Ubuntu Web Design: Inkscape, BlueFish and WordPress

[banago]

Hi guys,

I have just redesigned my site in Ubuntu with Inkscape, Bluefish and WordPress.

Please tell everybody that Open Source Web Design and Developement works - here is the proof: WPlancer.Com (http://www.wplancer.com/).

How do you find it?

Thanks

Banago

[Sand & Mercury]

Impressive indeed!

[banago]

Impressive indeed!

Oh, Thanks!

[Neostar]

Looks really good :)

[walkerk]

Very nice.

[banago]

Thank guys - I really appreciate your support.

[ProgramErgoSum]

Nice job !

More than the tools, you have creativity ! I couldn't come half-close to that even with latest, greatest and shiniest tools.

[banago]

@ProgramErgoSum: Thanks for for your good words, I am just shy to have been told that.

[Samhain13]

Good job!
GIMP + Gedit works too. :D

[banago]

Yes, other tools work too. I'm just more a fan of vector design than raster one.

[alex.rayu]

Graphics is primitive. Doing detailed vector graphics is very time consuming and using raster graphics - photos and clipart is not Inkscape's strong side. At least for me as web designer the site does not tell me to abandon Photoshop CS2 under wine =)

[smartboyathome]

Graphics is primitive. Doing detailed vector graphics is very time consuming and using raster graphics - photos and clipart is not Inkscape's strong side. At least for me as web designer the site does not tell me to abandon Photoshop CS2 under wine =)

The advantage of SVG is scalability. SVG works great for that and also works great as a flash alternative when combined with Javascript.

[banago]

Graphics is primitive. Doing detailed vector graphics is very time consuming and using raster graphics - photos and clipart is not Inkscape's strong side. At least for me as web designer the site does not tell me to abandon Photoshop CS2 under wine =)

The most time consuming process, the vector or raster, is very relative. For me, raster design is more time-consuming.

Inkscape is not a raster app and cannot be used for photos and clipart - for that I use GIMP.

I do not advice you to abandon Photoshop too, but Photoshop is to expensive for me and I love open source on the other hand.

Thanks for your reply though :)

[Hooloovooloo]

Of course open source works tools works great for web developing, i've been using only free tools for about 3 years now.

[Samhain13]

SVG works great for that and also works great as a flash alternative when combined with Javascript.

I've tried doing that some time ago, and I have to say that it is enjoyable to work with Javascript and SVG. It keeps things simple. However, I've come across some cross-browser issues, primarily with making text appear and disappear (Firefox vs Konqueror vs Opera). It's really no big deal but I've put off my exploration of this method for now.

Anyway... :)

[-yay-]

Open Source Web Design and Developement definitively works, I made my site with open source tools.

Another handy tool that one can use with Linux is Xampp (http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html), it's a local installation of Apacahe, MySQL, PHP (and a couple more) so that you can build and test your site locally on your computer before you upload it to the web. Pretty handy if you need to test planned changes to your site :popcorn:

[banago]

Another handy tool that one can use with Linux is Xampp (http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html), it's a local installation of Apacahe, MySQL, PHP (and a couple more) so that you can build and test your site locally on your computer before you upload it to the web. Pretty handy if you need to test planned changes to your site :popcorn:

I have XAMPP installed in my computer and I develop all my websitess and wordpress themes there. :)

[Stratos01]

cool website!
I just saw on the page a post about not using table and using CSS
I have been using tables alot and been wanting to learn CSS, would you recommend something to get me started?
Thank you!

[banago]

cool website!
I just saw on the page a post about not using table and using CSS
I have been using tables alot and been wanting to learn CSS, would you recommend something to get me started?
Thank you!

Hi Stratos,

I want to say that that CSS is great and very easy to learn. I am writing a full CSS tutorlial (in parts) from beginner to advanced and I have the first part ready - it just needs some polishing. It would be a good idea to subscribe so that you can be updated with the CSS tutorials.

:)

[factotum218]

good job! a great testimonial to inkscapes ability to uhhmmm...create gradients? Sorry, being a smartass, but seriously, very nice work.

[banago]

good job! a great testimonial to inkscapes ability to uhhmmm...create gradients? Sorry, being a smartass, but seriously, very nice work.

@factotum: Thanks very much for the good words!

