Final_Finished

Just thought I needed one last post to include a couple things, most important being the name of the book that helped alot in learning/attempting flash:P Visual Quickproject Creating a Web Site with Flash 8 by David Morris. Also wanted to mention that added a couple more things to my flash website such a loading feature. since when tested it was a bit slow and thought if I add a loading page then at least peopleknow whats happening and will take a few more sec to pause and give the site a look.
Also I wanted the site to be online so since harold has a slingshot account he put it up on the net!
And therefore only appropriate that I include that website address and link to it on my blog.
Over all I'm happy with the final outcome esp considering the very very limited time we had on it. Now my sister wants me to do a site of her wedding!aaahhh thats good I guess because I need the practice so don't completly forget what I've learnt. Just realised that my website does not have a drop down menu but it does have everything on the list of things to have in our 5 pages! Plus I think its effective enough as it is without worry about it at this stage:P

Final Post (99%) Done

This will hopefully be my lastor 2nd to last post regarding this assignment.
I'm happy with the end of day result and feel that I have learnet Flash alot more these last few days then the whole term since could go at my own pace and ask for help when stuck and follow book etc (should remember to write down the name of the book). However I am still very very new to it and need more practice, thinking I should maybe give myself a own project in the term breaks in order to practice it more same goes for dreamweaver. However I do want a break so good that going overseas! sorry getting off track a bit not much sleep.

Back to my website I still have to add the content description text to the photos tonight so that tomorrow I will just hand in my site and work on my other projects. Also I should probably mention that I did my creation of flash website on PC since I pref PC and thats what I have at home. Also I have tried opening my file today (mon) on the mac and checked that everything works and opens ok! Thank Goodness otherwise I would have had a fit especially with only 4hrs sleep!

One very very important thing I should remember always for web esp flash is how you name files and frames etc is very important that they match makes life alot easier. Having learnt tha lesson from doing things the hard way around and then trying to fix them but got there at there end thannk Goodness.

I wonder if can find a free site that can put the site up would love to show my mum and harolds parents who are all overseas and then mum would get an idea of what I've been doing and not being able to talk to you that often etc going off on a tangent again:P
Wonder if for own break project if my sister would want a flash wedding website of their wedding since they still kind of newly wedds and my brother in laws family lives in south Africa. But wondering if I should do another wedding website or a completly different thing. But I want it to be useful so thats why I'm thinking wedding for them.

Think for now I will leave my ideas for next project aside since got more then enough on my plate to keep me busy for a while even after couse. Having to work at more hours to make up the time for this week of not going to work etc.

Back to website: I think I may have a couple more computer layout/colour thumbnails that I have forgotten to add to my blog so if I get a chance I will look into it tonight and see if thats the case and add them maybe.

So relieved and happy that my website work and is 99% finished before deadline tomorrow!

Process_Getting somewhere finally

Finally feel like getting somewhere but definietly feeling the time strain of only getting the brief Tues (only 7 days excluding tues date due). However I've been very lucky since I have been able to get some technical help when I get stuck and do things wrong from my husband he seriously has saved my butt because without his help it will have taken me twice the time not to mention the stress of it:P Also the book I've got at home on flash has really helped as well.

Think final colours and layout work together well and are appropriate choices for a site dedicated to our wedding day! Wonder if I should keep my links page or totally get rid of it for site not sure if I need it or not, guess only time will tell should know before the nights out.

Decision

Made up my mind to use only one or 2 colours max, the purply pink and maybe the peach as well. Also think it best to keep the same flower motif throughout the website but different placements on page so that will be more interesting for the viewer. Also having worked on home page, think it best not to include any photos on the home page since there is alot of photos throughout the site. Also that way can have a bit more text on home page if I choose to:P. I should think of a name for site???? what?????

thought_colour scheme of site

Have picked 5 colour schemes based on the trial on the right hand side of blog. However now thinking maybe should only pick max of 2 of those colour schemes and use throughout the site 3 at most. Will need to make up my mind asap. Somthing to think about for a bit, wonder which will be more effective for this kind of site. I guess either option would be ok. Come back to this.
Also wonder if I pick only one colour scheme then i should change the flower motif on each page so that there is enough point of difference on page. If I don't change the flower then should it be in a slightly different position on each page??? There are the things I am currently thinking of making a decision in even now that I do have my style worked out.

