dguide new design and layout

[protocol]

hi all,

i have just improved my web site with new features that i have learnt recently like loadmovie & php intergration.

check it out and tell me what you think.

http://www.dguide.co.za

KNOWN ISSUES :
the swf's take too long too load and show (the preloader included), does anyone know of a solution for this problem ???

thanks
protocol

[theswedishtiger]

Masterful work. Good town site, nioe to see work like this coming out of SA. One of the problems you have is large jpg files. I am not sure what compression you are using, but there is an opportunity to get the files smaller. I hope you are using PNG files and not JPEGS for your images. Also you might want to put more AS into the site

[Veniogenesis]

Great work. Nice and clean. Theme is present in many places. Might want to reduce the file sizes.
You might want to add a nice soft sound loop as well.

regards,
Venio

[protocol]

thanks for the fast feedback. i would like to know how to make PNG files as i have never heard of them ???

also what do you mean AS ??? i think action script but i don't see what you mean ??? could you explain ?

thanks protocol

[tiga]

Very Nice clean work dude.....

[tiga]

Originally posted by protocol
thanks for the fast feedback. i would like to know how to make PNG files as i have never heard of them ???

also what do you mean AS ??? i think action script but i don't see what you mean ??? could you explain ?

thanks protocol

Macromedia Fireworks saves it's files as .PNG. Is this the same PNG file your talking about ?

[theswedishtiger]

png files can be made through photoshop and paintshop pro. AS was short for action script

[protocol]

thanks theswedishtiger, i have photoshop so this won't be a prob, one more thing though, i am thinking of reading a guide on AS and heard about "o'reilly definitive guide to action script" (ns about the spelling), is it any good ???

protocol

[theswedishtiger]

I have not read that one, I use f/x design guide. Either way, boning up on Action Script is a must if you are interested in reducing file size and saving time building sites. I do this for a living and without AS in my shared library I would not be making a living. Mind you I do produce a lot of mindless junk for mindless customers.

[protocol]

i will look for that book and just have one more question. i have been using flash for 5 months now and have been doing work for odd customers but would like to work for a firm so i can learn more about the entire process of design. what level of design should i be on (example site) that is considered to be of high standard ???

thanks again for your feedback
protocol

[theswedishtiger]

Protocol

The highest design standard possible. I used to think one could work off templates, however one gets such varied work and two firms want very different web sites, that templates are almost a waste of time to do. I am not sure about the South African economy but here things are a bit tight, money wise. The result is that one does not get the opportunity to build really nice looking site. I would rather work on one $3,000 site than six $500 sites. However I have a limitless supply of $500 site customers. So to answer your question. Regarding design, shoot for the stars, but prepared to dig a lot of ditches along the way.

[mannyme80]

too many fonts dude...

too many fonts=ameauter!....

remember to use fonts, colors, and styles sparingly to keep a tighter design.. other than that... its nice and clean..

manny