Hi Everyone,

I purchased the complete CC suite so I can learn how to design and build my wife (a sculptor) a new and improved web site. Where do I start? Is there a certain order of installing each program?Are there any publications where I can learn about how to effectively lay out a page and make it look pleasing instead of thrown together? Is it helpful to sketch it all out on paper first?

I'm excited about getting started. I'm retired Navy and still work full time, so learning will take me a lot of discipline to stick with it, but I'm ready.

Cheers, Paul, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, USA

I think the best thing to do is to find other websites that appeal to you. I guess a Google search for sculpture might find you some ideas but don't limit yourself to just those. There's a lot of great sites that really bring across the owners personality. Are you going to be using VSD or the HTML editor?

Paul,

Welcome! It does not matter in what order you install the software. But it does matter what programs you are going to be using... If you know how to code HTML then you should use the HTML Builder it is the best for writing your own code. If you do not know how to code and do not want to learn, your best choice is Visual Site Designer. VSD is a What you see if what you get editor or WYSIWYG for short. I personally use HTML Editor.

You asked if it is better to sketch it on paper first. The answer I have found is YES! This way, you know where you want everything, and can reference back to that sketch when needed. Building a site can take some time, and you might not always remember where you wanted something to go. And I also like to sketch it out because I want to see if it looks good that way, because if I do all the work and do not like the layout... Then I have to change it all and take more time away from building my site.

Hope this helps!

Paul,

Another welcome. What programs to use depends a lot on what you want the site to do. Sketches and a making a list of things you want the site to do are a good beginning. If you don't want to learn the coding (I certainly didn't) VSD might be the best place to start. My photography site:

http://www.availablelightphotogallery.com/

was build with VSD, Photo Gallery, Flash Firestarter, and, for the Store - Shopping Cart Creator Pro & Shopping Cart Designer Pro (to get the Store to closely resemble the VSD pages.)

Looking at a lot of different sites that you like and incorporating features that you like can really help with your design. Glad to have you aboard.