Layout and Colour trials

Feeling a bit more relieved that finally have a layout and colour schemes that I am happy about especially given the content of the website, have connection to considering it was our special day! With regards to colour trials etc I tried some really bright colours but didn't want to waste time putting them onto my blog since was 100% sure that not going to use them for final site. If I felt I had more time I would have included when but as is, thought it best just to make a note of it.

Reminder: need to sometime scan in rough pen layout on paper trials:P
Still have lots of work ahead of them to do and so very very little time.

Images_Sorted and Brainstorming

Finally adjusted and renamed all images considering using for site.
Total of 48 photos on the table for use. Note that I could also crop parts of images as options so don't have to stick with photos as is but before I decide on what images or parts will make it to final. Have to now do thumbnails etc and then wil almost be there! at least what the final site should look it.

Brainstorming: what kinds of images/shapes should I consider for shape tween that will be appropriate for wedding site...hmmmmmm I guess the most obvious ones would include: Bride, Groom, Rings, Cake, Roses/Flowers, Cake, Wedding Car, Love Heart...

Enough Research_helpful

Now feel have a solid base of references website design wise. Think it was definetly helpful looking at wedding photography websites and now feel like have alot more clear direction with regards to own website. Having just shared what Im going to do for my project, my husband and I decided that perhaps it will be a good idea to after course is finished to add more pages/photos to site so that we have our own 'site' for our special day especially with our wedding anniversary coming up next month!

Now I think I better pick some categories, photos from day and make sure change them all to 72 dpi and auto colour adjustments etc Feeling a bit anxious that so much to do and so little time but I want to at least have planned it right and then when putting together then at least I have clear direction in mind for look and style as well as content and then will only need to concentrate to the programme which I still learning and have a long way to go, but I will get there!

Research Wedding photography sites- Thumbnails layout

I think it will be benefical to look up some wedding photography websites. Making sure that I only include in research the onces that I consider have good design etc because if memory serves correct there are alot of not so great messy too busy wedding websites.
Think should do the research before going back to the drawing board thumbnail wise. Made a start on thumbnails this morning and don't feel that its really there yet. So hopefully looking up wedding photo sites will help with this.

Decision_Content kind of website

I've made up my mind on what my website content is going to be.
Thinking since I have so many images on the computer already going to do our wedding. And maybe have include some images from family weddings such as my sisters wedding etc.
Possible categories could include: At the house, Getting Ready, Pick up, Park and Family photos, The Ceremony, The Reception and Thank you and Acknowledgments.

Conent_New thought

Just had a new thought this morning when I got out of bed of what else I could do content wise for website. I thought since for our 3d project and many of our projects this year we had to do self identity that maybe I should do something on those lines since already got the content.
Possibles could include: Childhood (images) or could go off on a tangent and do something about twins (since I am a twin). Another possible could be to do our wedding since I have scanned a lot of our wedding images on the computer for my 3d project and therefore it will only be a matter of layout etc. Or could do a trip/travel website of places been too and have photos of:P
Another category could be education or places lived in with facts about those places they could include: Iran, Pakistan, Wellington, Dunedin and Christchurch.

I guess I will determine my content sometime today hopefully in the next couple of days but first I think it best to focus on layout for website etc

More Research????

Just wondering if I should spend a little bit more time on doing research tomorrow?? Wondering how benefical it will be ??? I have got out a couple of design books that include some examples of web pages maybe I should spend a little bit of time scanning them in or if they have links looking them up on internet as part of research and inspiration for own project. However I think at this stage of year running out of time so better give myself a time limit if I end up doing that tomorrow.

