Archive for August, 2008

Online Background Pattern Generator

In another one of our projects, we had a design that required a white content area with the area behind it filled with a pattern. Unfortunately, the background pattern was something that the client was not happy with at all.

In the interest of time, they asked us if we could find something nice and fix the pattern. Even though this background pattern is a fairly small part of the website, it has a large visual impact on the site. Therefore, it was important that I spend some time finding several options for the client to review. As I carried out a frustrating, time consuming search for mediocre patterns, I ran across the Tiled Backgrounds Desginer website.

Within a few minutes I had three different homepages for review, each with a diiferent pattern and corresponding style. The tools is very easy to use and provides a tabbed interface for building your own background patterns. You have the option of specifying your colors, pattern images, scale, opacity, canvas and even the rotation of the pattern.

I highly recommend this tool for every Web Designers arsenal of tools.

Adding a Search Engine to Your Website

As you develop your website and the amount of content grows, finding specific bits and pieces rapidly become more of an issue. This can be a problem not only for your users, but also for your content managers. But, why do you need an on site search engine when you gone to all of the trouble of categorizing everything into a nice neat menu system?
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Planning your Content Management System

Before we begin, perhaps a brief description of what a Content Management System (CMS) is or does would be appropriate. A Content Management System is a system used to organize and facilitate digital content. Originally as simple as a rolodex or encyclopedia, today’s content management systems are elaborate software/database applications designed to store and process large amounts of complex information.
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Resetting the Browser with CSS

One of the most frustrating aspects of web site design is when a web page insists on displaying in a way that you know is contrary to what you have specified. In order to help avoid these moments, it is always good to start out with a few commands at the beginning of your style sheet that resets the browser to give you better control over the way a web page is displayed.
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