[alex.rayu]

Ok I am not telling anybody to use Photoshop - but if you are campaigning for usability of the free software to do the task, you probably have to have a lot more on your examplary site then a bunch of blue-to-purple icons.

The problem for me, as I have been trying to switch to these free apps, is that a client wants to have a mockup and the source files (PSD) that he can later edit or assign to another designer. And Photoshop allows all that to go in a single PSD file, cause it supports both raster and vector. You make a complete mockup in one file and send.

Now, if you do that in a few different editors, GIMP and Inkscape, and then bring together elements from them into one mockup, then that complicates the professional design unthinkably. There is no longer single file that the client can open and edit, He would have to open the SVG, and he will have to open the GIMP file, but yikes! The fonts are not editable! The masks and clipping masks can not be undone! And after long trials and dispair, he would have to bring the elements together in some 3rd file.

It is unthinkable for me to do that in my professional practice. Thats the fastest way for me to become unemployed probably, for a small Drupal web design Studio like mine (http://www.strider.org.ua).

[banago]

Well, I do understand your concerns. However I think we went a bit off topic.

What I wanted to show with my post is that web design and development is something that can be achieved very well with free free/open source tools. And I just listed my tools here.

If this tools do now work well for your Drupal design studio, they work fine for my WordPress design studio.

I know what editing and sending PSD files to clients, is not what GIMP is for and you won't save be able to have satisfactory results for sure. But, if you design from scratch with GIMP or Inkscape and tern it into a website yourself, you won't need to mention Photoshop at all.

To finish, my designing process is a little bit different from yours. This is why we don't agree in some points together. I also want to tell you that there is nothing wrong with using Photoshop or other such software, but form me Open Source works fine and I support it.

[Samhain13]

"I also want to tell you that there is nothing wrong with using Photoshop or other such software, but for me Open Source works fine and I support it."

Aye! +1

Why can't people just be happy and productive using their own tools without other people pearching about how the pros use other tools?

But from personal experience, when a client asks for a compre, I give them a real HTML page with graphics, scripts and "lorem ipsum"; because with a static compre in an image format, one cannot demonstrate the behaviour of links, scripts and the page itself as viewed in different screen resolutions. It's always a pleasure to see the amazement and the satisfaction in the client's face.

Experience has also taught me never to create a compre that you cannot (or cannot be sure that you can) fully implement; because no matter what sort of explanation you give a frustrated client, he remains frustrated. And that's bad for business.

:)

[banago]

Clients need to get satisfied for sure. The tool you choose is in your hand - the result is important.

[banago]

Did everything finish here? ;)

[bambootree]

Clients need to satisfied for sure. The tool you choose is in your hand - the result is important.
Exactly ! You did a good job.
Me too. I support open source tools.
By the way, your website is very nice ! Great ! You created it with those tools.
Come on ! Go ahead.

[banago]

By the way, your website is very nice ! Great ! You created it with those tools. (?)


Yes, I created it with those tools. It was nice and fun, and I am happy to have those results.

[theApokalypsis]

Hey All,

I myself made the leap to open source for web development as well as everything else aside from gaming some time ago. One thing for sure Im sorry Microsoft but I'll never go back :)

I saw you were using Bluefish, have you checked out Aptana Studio?

http://www.aptana.com/

its based off Eclipse (or even as a plugin). In my opinion it even dominates Dreamweaver and its free to boot. Also sports php, javascript and ROR intellisense.

regards!

:guitar:

[banago]

I saw you were using Bluefish, have you checked out Aptana Studio?

http://www.aptana.com/



I feel very conformable with with BlueFish, that is why I have not tried to use sth else. I have heard about Aptana and I have taken a look at it, it seems good though.

[banago]

Just for the sake of refreshing :lolflag:

[banago]

It's worth the trouble ...

[supirman]

Graphics is primitive. Doing detailed vector graphics is very time consuming and using raster graphics - photos and clipart is not Inkscape's strong side. At least for me as web designer the site does not tell me to abandon Photoshop CS2 under wine =)

Not to be too much of a jerk, but, to me, your site appears less aesthetically pleasing than banago's -- with even more primitive graphics. If I knew nothing, I'd endorse the parent's development method over your "professional" Photoshop CS2 version since his looks more professional. Also, for whatever reason, the fonts on your site are hard to read (see the attached). You probably want to do something to fix that - yours is the only site I can recall where the fonts have been difficult to read.

