So help me with an estimate...

[gerbick]

Let's say you have a pretty involved, yet "modular" design done all in Photoshop and you want it to be done up in CSS/XHTML as a template.

What's the normal amount of time from finished design within Photoshop to properly CSS done template do you think it will take?

Just wondering.

[PAlexC]

Varies by complexity, but I'd say 4-5 full business days, fully tested, just to be safe.

[jAQUAN]

Depends on the strict parts like if the footer must always touch the bottom of the browser and how perfect the type must be. I agree with PAlexC, 2-3 to build and test plus a couple days for padding.

[flipsideguy]

Gerbick, I usually estimate such a project per hour -- a one-page CSS/XHTML template would take no more than 5-6 hours. Since you said "pretty involved" I'd say 8-10 hours, spanned over 2 business days.

Anyone charging 4-5 business days for a one-page template is either very slow, or heavily over-charging (or both).

[argonauta]

if you already have the design, maybe use a service like http://www.psd2html.com/

[PAlexC]

Ain't nothing wrong with over-charging.

But sometimes it can be more difficult to preserve someone else's Photoshop layout in proper CSS/XHTML than it is to build something from scratch.

[kevin_smithers]

How complex are we talking?

Minimum of 8 hours if it is a straight forward design and say 20 if it is a little complex.

[vampstko]

i can get these guys in the philippines have it done in 24 hours.....

will it b right :shrugs

[yasunobu13]

I usually take a day or two for just a template provided it is only a single page as everyone else has assumed. A week if backend is included.

I would double that time if I were talking to my boss as there would no doubt be multiple changes along the way.

[lefteyewilly]

i can name that tune in 2 notes.

[DaVulf]

Ain't nothing wrong with over-charging.

Forgive me my opinion, but I hate that mentality. In my business you charge a fair rate and you move on. Incorporate a profitable margin, but don't knowingly price gouge. That's the equivalent of theft in my opinion.

[gerbick]

Theft would be not delivering anything. Getting paid your worth is not a crime.

And to buffer your estimate with a bit of padding is not thievery either.

But as far as this thread goes... thanks guys. Might be looking for somebody else to take this project. Me no likey CSS.

[Frets]

Thank goodness I am not alone. Copy CSS is one thing.

Recreating layout from an image to an html document via css is like trying to stack greased marbles with boxing gloves. I'd rather roll naked in sheared glass then bath in tabasco sauce.

[gerbick]

You should create frets.tv... sorta like Jackass. But with better music.

I dare you.

[hurricaneone]

Standard retail mark up is 50%.

So if you're time is worth (for example) US$20, then bill for US$40.

Or double the days.

If you only charge cost then you're either a charity or an idiot.

[DaVulf]

Standard retail mark up is 50%.

So if you're time is worth (for example) US$20, then bill for US$40.

Or double the days.

If you only charge cost then you're either a charity or an idiot.

A) That is a 100% markup.
B) I said a fair price, not charging at cost. Our margins tend to be around the 30% mark. I'm just saying that if you estimate something, you're likely already putting a margin on that. Don't then go and throw an extra bunch on there just because you think you can.

So just because I can charge someone 600k for a house that I build, does that mean I should do so? What if the house only costs 250k to build? Does that sound fair? Most definitely not. Instead, we sell it for $399.

[EVPohovich]

If you only charge cost then you're either a charity or an idiot.

...or part of the Freelance Forum here...

[silverx2]

A) That is a 100% markup.
B) I said a fair price, not charging at cost. Our margins tend to be around the 30% mark. I'm just saying that if you estimate something, you're likely already putting a margin on that. Don't then go and throw an extra bunch on there just because you think you can.

So just because I can charge someone 600k for a house that I build, does that mean I should do so? What if the house only costs 250k to build? Does that sound fair? Most definitely not. Instead, we sell it for $399.

dude your gonna sell me a $250k for $399?

ill buy that.

and this is for converting and testing, testing everything takes time.

4-5 days

[DaVulf]

dude your gonna sell me a $250k for $399?

ill buy that.

Do you live in Baltimore? They're close to Hopkins.

[jAQUAN]

Anyone charging 4-5 business days for a one-page template is either very slow, or heavily over-charging (or both).

Or insists that it look and work correctly in all standard browsers.

I've learned a ton of CSS over that last few months and still pretty much hate it. I may have just found an alternative though