Thinking/Planning

I'm thinking that the first thing I should do tomorrow before hitting the computer screen including blog is do some very quick rough thumbnails on paper for possible layouts for website. Although I can prob ref to links and sreen graps so that going in right track design wise. Not sure if I will have enough time to do a really job of it (finished project) because of only having 2 days on it excluding monday and tuesday:P at least I would have planned it out rather then jumping off in the deep end which don't want to happen!
Then I think I should get the content
Then I think I should do some very rough trials on the computer in photoshop, think it best for me to use photoshop before rushing off into flash since still learning flash and not as comftable in it as photoshop but I'm sure (hoping anyways) that I will get there!
Thats prob enough rumble for now

Analsying/Summary of finding: Research Design web page examples

Having looked at a few good designed websites.
Think its very clear to see that they all have a very organised manner/gride system (in most instances 99% of the time even if the style is not clean still organised) so that the browser is not lost and can navagate and make sense of things easily since people don't generally give webpages that much time (first impressions really cound in webpage design).

Also a couple of the other factors/elements that they all seem to have going for them is the use of colour that they actually have a colour scheme in place thoroughout the website which is 99% of the time established somewhat in the homepage. Another few elements that each have in common is the fact that their layout is clean and not cluttered with too much, there is plenty of 'white...space' making it that much clearer and easier for the browser. Also another thing I noticed that font treatment is very similar thoughout the webpages which I know is party because that is how the web design programes are set up/option is but even so they generally don't have more then 2 font sizes as far as I can see.

Blog make over:P

Just updated/that is changed colour choices of blog since got a little tired of looking at same colours and set up used for last assignment last term:P
So now I feel much better about my blog having a more updated look according to my mood!

Action plan

Thought now that know whats expected first thing to do is to have at least a rough action plan. Thinking that if i want to do a little bit of design work in the website/animation, then I should probably start with figuring out what my content is going to be.

Considering linking it to what I already have some content on so that it will safe time with regards to content gathering. Content: Possibly going to focus on doing a Persian Mythology story: (Rustam)which links to graphics or to link it again to learning languages so links with last project as well as project earlier this year in graphics. eg: Learning Colours...in Persain and or Chinese. (these are just a first thought and my content may change...but will make sure I make note of it in my blog if that is the case)

Thinking will have to keep the design very simple as well as not that much content since really will only have 2 days to work on it (this weekend) and then tidy up and check techical things etc on tuesday in class if need be.

Research: I think I best look at some good examples of good design websites before I put anything on the computer since last time until i need that my designs weren't as strong as they were after having spent some time researching some good examples of layouts and websites...

clear at last

Having not really had project/brief to work on digital2 has made it really difficult this semester for me to be motivated or focused to put things in my blog.

However now that we finally were given clear direction and instruction on what we will be required to hand in and work on before last class (only total of 2 class:() feeling a bit more motivated to actually do about more work for digital.
However feel that since we have so very little time to work on ideas and research and design process as well as technical learning that this outcome may not be that great. Would have loved to had more warning but nevermind guess you got to make do with what gets thrown at you and hopefully will do at least an alright job of it:P

Term4 DIGITAL2

Have mixed feelings about Digital2 this term mainly because I'm not to sure what we are expected to hand in for marking. I understand that we have to do all exercises in class etc but finding it hard to focus in the heat esp with being not that well this semester the last 2-3 weeks with my tonsolitas and swellen glanes but all in all I think I am still learning the flash software programme some what. I think however I need a lot more practice before I truely understand and feel comftable using it on my own.
Also I am finding that I found it much more natural earling last term compared to this term because I could just watch the demonstrations and instructions. Making notes and then following at own pace sometimes after class, but with the way things are this term having to listen and follow at the same time is not as effective for my learning method:( but I do still see the benefit of learning flash, websites etc on a whole and am happy with the decision to follow this through into next year.

Comments about my finished website

I'm happy with the look/systle of my website. I think it works well for what I wanted to achieve. The only thing that I feel like I would like to concentrate on next time a I do a website again in dreamweaver is to make it a little more interactive.

However for this current language website, I was not aiming to make it too interactive. It been the first time ever of attempting to use dreamweaver. Feeling in the beginning especially feeling a little over whelmed with the whole process and therefore more than happy to have a very simple website which would function and work accordingly!

