For beginning Web designers who wish to leave behind the confines of simple , template - driven apps like Apple ’s iWeb ( part of the $ 79 iLife retinue ) , Karelia ’s $ 49Sandvox , and Realmac Software ’s $ 49RapidWeaver , the software you ’re most often differentiate to buy is Adobe ’s $ 399Dreamweaverand eitherFireworks($299 ) orPhotoshop($649 ) .
Nvu
Nvu is based onMozilla’sopen source Gecko , the layout railway locomotive that drives theFirefoxWeb web browser . Nvu proffer full keep for HTML , Javascript , CSS , and XML . Basic site - creation prick are uncommitted , as well as an integrated FTP diligence to upload your land site when you ’re done , but Nvu lacks many of the toll and whistles you ’ll find in commercial applications programme . While some will see this as a defect , I tend to look at it as a incentive . By learning the basic principle first , you ’ll get a much good understanding of how Web Sir Frederick Handley Page work , and the peter you ’ll need to take you to the next level .
Freeway Express
Freeway is a immense step up from Nvu as far as WYSIWYG editor program goes . You build up your layout by moving objects and text around on the pageboy , add golf links , and can even lend oneself figure effects like blur , sharpen and more to your images ( with full transparency support ) . mystify images , audio and telecasting into your layout is easygoing with iPhoto , iTunes and Extensis Portfolio consolidation , and of row drag - and - drop is full supported as well . One of the cool features is the ability to use graphic filter on text on a character level , while still maintaining edibleness within Freeway . That ’s because Freeway does n’t actually create the image and apply the graphic filters until you publish the site , leaving you with more time for experiment with your design rather than switching back and forth between applications and wait for FTP uploads .
Freeway Express sell for $ 89 for the downloadable version and $ 109 for the CD . If you ’re looking for a full - sport connection editor , Freeway is an splendid first step . Softpress also volunteer Freeway Pro , which ads legion features for $ 249 ( $ 289 on CD ) . Downloadable demonstration are useable for both product .
In my follow - up by and by this week , I ’ll put in you to some helpful shaft you’re able to utilize to plan your site , as well as track your site ’s popularity — all which will bring with whichever Web editor you take .
[ James Dempsey runs theCreative Guyblog , which offers tips , tricks and opinion on a variety of Mac OS X and plan topics . ]
