Design Question?????

allen9814 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-18-2008, 06:00 PM

Ok here's the issue I'm having. I've created my own template using photoshop but I'm not sure how to create a layout to fit my template. Meaning i don't know how I can position the content boxes to match my design. My layout was inspired by whateverlife.com and mines is very similar to that one. So please take a look at her layout and it will give you an idea of what I'm trying to say. And take notice of how its basically a picture background with no visible borders but her advertisements and her content are placed to be inlined with the background. I'm so confused.

and it fustrating me.

If its possible could you create the layout of that website and post it because my photoshop template picture is in the same exact position but just a different design. THANX IN ADVANCE

DotComBot · #2 (**permalink**) 02-18-2008, 06:25 PM

Hey Allen,

How much do you know about CSS and which editor will you be using? (Dreamweaver, Frontpage, etc.)

Doing the layout is so much easier with css (which is what she used for her site) and has the advantage of not having to reload the images for every page visited. It is a matter of assigning certain criteria to an image or text field, etc. in your stylesheet and calling those from the html of your page.

Are you familiar with that at all? I can help, I'm just wondering where we're starting from.

allen9814 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-18-2008, 07:10 PM

I have dreamweaver 8 but I'm not too familiar with css at all. Can you explain how css can effect the layout capabilities?

lisa · #4 (**permalink**) 02-18-2008, 07:21 PM

I agree CSS would be the way to go with this. I won't claim to know exactly how she accomplished it with CSS but I would suggest you read up on the basics of using CSS and HTML so you at least understand how they work together. Otherwise you'll be overwhelmed.

This is a great page...
http://www.w3.org/Style/Examples/011/firstcss

I just redesigned my flat-stomach-exercises.com site using nothing but CSS for the first time, and it's so nice because I can adjust the layout, colors, etc. by updating only one file.... my CSS file.

The HTML structure of my site basically looks as simple as this....

Code:

<html>
 <body>
<div id=”top”>  (My header)
<div id=”leftnav”>  (My left nav)
<div id=”sidebar”>  (My right nav)
<div id=”content”>  (My main content)
<div id=”footer”> (My footer)
</body>
</html>

And then I define how each section (top, leftnav, content, sidebar, etc.) is going to look by defining this in my CSS file (stylesheet). This is where you'll have to learn the basic CSS attributes and if you have Dreamweaver that's the best way to learn. That's how I learned.

That's the basics without getting too technical. But what's nice is if you want a left or right column then you just tell the stylesheet to float a certain section to the left rather than building messy tables, etc.

ppcFanatic · #5 (**permalink**) 02-18-2008, 08:25 PM

CSS is the only way to go. If you tried to do this in HTML you'd lose your mind. Like Lisa said, take some time to learn the basics of CSS. I would even get a book if I were you (I learn better that way but perhaps you can grasp it with all the online tutorials).

When you really understand how to use the different CSS attributes you'll never use tables again.

Cool avatar.

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