Tools Of The Trade

Graphics Development Software

Web graphics can be created with any of the graphics editing software, ranging from the humble Paint program included with Windows to Macromedia Fireworks or Adobe Photoshop. Traditionally, the big distinction in graphics programs is between bitmap paint programs (i.e. MS Paint and Photoshop) and vector-based programs (i.e. Freehand Illustrator). The “paint" programs let you work with photographs, and create graphics by specifying the color value for each pixel. Vector graphics programs such as Freehand and Fireworks, on the other hand, let you "draw" stuff using lines, geometric shapes, etc. Either type of software can export files in GIF and JPG format these days, so use the graphic editor of your choice.

	Macromedia Fireworks Macromedia Fireworks bridges the gap between design and development. Create, edit and animate Web graphics using a complete set of bitmap and vector tools. Use configurable export controls to optimize your images, give them advanced interactivity, and export them into Macromedia Dreamweaver or any other HTML editor.
	Adobe Photoshop Adobe® Photoshop® 6.0 software introduces the next generation of image editing with powerful new features that offer something for every user. Delivering the broadest and most productive toolset available, Photoshop helps you explore your creativity, work at peak efficiency, and achieve the highest quality results across all media.
	Macromedia Freehand Enhance your project workflow by creating once, then publishing across multiple media with Macromedia FreeHand 10.

Web Development Tools

Today’s HTML editor’s have come a long way since their original counter parts. Almost all of the big league development tools have the ability to develop the same type of pages. Its just a matter of how they work and how the tools are laid out. You will most likely find people swearing by the tools they are using today and unwilling to make a switch. From my personal experience, changing from one tool to another is not as easy as one might think. So if you are a beginner, choose your editor wisely.

MS FrontPage for example, uses a proprietary web page development system that is almost completely incompatible with the others big leaguers. Although Microsoft has bundled in “webbots” to aid the beginner in development, taking the site to the next step is not so easy. All of the added functionality requires FrontPage Server extensions to work, so make sure your server has them.

Although Dreamweaver and GoLive are similar in nature, there are some proprietary tools to enhance your work experience. The nice thing is that the end web page is just an HTML web page.

	Macromedia Dreamweaver 4 Now it is easier than ever to create professional Web sites. Roundtrip HTML and the new integrated text editor let you code like a pro, while powerful JavaScript features work across browsers and platforms. Instantly drop in content from Microsoft Office, or import Macromedia Fireworks 4 rollovers, pop-up menus and buttons to create engaging Web experiences.
	Macromedia Dreamweaver UltraDev 4 Rapidly build database-driven Web applications with total control over code. Use the popular Server Behavior Builder to quickly customize the code that UltraDev generates. Quickly build reusable libraries of server-side scripts, or take advantage of built-in server scripts.
	Microsoft FrontPage Now it's easy to add sophisticated technology to your Web site without having to program. Whether you want to better understand your visitors through usage analysis reports, or get the lowdown on your site's performance with enhanced reports, Microsoft FrontPage 2002 has the tools to help your business.
	Adobe® GoLive® 5.0 Adobe® GoLive® 5.0 software gives you industrial-strength design, production, and management features so you can create professional, dynamic, database-driven Web sites. Tightly integrated with other Adobe products such as Photoshop®, Illustrator®, and LiveMotion™, Adobe GoLive software protects your code from modification and corruption while offering industry-leading site layout and management functionality.

Multimedia Tools

	Macromedia Flash An innovative, new product from Macromedia, Flash 5 easily integrates with existing Web production workflow, supporting direct import from Macromedia FreeHand and Fireworks. Flash 5 provides powerful development tools for creating advanced Web sites and applications, including integration with Macromedia Generator. An ideal product for developers, Macromedia Flash 5 significantly extends the possibilities for creating ActionScripts that build innovative interactivity into Macromedia Flash 5 content. This multi-purpose product enables almost anyone, regardless of experience, to create bandwidth-friendly Web applications, and branded user interfaces for e-commerce sites.
	Adobe LiveMotion Adobe LiveMotion enables you to produce Web graphics or entire pages complete with interactivity, animation, and sound. It delivers the creative tool set you need to take your Web designs to the next level! Plus, you can enjoy seamless integration with other Adobe applications, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and GoLive. Its interactive interface provides flexibility with your output options, including GIF, JPEG, PNG, HTML, and JavaScript.
	Real System Producer RealSystem Producer Plus is software that allows you to easily convert most kinds of audio and video to RealMedia formats—ready to be streamed over the Internet or corporate intranet to millions of RealPlayer users.

Search Tools

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