is Mac only. It retails for $41.30 CAD, and a trial version is available. Check it out! [CSSEdit on MacRabbit]
Designers Toolbox – Die lines, contracts and more!
Posted in Design, on March 26th, 2010 by Carlos.
Here’s a great resource site for you designers out there. Designers Toolbox includes both free and paid resources that you will no doubt find useful.
Perhaps one of the coolest things offered on this site (and it looks free so far from what I’ve been seeing) are die lines for various brochure sizes/foldings, as well as size templates for postcards, business cards, DVDs, etc. It’s nice to have these things all together on one site.
Paid resources include country maps (something that I always find myself needing from time to time), and contracts and forms. The contracts and forms are templates that you can customize for projects and clients you are working with.
The site is definitely worth checking out! [Designers Toolbox via 1stwebdesigner]
More Inexpensive Resources for Designers – Envato Marketplaces
Posted in Design, on March 19th, 2010 by Carlos.
Earlier this week I mentioned MediaLoot, a resource site for designers. Thanks to commentor Don, I checked out his recommendations – the Envato marketplaces. Envato runs many sites that you may have already heard of like psdtuts+. Their marketplace sites are a series of sites that offer design resources for many applications. GraphicRiver is a marketplace for layered Photoshop files, vectors, icon packs and more. Its sister sites like ActiveDen sell Flash and Flex resources, while others are dedicated to audio, video, 3D and more.
The prices for the their resources start at $1, $2, or $4 depending on the marketplace. For example, a site theme purchased from the ThemeForest marketplace starts at $4 seeing as how the files you’d be purchasing there are more sophisticated and involved. To get the lowest possible price, you need to prepay to add money to your account. Seeing as your account works across the various marketplace sites, you’re very likely to find things to spend your money on. For whatever reason I had been stuck on iStockphoto for quite some time even to buy vectors, but I’m starting to realize that there is a lot more choice out there at much more competitive prices. [Envato marketplaces wiki]
Do you hand over your source files?
Posted in Business, on March 18th, 2010 by Carlos.
I’ve been subscribed to a couple of graphic design groups on LinkedIn (Art & Design Lounge and Graphic Design Professional Group) for several months and I have found a topic that reoccurs is the issue of handing over source files to your clients. It appears that most people on these boards are against handing over source files to the client. I, however, am going to take a different approach and say you should. Or at least… it depends.
Having worked as both the client and as the designer/agency, I can see that it is a touchy subject for both sides. On the one hand, a client feels that they have a right to get the files seeing as how they’re paying you, and it is creative that is specific to their business. On the other hand, the designer has a right under copyright to claim the design as an original work, and fees must be paid to hand over the working files.
In the instance above it does look like the designer has a the upper hand in this discussion. But here’s something to think about: What if by handing your source files over you are actually building a trusting and long-term relationship with your client? I have found that openly handing over source files can be a relationship builder. This gesture shows that you are confident about your work, and also understand the client’s needs. If you are defensive from the very beginning you may very well scare the client away. I have had several clients tell me that they were upset at or stopped using a designer because they refused to provide them with source files. I wouldn’t be surprised if there have even been instances where they needed something done quickly, but the designer was on vacation, our out, or bored so they were completely out of luck.
You have to ask yourself what the damage to your business would be if you did hand over the files. Do those damages outweigh the benefits? I understand that most designers are worried that they will lose future business. If you hand over source files you run the risk that the client will make changes themselves or send them elsewhere for future work. But I would venture to say that you might have more opportunity to not only work on changes to your existing work, but also on new larger projects. If a client feels hassled about one project, what would make them want to come back? As long as you maintain a strong relationship with the client, they will have very little reason to stop using you. On the other hand if you have a bad feeling about the arrangement from the beginning – then why are you doing business with them in the first place?
Now I’m not saying you should not be compensated appropriately when doing this. You have every right to inform the client about potential charges that are incurred if source files are provided – but remember to walk that line carefully. If you charge too much, you might lose the sale, but then again, you might lose the sale if you don’t provide them at all.
Also, we may need to define “source file”. There’s a point where it is impractical to hand over a source file. A specific case where I may hand over a source file is with InDesign files for a brochure. If those files are comprised of several graphics that were once Photoshop PSD files, I don’t actually include the layered PSD files. I normally flatten the files into TIFF’s and include the TIFF’s in the packaged InDesign folder. If they press for something specific like the PSD – again it comes back to whether it’s worth it for you or not to do so. Then again, if it is an honest hassle to go back through your archives to find the file, then be honest and tell the client a fee will be associated with the file retrieval. After all, it is your time.
You can see there’s no easy solution to this, but I would caution against outright denying your clients access to the source files. Use it as a relationship builder and you may find that they really appreciate the gesture, and trust you more for future work. But also remember to trust your gut, because you may even be able to tell if you’re being had. If that’s the case, find yourself some better clients.
Invoice Like a Pro
Posted in Design, on December 8th, 2009 by Carlos.
Smashing Magazine has an article posted showing a variety of different invoices from designers and agencies. A sample invoice from their article is posted above. Although some others in their article may take it a little too over the top, to the point where functionality is lost in favour of design, there are some that accomplish both beautifully. This is making me want to take a new look at my invoices which comparatively are really quite boring. [via Smashing Magazine]
DesignSnack – The Ultimate Inspiration Tool
Posted in Uncategorized, on December 4th, 2009 by Carlos.
DesignSnack is a unique web design inspiration tool that uses peer review to rank the sites that are submitted. Your design gets bumped out if it doesn’t receive enough positive votes.
20 jQuery Image Gallery Plugins
Posted in Web, on December 3rd, 2009 by Carlos.
Check out this list of 20 useful image gallery plugins built using jQuery. [via speckyboy]
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