So what is Expression Web?

Expression Web is an HTML editor and general web design software product by Microsoft. In Expression Web you can design and develop web pages by with the help of XML, XSLT, PHP and JavaScript. It supports for a wide range of essential technologies like PHP, HTML/XHTML, XML/XSLT, CSS, JavaScript, ASP.NET and ASP.NET, Silverlight, Flash, Photoshop files and video/audio for webcasting. It also uses it own standards-based rendering engine, which is different from Internet Explores Trident engine.

This program is suited for both beginners and expert in building web site. Building-based websites is faster and easier to make here. You can drag and drop controls simplify adding rich media, such as Silverlight from Microsoft Expression Blend^®, Silverlight video, Adobe Flash, and Windows Media. With the advanced Adobe Photoshop you can import your Photoshop file which give you a total control over imported layers and transparency.

Go to http://any-expression.com/expression-web/tutorials/ to view Expression Web tutorials.

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Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator can be classified as a powerful program because of everything that you can create in it. It is a vector graphic editor developed and marketed by Adobe Systems. It also provides results in the typesetting and logo graphic areas of design.

It features include: 

Sophisticated vector drawing tools, stroke perspective drawing, Gradients and transparency, Blob Brush Advanced typography, Flexible brushes, Brushes with corner control, Live Trace, Live Color, Clipping masks , 3D effects Blend and shape builder tool.

Adobe Illustrator can get confusing at times but if you continuously work with the program you get to know and understand it the program better.If you have not heard of Illustrator before or have not worked with, there are always tutorials that you can follow on the Internet to help you create mind-blowing designs. 

If you are interested in viewing tutorial visit the site below:

http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/learn-adobe-illustrator/

Here are a few of my own designs that I have created in Illustrator. Just to give you a glimpse of what you can create in Illustrator.

My first year designs:

Logo Design

Kitchen Design

House Design

Banner

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Things to consider when creating a website

1.Select a colour scheme and stick to it.

I know it is difficult to stick to a color scheme because one tends to change you ideas often. It is better to stick to your first idea and go forward with it. If your company has a logo or preferred colours on its stationery that’s a good start. For those of you starting from scratch, choose two or three complementary colours and stick with them – don’t change colours on every page.

The most common colour schemes include:

-Red, yellow and white
- Blue and white
- Red, grey and white
- Blue, orange and white
- Yellow, grey and white.

2. Use templates.

If you not sure how you want your template to look you can always choose a template. There are many templates or pre-set designs.

Visit: www.web4business.com.au emplates1.htm
www.newtemps.com

3.User-friendly navigation system

This is an important issue. Many users tend to always complain about this. How they find it difficult to navigate to different pages on your site. Make sure you make it visible and easy to use. 

Most websites either display their navigation bar on the left or at the top. And since most people are used to this type of navigation, it’s best to stick with it. It also helps to include your navigation bar at the bottom of each page to save your visitors from having to scroll back to the top.

You can also include a sitemap to make things even easier. If you website is more than 15 pages, it is useful to have a site map or a “Search” feature to ensure your visitors can easily find what they’re looking for.

4. Don’t over do your site with too many effects

Whilst it is ok to have one or two special effects to jazz up your website, spinning graphics and logos often distract your visitor from the content, not to mention they can take too long to download. Your visitors may click away even before your spinning logo finishes loading. 

5. Backgrounds

Ensure your visitors can read the text on the background, ie. no black writing on dark blue background or yellow on white. Also be careful that your links are visible before and after being visited. The default for links in most programs is blue (before being visited) and burgundy (after being visited), so if you have a dark background, ensure your links are light.

6. External Links

It is a good idea to open links to other websites in a new window. That way your visitors can easily return to your site when they are finished browsing the external link

8. Have a brilliant content

While it is important that your website looks clean and professional, it is far more important that you concentrate your efforts on the content and promotion.

