Simplicity Keeping things simple.

[bridgebuilder 0]

I still believe in "keep it simple" thinking, not cluttering up servers, and trying to satisfy all browsers (if that's actually possible). There's nothing that can be done about individual settings, though and maybe satisfying everyone is an endless and unattainable goal. There's actually no need for heavy scripts just to the date and time on a page: the server can do that. So, just about all the scripts I write are simple and to the point. I've been told things couldn't be done a certain, but I did them. For example, using something as simple as Paint to fade colors and write on buttons. I just couldn't see putting out all that money for Photo Shop Pro, etc. when I already had the capabilities. Added text wasn't necessary either. Using the color pallet on Paint, I lightened the color a little at a time, then I used my scanner/photo imaging software to dull and descreen with an presto: I had a fading color across the top bar of a webpage or whatever. Writing on buttons with Paint is fine as long as they are bitmaps and they're kept sized in the HTML. So, if anyone doesn't want to put out any major money, these are simple ways to get around it. Descreening works on a textured background, too without having to cover it with a text box.

Edited April 17, 2006 by bridgebuilder (see edit history)

[Hercco 0]

I think the way you did that fading colour, or gradient, sounded rather complicated compared to doing it with a single tool in Photoshop. I believe in KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) but I also believe in using the best tool available. More often than not people end up doing things in more difficult manner when they opt to use very low learning level basic tools. An example from my real life: I used to do programming with just a basic text editor and command line compiler. I knew about IDEs and tried them but didn't really bother learning to use them and I felt that text editor & command line compiling was easier for me. Then when I started doing Java programming on my Win2k workstation I realized that I really need to use an IDE here. Messing with the files and running javac from command prompt was a complete chaos. I installed NetBeans and couldn't have been happier. Now, where ever possible I go for IDE. The only exception is C code which I will always and forever write with vim and compiler from command line.

[Chesso 0]

You should try out the free version of Ultimate Paint it can be very usefull and can do some nice looking text, shadow, outlining, anti-aliasing etc.I do believe in simple design though on the web, I always appreciate a nice looking but simple and fast website.My works certainly have the simple and fast part down but looking nice.... well probably not with todays standards .

[Juan Villegas 0]

i like a weel designed site, but hate those like gamespots or gamesdomain in its old version. They have just too much photos, or so much information that the load gets slow even with a dsl connection :Slove the flash sites wich runs fast :Pgreets

[mikk0 0]

How about a website design made up of text plus style sheet plus shortcut icon plus ... nothing else (that is no graphics, background or otherwise). Oh, and you can decorate your pages with pictures that add some meaning to the content. That is the type of website that I find myself more interested in these days. In other words a website where the layout and content are the priority and rounded corners and buttons to click are nowhere to be seen.

 

I guess age has something to do with it. You know, when you are young you are more interested in things that are distracting, like flashy websites with wizz bang effects, and when you get older you become more interested in the content and actually find distractions annoying - so I am probably showing my age.

 

Here are couple of websites that look perfectly OK to me that illustrate what I mean:

https://www.fastmail.com/login/?domain=fastmail.fm

https://journalized.zed1.com/