I do feel that I know dreamweaver much much better now than I did in the beginning.

The only other thing I think I should mention is that I am aware that there is probably a couple of files in my website folder that shouldn't be there since I did not use them. However I thought it better to play it safe then sorry, and left them there so that i won't accidently get ride of something that needs to be there. I probably could spend some time and work out which ones they are but feeling a bit all over the place at moment, it being end of term and all. So better not to mess with it at this point:P

Thoughts

Really pleased that I was able to complete it and put it on the server today (thursday) specially since I frequenly found that I was complicating things for myself at times with dreamweaver:P
I think it was very benefical getting the time off work and going in and sitting in the foundation class. Having a bit more time dedicated to doing the website.

I'm feeling much better able dreamweaver now. However would like to do it at least 1-2 more times until I can truly say I understand fully and even then I'm sure there will always be updates to software etc that would need to keep upto date with.

Aims (internal dialogue)

Aim is to get as much as done as possible today so that tomorrow it will hopefully be only touch ups and checking technical things etc (maybe a little optomestic)
Would be great if I can get it all done and hand in on system by end of tomorrow (thursday) so that Friday don't have to worry about it (again prob a bit too optomestic but who knows maybe not as optomestic as much as I think hopefully:P)

Need to Know:

Need to find if there is a year 2/year 3 web page page could do as part of degree that doesn't have animation as a pre-req?
I know there is 2 different Digital 4
Is one of the Digital4 subjects just web page, or is webpage and animation always combined/one subject?

Getting thought/stuff out of head. (internal dialogue)

Lucky that I was able to get out of work thursday morning, so that i could attend some extra help class with dreamweaver. As I feel I would really benefit from some extra aid esp now that the pressure is to get it done and complete for the friday deadline. Bad or good (hopefully not to dreadful:P) I will hand it in on friday since deadline is a DEADLINE after all.

I think probably after I have done this project and perhaps used dreamweave for another 1 or 2 projects/wesites, I think I may actually really enjoy web design.
I'm hoping at would be the case since the industry is such that you really do need to know both print and web design in most cases to even get a opportunity.

Must comment on: Persian text

I had to include in my blog that it was a major headache finding the persian words especially since my persian is so limited and have only had 2 months schooling (persian) and it was a mission just reading the words and making sure they were what I wa after.
The other major headache/brick wall was once found the words then process of getting them to actually read right/look like ---had to find font that would do the trick, downloaded a font for use and then so that I could also open it on school computers changed it to paths/shape in photoshop. It took a really long time all this but I think it paid of visually:) just so glad only had to do 3 words that are in persian or else!:P

Decision: persian page etc

Decided that for the persian page going to go with the small caps for the persian words in english so that its more in keeping with the other page: Chinnese one, I know the attached version is small so not going to bother about attaching another very similar version with only the font change:P
Feel that the Chinese page and the persian page are now complete! Finally!:) at least the photoshop version is anyways.

Today's Aims

Thought this would be helpful to get down my aims before I get started for the day: Aim is to complete 100% the persian and Chinnese pages which are like 95 % there already.
To put in the information I want in contact page as well as figure out what I will be putting in the home page. At this stage I think both the contact page and the home page are not going to have a lot of data esp the contact page. However still need to sort out in my head and on screen a few things with regards to the home page. Like if I want any images at all? if yes how many images? What text do I need to include in the home page for people to understand the website? so aim is to get it all done and sorted in photoshop before class.
Would really love to get cracking with Dreamweaver to actually do the website (from my ready layout design in photoshop)

Update/Summary for myself

Have made decision with regards to the Persian and Chinese page website, planning on keeping contact tab minimal. However a little confused on what to have on my home page at the moment and I really need to sort it out asap. But for now I think I will sleep on it.

