Switching from Themes to Custom

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sandra M.
  • Start date Start date
S

Sandra M.

I've been using FP for about a year always starting from a Theme. Now I
would like to try my hand at building sites from scratch but this is like
kicking a drug habit. I don't know where to start. I see both wonderful and
awful sites out there and would at least like to get started on the right
path.

Are there tutorials I could look at somewhere to get ideas? Does MS have any
KB articles on this? Any other ideas? Thanks a bunch to become "free"!
 
Great... what a wonderful idea. Go for it! First you'll need to make your
own web graphics rather than rely on a theme. Which image program do you
have? I'd suggest that you look into Net Studio for banners, buttons etc.:
http://www.netstudio.com/
Eleanor
 
Hi Eleanor,

I'm using PhotoImpact and have almost eversince I got FP. I'm pretty good
with it, to. I use it for optimizing, animations, recoloring, etc. What I
have never done though, is simply start a site from the ground up. How
should I go about it?
 
Hi Sandra,

I use PhotoImpact as well. One of the nice things about that program is the
ability to merge web graphics with HTML. As a possible starting point you
might want to use one of their web templates just to see how they have done
it. I believe they have free downloadable versions of that somewhere on
their site.

Another thing you could do is to search Google for free web page templates
and download a few of those as well. Open them and see how those work. Then
just start getting creative! :-)

--
Joe

FrontPage Users Forums at:
http://www.timeforweb.com/frontpage/

Remove AA to reply with email
 
Download the trial version of Net Studio.
PhotoImpact is great also.. Start with their web components ... but I
wouldn't suggest that you actually create web pages with that program ...
only the graphics you will import into your new, to-be-designed site.
What is the purpose for the site you hope to design? Possibly make one up
about yourself.
Why don't you explore my own site ... a place where I experiment with many
design ideas. It's not a consistent site at all, just for that reason.
Although much of it was made with Dreamweaver that doesn't matter for your
question.
http://www.eleanorstravels.com/index.html
Eleanor
You may contact me personally at (e-mail address removed)
 
But Joe, it's like you're switching me from drug to another. I wnat to start
from scratch. Whether it's a Google, PI or FP template...it's still a
template!
I thought the best way was to start from a blank page, then think of
graphics appropriate for the type of business as well as developing the
story about that business and then just use FP to layout the tables, format
the text, graphics, build the navigation structure, transfer the site to the
server nad then administer the site. This is want I want to learn That's
why I asked about a tutorial somewhere, or better yet, a KB or FP article on
how to begin to learn how to do it.
 
Sandra,

I don't think you will really find what you are looking for, since any
tutorial would have to provide a template of some sort to explain design.

When I first started back in late 97, I found that using FP themes and
navigation was very restrictive and confusing, so I just started looking at
how different web developers built their site on web by doing a Save As
Complete HTML from IE and then importing the page into FP to learn how they
did what they did.

--

==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, Forums, WebCircle,
MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
 
If you like themes, etc. but want modify one, then select the one you like
most and then use the option to modify it, then you have to save it under a
new name and re-apply to your web.

If you want to create a new theme, then select the blank them to start with.

--

==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, Forums, WebCircle,
MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
 
You will have to create your graphics in a good graphics program first -
either piece by piece for FP template editing or full screen for interface
design. If you don't want a cookie-cutter type template that resembles FP
default themes, suggest you study the FP templates at
http://www.pixelmill.net and download a free template to experiment with.
HTH
--
Theresa Bennett
http://webworksite.com
"The worksite for designers and developers."

===================================================
 
Thanks everyone. Now, with your help, I have something I can get my teeth in
(and something that will keep me off the streets awhile). Thanks again!
 
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