[banago]

Not to be too much of a jerk, but, to me, your site appears less aesthetically pleasing than banago's -- with even more primitive graphics. If I knew nothing, I'd endorse the parent's development method over your "professional" Photoshop CS2 version since his looks more professional. Also, for whatever reason, the fonts on your site are hard to read (see the attached). You probably want to do something to fix that - yours is the only site I can recall where the fonts have been difficult to read.

I did not want to make it too personal, that is why I skipped commenting on his site. I did not like what he had done with paid premium design tools too. :) Thanks for your remarks Supirman!

[Orlsend]

I use Gimp+Gedit+Joomla. When it comes to Open source CMS, Joomla its the Best :D!

[banago]

I use Gimp+Gedit+Joomla. When it comes to Open source CMS, Joomla its the Best :D!

Have you ever used WordPress? I have used Joomla a little. However I think WordPress is better than Joomla. I have my own reasons :)

[Orlsend]

Yeah I have used wordpress a little,some of my costumers ask me to use it. but i am more used to Joomla.

BTW nice site.

[banago]

Yeah I have used wordpress a little,some of my costumers ask me to use it. but i am more used to Joomla.


Yes, I think it is more a matter of being-used-to :)

BTW nice site.

Thanks :)

[lyceum]

Your site looks very good and well organized. I think your "Business" and "News" squares could look better. While I would have to agree that there is not enough art on here to get me to use FOSS, you did a great job.

(For the record I already use FOSS full time, with the exception of Flash)

:popcorn:

[banago]

Your site looks very good and well organized. I think your "Business" and "News" squares could look better.

What do you suggest for the Business and News square?

Thanks!

[banago]

More suggestions are appreciated - thanks very much!

[darkerlink]

banago, your siggy link to "My Services" is a 404. yikes. btw nice site!

[kernelhaxor]

Nice work!

Do you have any good tutorials/learning-resources/tips to get started with Inkscape?
I've designed a wordpress theme in the past, but used only Adobe Photoshop. I want to get away from it as its expensive and use Gimp & Inkscape ..

[supirman]

Nice work!

Do you have any good tutorials/learning-resources/tips to get started with Inkscape?
I've designed a wordpress theme in the past, but used only Adobe Photoshop. I want to get away from it as its expensive and use Gimp & Inkscape ..

After seeing this thread, I was interested in inkscape so I began searching for tutorials. The graphics that were done on banago's site are, in fact, quite simple and after half an hour of playing with inkscape and following a screencast tutorial, you can likely reproduce them.

See http://screencasters.heathenx.org/ for 70+ fantastic screencast tutorials for inkscape.

[banago]

banago, your siggy link to "My Services" is a 404. yikes. btw nice site!

Yes, you are right. I have lately renamed my services page and I had not updated the forum signature. Thanks very much for reminding me.

Do you have any good tutorials/learning-resources/tips to get started with Inkscape?

Actually I am planing to start a tutorials site on Inkscape tutorials. I have bought the domain - www.inkscapetuts.com.

The graphics that were done on banago's site are, in fact, quite simple and after half an hour of playing with inkscape and following a screencast tutorial, you can likely reproduce them.

Yes, you are right. Inkscape is very easy to use and learn. Last but not least it is a great tool too.

Thanks very much all of you for your time spent on this thread.

[supirman]

Yes, you are right. Inkscape is very easy to use and learn. Last but not least it is a great too.


My thanks to you, as this thread inspired me to start playing with inkscape. So far, I'm loving the things I can do with it -- and so easily!

[Samhain13]

^ It's more fun when you edit the SVG+XML source code and add JavaScript to it to make the image somewhat interactive. :D

HeathenX.org was a good find, cheers!

[banago]

^ It's more fun when you edit the SVG+XML source code and add JavaScript to it to make the image somewhat interactive. :D


That would be great in fact. I have one question: Do all browsers support SVG images?

[Martje_001]

Opera >8, SeaMonkey >1.0, Firefox >1.5, Amaya >5 and Internet Explorer with the Adobe SVG plugin.

