These are tried and true tools of the trade, ranging from ADOBE’s Webpage Authoring software (Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash) to FREE SOFTWARE such as open-source Content Management Systems (Joomla, Wordpress), all of which I can fully appreciate after wading through tons of similar options. After all, the internet is full of stuff that doesn’t quite measure up whether it be proprietary or open-source software, but what you see listed here are some of the real champs!!
CS4 Web Standard package from ADOBE
For Webpage Authoring, look no further than Dreamweaver CS4. Quickly and easily create websites and web applications with software built for both designers and developers. However, if you still need a graphics image editor and also plan on using Flash at some point, the most cost-effective option is to purchase the Creative Suite Web Standard package
which gives you Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash and Contribute … an essential toolset for the aspiring web designer.
Dreamweaver CS4
Design, develop, and maintain standards-based websites and applications. Dreamweaver has always been a must for web designers, web developers, and visual designers, with a vast array of essential features such CSS Tools, Ajax Components, and assistance in creating Dynamic Server Pages. Here are some great New Features now available in Dreamweaver CS4:
- Live View - Design your web pages under real-world browser conditions with the new Live View while still retaining direct access to the code. Changes to the code are instantly reflected in the rendered display.
- CSS best practices - Implement CSS best practices without writing code. Create new CSS rules in the Properties panel, and get clear, simple explanations of where each property fits in the cascade of styles.
- Adobe InContext Editing - Design your pages in Dreamweaver so end users can edit their web pages without help from you or additional software, using the Adobe InContext Editing online service. As a Dreamweaver designer, you can limit changes to specific pages, distinct regions, and even custom formatting options.
Fireworks
Rapidly prototype websites and application interfaces, as well as create and optimize images for the web more quickly and accurately than ever before. Some of the most impressive New Features in the CS4 software packages are in Fireworks CS4, and here’s a short list of the highlights:
- CSS export - Design complete web pages in a robust graphic environment and then export standards-compliant, CSS-based layouts, complete with external style sheets, in one step.
- PDF export - Generate high-fidelity, protected PDF documents from your Fireworks comps for client communication. Help safeguard your designs with password protection.
- Adobe ConnectNow integration - Connect client to designer for a real-time online meeting with full-screen sharing across platforms and the country with the Adobe ConnectNow service.
Flash
Create and deliver rich interactive content. Adobe® Flash® CS4 Professional software is the industry-leading authoring environment for creating engaging interactive experiences which can be delivered to audiences across platforms and devices. Here are some great New Features now available in Flash CS4:
- Motion presets - Jump-start your project with prebuilt animations that can be applied to any object. Select from dozens of presets or create and save your own. Share presets with others to save animation time.
- Object-based animation - Gain complete control over individual animation attributes with object-based animation, which applies tweens directly to objects instead of to keyframes. Easily make changes to motion with Bezier handles.
- 3D transformation - Animate 2D objects through 3D space with exciting new 3D translation and rotation tools, which allow you to animate along the x, y, and z axes. Apply local or global transformation to any object.
Contribute CS4 This is the perfect solution for clients who want to update their own websites but a full blown CMS is more than they need or can handle. It connects to a website and is simple to use for updating or creating text, links, images, and new web pages.
Slideshow Pro You can create brilliant Flash Slideshows with this drag ‘n drop Flash component, and with the addition of SlideshowPro Director anyone can log in and control the slideshow content online. You must visit the website and witness for yourself what can be accomplished with this program.
Web Designer Suite
The Web Designer Suite, with great tools at a great value, is every Web designer’s dream. Kick your design skills up a notch with this time and money saving collection of Dreamweaver extensions. Import or build complete sites with highly customized Web standards compliant CSS based layouts, and you can even get going on database-driven sites with the included Database Starter Kit.
Web Developer Suite * eCommerce Suite is now included in this bundle. The Web Developer Suite features point-and-click wizardry for many operations, such as generating an entire log in/registration system or building a state-of-the-art online Store and Administrative site – all without touching the code!
CSS Sculptor Modern Web design requires Web standards compliant CSS-based layouts. CSS Sculptor meets that requirement with flexibility, expertise and ease-of-use. Select a core layout, personalize it however you’d like and then output it, ready for your content and cross-browser compatible.
Free Software
Joomla! (FREE) is an award-winning Content Management System (CMS) that will help you build websites and other powerful online applications. Best of all, Joomla! is an open source solution that is freely available to everybody. This is simply the best full CMS in my opinion, but if you take convincing then feel free to try them all out at Opensourcecms.com
WordPress, Blogging program (FREE) Wordpress started in 2003 with a single bit of code to enhance the typography of everyday writing and with fewer users than you can count on your fingers and toes. Since then it has grown to be the largest self-hosted blogging tool in the world, used on hundreds of thousands of sites and seen by tens of millions of people every day.
Vanilla Forums (FREE) is an open-source, standards-compliant, multi-lingual, fully extensible discussion forum for the web. Anyone who has web-space that meets the requirements can download and use Vanilla for free!
Zenphoto (FREE) is an answer to lots of calls for an online gallery solution that just makes sense. After years of bloated software that does everything and your dishes, zenphoto just shows your photos, simply.
Zen Cart (FREE) truly is the art of e-commerce; a free, user-friendly, open source shopping cart system. The software is being developed by group of like-minded shop owners, programmers, designers, and consultants that think e-commerce could be and should be done differently.
