What software tools are being used today to design websites?

[gorda777]

Hi,

First, thanks for taking the time to read this post.

About 7 years back I enrolled in a website design coarse which taught me to use Adobe Photoshop, illustrator, Flash and Dreamweaver. I recall that Photoshop could be used to design a complete website. I plan on investing a lot of time in learning website design and plan on purchasing my first MAC.

Here are some questions:

1. What are the current software tools being used to design websites today?
2. Have the standard layout dimensions changed for websites? (eg. 640X480)
3. What is a decent image size to use for a website? (ie. 100kb)
4. Should I use Photoshop and Dreamweaver together when designing a website?
5. Any suggestions or advise is much appreciated.

Many thanks,

gorda

 

[Photomax]

Spend about twenty minutes reading the many "what software tools to use" threads that appear in this section of MacRumors. There are lots of different opinions to be found. Often the question is too general.

A better question would be: "I am going to create a site about XYZ and need the following features (list them specifically), so which would be the best approach?"

 

[tominated]

These days, a website should be compliant with xhtml and css. That means editing the source directly (not wysiwyg). The layout dimensions have changed quite a bit. It's pretty safe to say that if you aren't targeting older users, that around 800 to 1000 pixels in width is fine.