Which web design software to use?

[djtherapy]

Ok, here goes:- a question SO broad I know there's not going to be an easy answer.

I'm a print designer with 10 year's experience on Quark, Illustrator & Photoshop, and I need to be able to design web sites. I'm trying to decide which software package I should 'learn' in order to do websites, and I'd be interested to hear people's thoughts.

I've tried Dreamweaver 4.? on Os9, but am now running OsX. I know that Quark has the facility for web design, but how well does anyone rate it? I've also tried GoLive (I recently bought Adobe CS) but while the user interface was kinda familiar, the way it works just completely escapes me.

Should I persevere with GoLive, seeing as I've already got it, or will it be better to get some other s/ware? I've read a few fairly critical reports of it on forums etc.

Post Edited (djtherapy) : 4/1/2004 11:11:36 AM GMT

[evasive]

Personally I feel that Dreamweaver MX is the best WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get, ie. editing via GUI) editor out, although most web designers will agree that HTML editing is the most precise way. Personally I convert the layout from Photoshop to website with Dreamweaver, then touch up anything thats needed with notepad.

I'll make it real simple for you what evasive said is probably the best way to go. But and yes there is a but, if you already have Golive them just use that. You should look into a few good books. Read the rating on Amazon and make a selection.

If I was in your shoes personally I would learn HTML and just use Golive. Dreamweaver is a better choice but why dish out the money when you already have something capable of doing the job.

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[defjoe]

I started on GoLive but have been using DW to build my new website and I like it alot. Has some great functions. It's a little weird when previewed in Safari (links change different colors then I specify) but it's esy to learn and to lay stuff out.

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[Silence04]

dreamweaver is the only web design program i've used... its a little glitchy, but it works.

Taylor

[Ryan8720]

Just learn HTML and then use GoLive.

http://edgewebdesign.org/ryan2.gif (http://www.edgewebdesign.org)

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[ecsyle]

I learned on GoLive, then moved to DreamweaverMX. Both are great apps, and would be a fine choice for a WYSIWYG editor. The reason I continue to use Dreamweaver is its project management features, and some HTML that I can't be bothered to hand code. However. It is still best to use a text editor. I have been using JEdit on OSX, or emacs when I'm using Linux.

DreamweaverMX2004 is an amazing program and I cannot wait to upgrade :)
It is more CSS focused now. Love it.

[DeleteYourself]

I agree with Benjo and Ryan. HTML isn't difficult to learn once you wrap your head around the basic concepts, and GoLive is definately a capable program, although not necissarily the best.

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[lfredericks]

I would go with Dreamweaver. I have tried GoLive and it just didnt' cut it for me. If you are use to using photoshop and illustrator, you can easily incorporate those programs in Dreamweaver. I usually try to lay out my pages in illustrator then use slices for graphics I cannot re-create in dreamweaver easily. It works extremely well, and the quality of graphics using illustrator is impecible.

HTML is not hard to learn, and i would recommend getting a reference book in order to change some code manually. The same with CSS, which, in fact Dreamweaver has pumped up quite a bit.

Good luck!

[Big Perm-dizzle]

DW and learn html (I am learning html slowly along with actionscripts)

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[djtherapy]

Thanks for your help everyone. Learning html wasn't something I thought would be necessary but certainly looks as if it is now. As for DW vs GoLive, I guess I'll start on GoLive, seeing as I have it already, then I can move to DW if I need to.

Thats the ticket also all you need is Golive and www.w3schools.com/ (http://www.w3schools.com/) and www.alistapart.com/ (http://www.alistapart.com/)

http://www.cbcamerica.com/images/webshots/banner-design.jpg
'Adventure, Excitement, A Jedi craves not these things.'
'Anger...fear...aggression. The dark side of the Force are they.'