[Samhain13]

^ Konqueror too. :)

[banago]

It's fun to use SVG for web desing. I will begin to use it shortly. I thought IE did not support it at all, but there seems to be a hope :)

[banago]

Any other opinion?

[Enriquecaribe]

Pretty good, I like what you created.

[abyssius]

Any other opinion?

Great informative site = simple and effective with sage advice. One very minor point. You might want to change your article title [Design Principals] to [Design Principles].

[banago]

Pretty good, I like what you created.

Thanks very much - every good word is encouraging to me.

[banago]

Great informative site = simple and effective with sage advice. One very minor point. You might want to change your article title [Design Principals] to [Design Principles].

Yeah, that is true, it is a typo, thanks very much for that and for the good words on the site :)

[banago]

Open source rocks for sure.

[banago]

Any other opinion?

[alex.rayu]

The last one thing - find the top nav a little hard to read. White on glossy blue. Not real bad though. On the brightness scale that blue is close to 50%, so whatever color of text, it will be a little hard to read.

[sethmaclaren]

Wow. Very impressive. Definitely a good model for demonstrating Ubuntu's potential :)

[Yoeri]

Nicely done ...

I'm a web designer as well, I switched from Windows to Ubuntu. Now I use Inkscape, Agave (color mgmnt), Fonty Python, NetBeans and (non-free) Pixel Image Editor for creating/implementing my designs.

Gr
Y.

[banago]

The last one thing - find the top nav a little hard to read. White on glossy blue. Not real bad though. On the brightness scale that blue is close to 50%, so whatever color of text, it will be a little hard to read.

Yes, it might be a little difficult to read - but I like the feel. I am planig to reorder the menu too :)

Thanks for your time!

[alex.rayu]

Fonty Python - isn't that a font viewer? What do you create with it?
Pixel - how do yo find it?

Why Wordpress? Why not Joomla/Drupal ?

[banago]

Wow. Very impressive. Definitely a good model for demonstrating Ubuntu's potential

Thanks for your encouraging words :)

[banago]

I'm a web designer as well, I switched from Windows to Ubuntu. Now I use Inkscape, Agave (color mgmnt), Fonty Python, NetBeans and (non-free) Pixel Image Editor for creating/implementing my designs.


I use GIMP for editing/retouching images. How do you find NetBeans? It supports PHP now, but I have not tried that yet. I use BlueFish for codding because I can edit files through FTP with that.

[banago]

Why Wordpress? Why not Joomla/Drupal ?

Because we find WordPress better, or easier. Or perhaps we had never the possibility to get used to Joomla/Drupal.

[ahddm]

Thats a really nice site I'm a web designer myself and I love linux its nice to see it's possible to do full websites in linux, but I find Inkscape, GIMP etc difficult to use compared to Photoshop and Illustrator. I use a mix of Windows/Linux depending on if I'm doing design work or coding. Great work I wish for the day opensource becomes equivalent to closed source windows design software. One suggestion for the design though i would smoothen the contrast here
Pic (http://www.wplancer.com/wp-content/themes/wplancer/img/menu.png)
Just bluring center line the create a blend I think would look nicer.

[banago]

Actually I find GIMP easier to use than photoshop and Inkscape easer than Ilustrator.

Thanks or your desing suggestions :)

[banago]

I just released an free wordpress theme designed in Inkscape and coded in BlueFish under XAMPP.

Here is the link: http://www.wplancer.com/master-premium-gpl-wordpress-theme/

Any commet is appreciated.

[banago]

Any thought on my theme? :)

[banago]

It seems WordPress is not very popular among Ubuntu folks.

[PrimoTurbo]

It's nice that you are using open source tools but based on the art of your website I would say it doesn't look very professional.

The use of heavy gradients makes it look very unprofessional, I believe it's a very overused effect by new users to graphic design. I suggest you try to expand your style and make it more professional.

[banago]

Thanks very much Primo. This is really the case of constructive criticism. I will do my best to follow your advice.


It's nice that you are using open source tools but based on the art of your website I would say it doesn't look very professional.

The use of heavy gradients makes it look very unprofessional, I believe it's a very overused effect by new users to graphic design. I suggest you try to expand your style and make it more professional.

[Vadi]

Yep, looks quite good. I'm a fan of WP too because of it's simplicity.

