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Design

Posted by Manny Roque
Manny Roque
4,262 Points

Suggestions for beginning Web Designers with no Graphic Design Experience ?

Hello,

I have been working through the CSS/CSS3 badges and gaining a ton of knowledge as a result. I have some experience with coding due to some CS courses I took while in college but never really dabbled with Photoshop except for M$ Paint ;) .

I'm looking forward to the Photoshop Deepdive course in Januray that Ryan Carson mentioned in another forum discussion. I'm in the process of creating some sites for some friends in order to get a portfolio going but I have no clue on how to create graphics for websites other than using CSS3. I'm also not charging them for the work in exchange for the experience so free is my current price point when it comes to graphical aids. Can anyone provide me any links to free online libraries of png files that are free to the public? Specifically for use with backgrounds and gradients? Also any online photo libraries would be helpful.

Thanks TreeHouse you guys Rock!

Manny

6 Answers

James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points
James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points

For images I'd recommend ...

If those don't have it then you can give Wikipedia Commons a shot

To learn more about working with images on the web I'd suggest ...

You check out either the Lynda.com or Udemy.com course for Photoshop for Web Design

Finally I'd recommend you read the Principles of Beautiful Web Design

Nina Jeon
Nina Jeon
2,054 Points
Nina Jeon
Nina Jeon
2,054 Points

Thanks! Very helpful :)

Domen Vajevec
Domen Vajevec
5,133 Points
Domen Vajevec
Domen Vajevec
5,133 Points

Found this link on HackerNews a few days back http://24ways.org/2012/how-to-make-your-site-look-half-decent/

Matthew McLennan
Matthew McLennan
10,315 Points
Matthew McLennan
Matthew McLennan
10,315 Points

A good exercise with Photoshop and layers is to make your favorite meal. Cut out a plate, find the foods, and place items to make them look like they fit.

Its a great exercise for layers, perspective, image cuts, and composition. You can also place furniture. In a room.

Another exercise is to find a logo that you like and recreate it.

Allisons badges on Treehouse are sufficient to get you started. Then just make stuff.

Brad Wrage
Brad Wrage
1,365 Points
Brad Wrage
Brad Wrage
1,365 Points

I believe there are more tutorials coming out from Allison as well..

Manny Roque
Manny Roque
4,262 Points
Manny Roque
Manny Roque
4,262 Points

Thanks for all the info everybody. I truly appreciate all the help.