Some extra special resources for you.
What is a resource anyway? I don't know. I couldn't pick a better single word for "stuff you might find useful." I do appreciate Merriam Webster's Definition of resource, well #4 at least. "a means of spending one's leisure time."
First I'd like to just say, for a person who is interested in getting some graphic work done it's good to know a few things so you can ask the right questions.
Website Resources
For those of you who are thinking about making a website, you might want to read my long-winded article about it. Especially the parts where I mention a lot of the free stuff.
Next, have a look at the Wikipedia article on what a Webpage is. It's a nice overview with a lot of technology "name dropping." If we get into a conversation and you want to follow up on something, maybe it can help.
And here is a short list of some of my favorite websites for website development.
- The Web Developer Handbook - so much to see!
- GotAPI - Interactive web coding reference
- PmWiki - A website framework I love using
- Wordpress - a blog framework that's really excellent
- Moveable Type - another blog framework, maybe even better
- Drupal - Another CMS Content Mgmt System
- HTML Dog Great website learning reference
- Layout Gala - General Barebones Layouts
- Open Source Web Design - Free layouts to start pages from
- Dreamhost - affordable web hosting
- Media Temple (MT) - Fantastic web hosting
- Color Schemes - Might help you decide
- Don't Make Me Think - #1 website planning book
- KompoZer - Free webpage software
- Aptana Studio - Free Advanced Web coding software
- Vanilla - beautiful little yet robust forum software
Print Resources
First I want to highlight one of my favored printers. And no, it's not Kinkos. Actually the company is called Overnight Prints. They print brochures, business cards, postcards, letterheads and other basic printing. Their full-color printing has always impressed me for the price. This is a good starter printer. You can have a set of a hundred business cards printed for less than $50, full color, double-sided, even with gloss and rounded corners.
Other printing stuff
- Blurb.com - Very affordable beautiful book printing
- Lulu.com - Online self book publisher
- Scribus - Free Page Layout Software
- Comic Life - Fun layout software, for first timers.
- More Later
General Graphic Resources
- Open Office - Free office I have replaced Microsoft with
- NeoOffice - Same as office above, but for Mac
- IrfanView - The best graphic utility for those little jobs like cropping, slideshows, conversion to other file types.
- XnView - Like Irfanview
- Xara Xtreme Pro - One of my favorite Illustration software
- Inkscape - Free vector graphic software
- Blender - fantastic free 3D software
- ArtRage - Free realistic painting software (beautiful)
- Comic Life - This is great software, worth mentioning a second time. For both Mac and Windows
- ArtWeaver - Free Photoshop clone (windows only)
- Paint.Net - Another free graphic software
- Picasa - Google's image editor, pretty popular easy to use for tons of photos in your library
- Dafont - great font resource
- Fontifier - Create your own font from your handwriting $9
- DesignersTalk - Graphics Forum
- TalkGraphics.com Another great graphics forum
- CSS Forums - More web help from forums
- GenFavicon - Website Favicon Creator
- icoFX - Windows Icon Creator (free and good)
Miscellaneous Tools
- Windows Stickies - Easy post-it notes for your desktop
- FreeMind - Free Mindmapper program to help you organize a lot of info (better than todo lists)
- More to come in this misc category
