Quick and simple

[Rehab]

Hi, I am hoping some of you can give me some brief, understandable and concise information regarding 2 very basic questions. Thank you in advance.

I am about to start designing my own folio site - I have never designed for this medium before and no absolutely nothing about what I am about to do - I am aware that prior to designing the layout, I need to concern myself with a couple of factors, and here's my first question - Why would I be better of "optimising my screen resolution at 1024 x 768" according to www.useit.com when it would be easier to not worry too much about accessibility and set it at 800 x 600 - ok so the images will be slightly smaller, but there will be no need for left/right scrolling etc. (or have I missed the point)

Question 2. If I were to put together the webpages in Illustrator take the Illy files into Photoshop to then save for web - am I arsing around too much - I am not proficient with Photoshop - much happier in Illustrator - can i save illy files for web then create the site using Dreamweaver. - FORGET CODING AT THIS STAGE - this site will be Illustrator heavy with regard to the work being placed into it.

Cheers everyone, and hope someone can help.

[JPnyc]

Well for #1, 1024 has at least double the users now that 800 width has. That's one reason. Number 2 I can't help with.

[tZ]

you can use use the slice tool in illustrator then save for web.

[Rehab]

Well for #1, 1024 has at least double the users now that 800 width has. That's one reason. Number 2 I can't help with.

Thanks man! again my ignorance abounds - but would you therefore always go 1024???

[JPnyc]

I try to build sites that fill the screen at all resolutions, but that's much harder than a fixed size one.

[chris_bcn]

I think it completely depends on your audience.

I usually design to 800x600 still as most of my clients still have a significan enough number of userswho run that resolution.

Another consideration is that people don't always maximise their browser windw. Just becase they are unning 1024x768 doesn't mean that the browser is at that width - you might be causing people to scroll, or worse leave your site because ti won't fit.

Of course this also brings up the fluid versus fixed debate - Most of my public sites are fixed - I want to control the line length, and a lot of the graphic doodas maake fluid tricky. However most of my intranet work is fluid.

I don't think fluid is that much harder than fixed to be honest - it'll be much easier if IE7 supports min/max width. Line length and the occasionall wrapping issue are the tricky parts. I also don't think it's the bee all and end all - far from it in fact

[Rehab]

Cheers boys, any more imput would be much appreciated