Plan

Now my plan is to before class tomorrow to make a decision about which one of the 3 choices I considering to do for final and load the other images and texts that I need to in photoshop so that hopefully in class I can concentrate only on Dreamweaver and getting this thing done once and for all. It took me a long time to get my head around even blog seeing as never ever did one before or even visiting an blog site before:P

Aim_Plan and questions

My Aims for tonight are to get all my layouts for all 4 pages complete as much as possible so that tomorrow can consentrate on trying to get my head around dreamweaver and actually making a website, would be really great if can get it all down and complete before the dealine on friday.
Tonights aim is to include all the images going to use and possibly a few of the words going to use as well if not all so that don't to think tomorrow about what I'm going to write in terms of contents. Content is not going to be that much because its prodomiently aimed for a younger audience as well as people who are more interested in picking up/learning a few new words in a different language as suppose for lots of text.

There are a few questions that I need to ask with regards to taking my photoshop layout files into dreamweaver
eg: do they need to be in layers or flatten image first?
I know you have to save for web but while in layers or when their flattened image?
Do I need to type in dreamweaver (text) or can I just use the type I created in photoshop?
As you can clearily see dreamweaver is still very new in my mind and will need some time in actually trying to get it right, so that can have a functioning website:P

Regards to images etc

Just thought before I hit the sack and start the new week tomorrow would mention a couple of things with regards to this project regarding images etc.
I have taken all the images that planning on using in the website besides the background images for the persian design and chinese background image as mentioned in an earlier posting.
I with the permission of the manger of countdown in church corner took my digital camera and took images in their produce section. It was certainly in experience, lucky that they allowed it in the end!:P as i really needed the images for Graphics project too. I also took some images at woolworths bush inn under the conditon that the manger accompany me and check out the images I was taking, that was certainly strange to have some one follow you around, dunno what was top secret about it all, but maybe thats just me:P Still grateful that they both allowed me to take the images, it does feel rather good to be know you own the images and that they are not borrowed guess it will be a good practice to try and get into before hittting the real industy fields down the line.

About screen layout trials

Almost there with regards to final directions of website layout. I have got the main styling factor
You can see from the attached images that the one that had to do the most thinking and playing aorund with interms of background was for the home page.
Seeing as Persian and Chinnese background were easier that is faster in making style chooses.
I also did a trial on screen with having only flat colour background for the home page, but felt that it wasn't in keeping withe the other two pages as well as looking very boring for a home page especially. Seeing that is the first page anyone sees when visiting a website.

For the Chinnese Background I scanned in my Chinnese Dress which my husband got me for 19th birthday and ironically no longer fits:P

For the Persian Background I scanned in paper design that I brought from the drawing room a few months ago.

For the home page background I tried out different paper background and mostly a few of my acryclic painting textures that I did for my graphics as well as general drawing.

Now: have to actually bring the other elements to it togehter like the images and the words etc should be fun hopefully won't get to carried away trying out too many things out:)

And now:

I am now more than content with my range of research examples looking at for design and inspirations. Now for the hard part: going back a couple of stages and doing some thinking and reconsiderations of layouts for my website.
Think before I go back into Photoshop will spend abit of time again on paper to get a stronger design down for my website.
Few Quick Thumbnail layouts to do before hitting the screen again.
Hopefully will be able to upgrade the look will still keeping it very simple and basic esp since contents is also basic and not alot of it on purpose.
Since it can be overwhelming learning lots of new words in a new language or 2 in this case.
Seeing as I can not write persian I probably will only have the english writing on how to say the word in persian. However for Chinnse would like to have the characters down as part of design.

Research & Links

I have now created links to pretty much most of the websites that I use often for some reason or another. So now if I want to I can just go to my blog and click on the links as suppose to trying to remember what address is for each:P

Also now I have created links (research) only to websites that I got the website from design books and mags, so that I know they are considered good things to be looking at. Seeing as there is many websites on the web that layout wise are not so hot.

Most created links in research section to companies that I know are good in their creative fields thus should also have good website designs!
However there is a couple of links that I have included simply because I liked them for some reason or another.

