Hi Klevis miho and welcome to GDF.

We ask all new members to read the threads posted HERE and HERE. They explain how the forum runs, the rules, frequently discussed topics and our inside jokes.

To understand basic design theory, I would look up books on typography, colour theory, composition and design history as well as browsing current design magazines. Look at everything around you with a critical design eye and for a newcomer in design, I would refrain from being decorative. Let form follow function first.

What's your level of knowledge in design? Education, books, experience etc.

I have never done a full graphic design (logo, web etc).
I have read a lot on typography, color theory etc, but just theory.

Hey Klevis!

I found myself looking for the same thing (Good tutorials to help with being a Graphic Designer) and was finding no luck with free help. I would find a few here, and a few there, but never a large enough library.

So I put my own together! I started a Student Graphic Design site called Pinnkk Design. It's a completely free community for designers to become better at what they do. You seem like you could use that!

If you go to my website, you can click on the FREE TUTORIALS link at the top, and this will take you to a large selection of free tutorials to get you started.

My website is *sorry, no free advertising*. Great thing about what I do, is I am here to help you if you have any problems. Can't figure out something related to design? I help for free. Just send me an email anytime or use my Contact Us page to ask your question.

I hope you find lots of help and good luck!

P.S. I've been looking for someone with knowledge in PHP because that is where I struggle. Maybe we can train each other? I am trying to build a new site (Feature enhanced) but need some help!

Regards,
Crystal

Thanks CrystalW, but I cannot see your site due to spam protection.

Oops, didn't realize that. I'm sorry. It is *no free advertising*. I'm not trying to advertise anything so hopefully I won't get in trouble for that. I really hope you find some good help there!

Here's some advice. Practice. That worked for me.

Web Design Web Design type posts here

Thanks for sharing a great tips..

*Link Removed*

Welcome ashleywagar! I had to remove your link as advertising one's services is strictly prohibited.

We ask all new members to please have a read through these important threads with our rules and FAQs so they know a bit about how this place works.

Unfortunately there is no one way to design for the webs. Each web design should fit the client and content needs.

Some basics you need to research, which are very similar/the same as any graphic design.

1) Hierarchy = The abilty to draw the reader's eye along a path of importance in a graphic design. Think of a newspaper, there is the top header, then headings, sub-headings, and text, and intermixed with photos or graphics. Same concept for a web design. What is most important?

Visualizing hierarchy can be done by size or by color.

2) Placement of content. In today's world less is more. Think of driving down a freeway and you only have a second or two to impact a message to the driver. Have a clear visual impact on the front page, then if you need to have text or other content to support it, link to the next page.

3) Classic design vs trends - most clients sites have a lifespan of about 3 years. If you design on trends only, you quickly put your client site as dated. However, you are going to have that client / site that needs to be trendy to reach the viable market. So you do need to learn on when and where to use different design methods.

4) Color theory is good = color theory in regards to monitor and site use is even better. There is a slight shift in how color is used on websites vs print. In print you may want to use a bold red to have visual impact to a buyer - and in the real world this can be very successful. In the net world using a bold red can be a direct deterrent for people staying on your site. You need to learn what colors are eye friendly and stress free when it comes to graphics on screens. Hello retina burn.

4) Typography = Serif vs sans, use of creative fonts, when to use graphics, when to use webfonts, how to make the sites accessible, points vs px vs em. Luckily developments in the past couple years have enabled web site designers to use webfonts such as found at google fonts. Now the challenge is how those degraded gracefully to different monitors resolutions or languages changes (which typically disregard webfonts). Learn why it is important to use em effectively in laying out your text.

5) CSS matters: CSS can make or break a design in a site. You want to retain as much words as possible. So even if you are making graphic banners for the front page of your site, you want to have titles, and or words appear in subtext. Also good for usability. Example would be using a graphic with text, but bounce the text outside of viewable area buy using text-indent.

6) CSS + Javascript (ajax, jquery, mootools, prototype, etc) is becoming a near requirement in customer usability. How forms are filled out, how they look to the customer, what auto-responses look and function like checking to see if a login name is used.

7) Wireframes = these are static and maybe not even graphical representation of content and website layout. Look it up. Lots of info on the web for it.

This is really just the tip of what you need to know about how to design for the web. It's not just making graphics, it is really about how the consumer interacts on your site. When a button is pushed, where does it go, how does it look, how easy is it to use, is it accessible, what content displays, is it interactive or informational? For every button/link there has to be a visual display. For a full website that could mean thousands or tens of thousands interactions and visual decisions backed by thousands of lines of code (css, html and php).

Using photoshop to design a website is less than 10% of the overall design. I personally use SmartDraw for wireframing and mindmaps before designing the actual website.

Its easy if you love to do it

Graphics designing is not as tough as some people think. Its all about the hard work you put in while in the learning phase. Once you are done with it, you will shine like a sun. And as far as learning is concerned, I would like you to consider getting an associate degree or a bachelor degree in designing. However, you can also opt for a local institute running near to your home. But if it comes to learning it online for free, I would suggest you to give http://psd.tutsplus.com/, http://photoshoptutorials.ws/categor...-tutorials/and http://vector.tutsplus.com/