
Hi, everyone.
So... after years of considering it and then forgetting, I finally want to make myself a personal home page. For years I've been the maintaner of one of the oldest "Balto" sites on the web, but I want to create a website for myself, to host art, music, and info.
However, I want a nice, professional, simple-but-pretty layout... and my knowledge of website making is limited to Netscape composer. ^_^;; The look of the Balto site just doesn't cut it.
I don't have money to hire a webdesigner for me (I know a few of you I'd pick if I could), but do any of you know where I can get some help with creating something pretty? Whether it's a layout you think would look nice, or some tips... anything is appreciated.
Thanks a bunch!
[Pretty Snow Wolf sprite is made by ~Naryu ... go give her some love.








Anyway, I make professional webdesigns, and validate them for XHTML 1.1 (so far the latest version), to have it work in all 5 brwsers (IE, Mozilla, Firefox, Netscape and Opera) alike... if those do the job, most others will, too...
But to the point... I make a design, smooth, nice and free for you, if you wish...
I use PHP, JavaScript and CSS all the time, so I' m kinda used to doing the stuff...
If you can get a domain, host and MySQL, I can even make you a forum on your page... well, not really make, but atleast put one on there...
I can also use the database for your artworks, descriptions, visitor comments and rates...
Making a database of my own will take more time and isn' t as accurate... but it still works...
Check out my site if you want to see what I do... The version on there is the sample layout and works on ANY screen from 640x480 to infinite...
Share your thoughts...
the best i can do is offer a little advice.
1. don't use to many images in the layout (the layout not the artwork) it gets crowded and takes forever to load.
2. If you want to use an image for a menu consider using flash instead for 2 reasons
1. the file sizes are smaller
2. you can do more with it.
3. make it EASY to navigate through. I don't know how many times i have gone to another site that looked cool, then left because i couldn't find what i was looking for (even though i knew it was there)
4. with an art site. I would suggest frames. Don't load to much artwork at one time instead use thumbnails. List the thumbnails 20 at a time in a frame and have pages. When they click a new page number all that will load is that frame changing the thumbnails. Saves time with reloading.
5. When they click the thumbnails it should open a new window ( i would suggest mentioning this on the page so people know to turn off there pop up blocker) resize the window to match the size of the image and remove the file, edit, view, ext... menu's from the new window while leaving of course the close box at the top right (the one with the X in it)
6. HAVE FUN WITH IT ^.^
good luck with the site when you get it up let me know i would like to take a look at it.
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Pick one or pick another name and I'll register it for you. If you don't have a proper web hosting account anywhere, you'll get something similar to what I traded