Hopefully in time my list of websites (research) will be growing with more and more good examples of designs for web and possibly even print.

idea/thought

Was just thinking that inorder to make the website a little more interactive.
Could have the Persian worlds/Chinnese words come up when you place your curser over the image of choice.
Couple reasons not sure if I want to do that for sure is one technical side of it, still not that comfortable with websites but I'm sure I will get over in time.
The other reason not sure how well it will work for younger children who may not have the patience or understanding of what is happening with that yet or maybe I'm just analysing a bit too much dunno.
Regardless of what I end of deciding, its probably crusioul now to make some decisions and stick when them at this stage of the game.

About trials

I have included in my blog now a number of my layout trials that I did in photoshop for my language(word) website.

I have only done one page layouts as suppose as the 3-4 planned pages, since it will act like a template for the rest design wise etc.

They are probably a bit too simple and basic and need more design elements/better system
Aim is for today is to get my layout completly out of the way!
I think I will probably benefit from doing some online research ie looking at some good website examples that can perhaps help inspire and/or influence my look for the website.

Once I have found some example then I may list them here in my blog so that it won't be playgarasim at least not on purpose anyways:P

Decision:
Topic choosen from brief: Words
Target: Children and people interested in learning another language
Basic has a focus of learning some Fruits/Vegs names in different lanuages since that is my choosen topic for Graphics4 this term and want this to link to that project.
Its going to be basic for couple of reasons, because mostly learning anything new can be a challenge especially learning a new language.
The site will still require parental guidence for young children.
Trying to keep the site simple and stupid as advised:P

Brainstorming_Ideas

Since this is to be our workbook, Its probably only appropriate that I brainstorm here.

Options thinking about focusing on/choosing from list off brief: Blue, Words, Speed or Law.
Clearly have a bit of thinking to do before picking one:P

General ideas playing around in my head. Although not sure at this stage if any actually fit the brief.

Words:
have an interactive learning language aid website, eg could be that your learning, English, Chinnese and or Persian, it would be a base place the cursor over the object/sense and it will come up with the word that is for that particuar thing.
The website could also include quiz testing general knowledge with regards to that language or culture. I think if I do this it would also fit in with my Graphics4 subject so they can interlink a little. Thinking English, Persian and Chinese because they are langauages that I have more assess to and trying to learn/improve on.



or could have like a website dedicated to feed the giant or/some creature, knowledge so you could basically feed your creature words that you wanted to learn. (this idea may be better as an flash movie not to sure how effective it will be as a website idea)

Blue:
Could do something with the emotin of being Blue. Need to expand on this if I want to pursue it.
or maybe could have like an object for example a blue ice block turn everything it passes blue could have it enter like a town called Redvillee where it happens to 'accidently' turn it blue.

Side Note: some of these ideas may be best not as web sites but flah movies? however at this stage just getting my ideas down

Side Note: maybe should have a flick though some of my photo albums/travel photos to see if there is anything there that may spark any ideas.

Side Note: Perhaps do an outline portfolio and somehow fit it on the brief:P maybe pushing it abit.

Blue: Obvious things/settings that come to mind are: Ocean/beaches, Clouds/Skies could all be elements in the website if doing subject Blue.

Have a website for Travel, see the sights but can be very dark, for sick people who like to visit the sights of where tragic horrific things have happened in the past, can just be ficitonal otherwise may get to groseed out myslelf, so like can be for example here the serial killer massacured 12 blind children at noon on a sunday sunny afternoon. Basicaly hings that are clearly black and white. I guess the only area this would fit under the brief would probably be someones altra ego, but have to check this out to make sure that it fits if going to purse this idea.

General Note:
Think it may be good to include a poll type table perhaps in whatever website I decide to go with. Since that generally makes it more interesting for me when I look at just browsing the internet. (have charts to demonstrate points even if they are just made up for the sake of it being more informative and possible interactive) Having a poll that people can take part in probably best since then its interactive but it will still somewhat deepend on what the website is.

General:
Think would like to do:
Home page
3 other webpages - could be more but think should at least have 3
Comments page (maybe) just so people can interactwith the website and have a say.

Total = 4 or 5 at least number of webpages.