If you want to create a professional web site try to avoid the following:

1. Flash intros, revolving globes, bevelled line separators, animated mail boxes
2. Loads of pop up or pop under boxes
3. Autoplay music. Allow your customer to play music only if they choose.
4. Hit counters of the free variety, which say, “you are 5h visitor”
5. Date and time stamps, unless your website is updated daily or weekly
6. Busy backgrounds.

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Graphic Designers

Usually describes as something you create that is pleasing to the eye and attracts the viewer’s attention. Graphic design can also be classified as a combination of text and graphics. When designing logos, graphics, brochures, corporate identities, newsletters, posters, signs and any type of visual communication, it often creates an effective message to the viewers. Graphic designers often use desktop publishing software and techniques to achieve their goals.

There are many things related to graphic design. Its not just creating a picture on paper and adding a few colors. It takes skills and creative thinking to be a Graphic Designer. You should know what you want to achieve, how you are going to achieve it and who your target market is. Be creative and make sure what you want to create does not only look cool but works as well.

Dictionary.com says this:
"The practice or profession of designing print or electronic forms of visual information, as for an advertisement, publication, or website."

Ever thought of becoming a Graphic Designer and not sure if there are career paths?

There are many career paths to take within the field of Graphic Design.

Here are a few career choices I could think of:

·        Book designer

·        Web designer (I would recommend this career)

·        Logo and banner designer

·        Branding

·        Illustration and Advertising

More information about what Graphic Designers do, view site below:

http://www.tmdesigns.co.za/index.php?option=com_neoreferences&Itemid=23&catid=1

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Making the most of advertising banners

Banners are the most important form of Internet advertising. It can be highly interactive and the action is performed immediately. Not only does it attract customers but is can also be converted into sale.  The main point of the banner is to attract the customers.

A few point to bare in mind before creating you online banner campaign.

• The purpose of your banner is to attract the right target market to purchased your products or services.
• Strengthen and create brand awareness.
• The text and graphics you will be using in the banner. If you wish to insert a message inside your banner, make sure message is strong and to the point.
• Animated banners are better than static ones because it involves the user by attracting their attention more effectively. 

An important factor to remember is to advertise your product or service and not your website. It is important to link the page that the product is on as apposed to the home page for the viewer or potential customer do not want to look for your product. They will most likely just leave the website for they do not want to spend time looking for the product that was advertise. 

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Owning a Camera

If a picture is worth a thousand words then surely that must justify that a proper camera is worth thousands of Rands. Getting the right camera is not as easy as going to the shop and buying it off the shelf. That can be done, but you might not be as happy as you think or worth your while. So much to look at! There is camera lens, camera pixels, camera model plus the brand and what is the camera going to be used for? So many different variables that that play at hand. Next time you go to the camera shop for your new camera keep that in mind. My advice would be to do a little research before you go and splash the cash.

For more information view the site below. You can find out about lens elements and image, quality influence of lens, the focal length zoom lens vs. prime lens and many more.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-lenses.htm

If you want view different brands of cameras and prices, you can go to:

http://www.takealot.com/electronics/browse?cat=212&brand=Canon&gclid=CLvVhrnU3asCFYQntAodNQOnOQ for more information.

Lastly here are few cameras that http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/recommended-cameras.htm recommend, which can help you as a photographer can use.  

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Designing can be fun

We mostly focus on logo, banner, and corporate id design for companies. It also involves designing and developing of websites. The layout, structure and whole design of the website. You can view my Gallery page to see a few designs that I have done in Photoshop and Illustrator for my assignments, just to give you a preview of what we have learned so far.

You can use different effects on different images. It is so easy to edit your images via Photoshop. Anything you can think of. Either creating your own ideas for example combining two or three images together to make one. There are so many tools and option to choose from. Once you get the hand of it you will be able to create anything you like.

Visit the site below if you want to learn more about Photoshop and its tools or you can also click on the YouTube link on the video bar. It will link you directly to the YouTube site where you can view tutorials on Abode Photoshop CS4 or the latest version Adobe Photoshop CS5.

http://photoshoptutorials.ws/

Here is a little something that I think will make your day…..or hopefully a smile!

Thank you for reading!

Have a blessed dayJ