[Mohamedzv2]

For me, it looks way too cluttered. Also the blue gradient doesn't really look very appealing to me.

I like the theme you are offering more than you theme you currently have tbh

[Jurgen]

shum e mir.

[banago]

Yep, looks quite good. I'm a fan of WP too because of it's simplicity.

Thanks! WordPress is quite simple, yet a very powerful tool.

For me, it looks way too cluttered. Also the blue gradient doesn't really look very appealing to me.

We might disagree at this point, but I would wait until you know more about your background in design.

shum e mir.

Hi there - you know a litte Albanian - Are you Albanian, or have any friend of yours form Albania.

[Mohamedzv2]

I know about design. I've been in GFX for quiet a while and tried making sites at one time (gave up since I didn't have any ideas for)

But hey, people usually disagree with me in what they think is appealing anyways

[banago]

That is OK to disagree on desing - beauty is in the eyes of the beholder :)

[Mac Jingles]

I think the site looks great! I've been in design for 10 years, mostly used Photoshop, Dreamweaver etc.

Now I use gimp and do all my CSS, HTML, JavaScript, etc. in a text editor--seems less messy to me.

Is WordPress a web development program?

[smartboyathome]

Is WordPress a web development program?

It is a blogging program that does some CMS.

[alex.rayu]

I strongly suggest doing Drupal instead of WordPress. If Drupal looks too complex, try Sitehound Drupal that I maintain.

[Mac Jingles]

What are the benefits of Drupal?

[banago]

I strongly suggest doing Drupal instead of WordPress
I am more than happy with WordPress. There is nothing I have wanted to do online which I have not been able to do with WordPress. Drupal might be great too, but I don't thing it is a reason for me to switch.

[xx.canes.rites]

I am more than happy with WordPress. There is nothing I have wanted to do online which I have not been able to do with WordPress. Drupal might be great too, but I don't thing it is a reason for me to switch.

You are awesome! I have just a couple questions. For people starting out web design what is the tools you would suggest for starting out.

GIMP, XAMPP. InkScape, and....?

[alex.rayu]

Don't want to hijack the thread - just a quick answer about Drupal.

Drupal differs from Wordpress in a way that Drupal is much more flexible and scalable, but it has a steeper learning curve and is subjectively "harder" to learn. It's like WordPress is Visual Basic, and Drupal Visual C++

In some way, I will agree with banago. WordPress is a blog platform. But it can be made into a web site with many other functions. If you want to start developing small web sites, where extensibility and sclalability are not issues, blog or "business card"-type web sites, or if you are simple starting and Drupal would still be too steep, it's good to start with WordPress or Joomla.

If I were a beginner web site developer in an Ubuntu community here, I would probably start with WordPress because of this group of WordPress guys who can help and suggest. But I would always aim at Drupal. You can do way more with it. And if you even decide that WordPress suits you fine, you should probably still be able to find your way around Drupal and Joomla at least, to be a real pro.

[alex.rayu]

GIMP, XAMPP. InkScape, and....?

Ubuntu has a built in server. XAMPP is for Windows. If you are in Windows, XAMPP is good. If you are in Windows, and if you have no DreamWeaver, I suggest for you a program that can prompt the tags in html and css. AptanaStudio. It is a bit heavy. But it does prompting. Once you learn the html/css, you can get to cooler stuff, like E-TextEditor or NotePad++.

It's a shame we don't have a good editor with FTP support in Ubuntu. It appears to be easy, but developers keep saying that we should get gvfs and fuse instead. I don't like that approach. There is an ftp in both Aptana Studio and E-TextEditor.

[halovivek]

excellent site

[xx.canes.rites]

Ubuntu has a built in server. XAMPP is for Windows. If you are in Windows, XAMPP is good. If you are in Windows, and if you have no DreamWeaver, I suggest for you a program that can prompt the tags in html and css. AptanaStudio. It is a bit heavy. But it does prompting. Once you learn the html/css, you can get to cooler stuff, like E-TextEditor or NotePad++.

It's a shame we don't have a good editor with FTP support in Ubuntu. It appears to be easy, but developers keep saying that we should get gvfs and fuse instead. I don't like that approach. There is an ftp in both Aptana Studio and E-TextEditor.

What do you mean Ubuntu has a built in 'Server'? Okay I'm new to this whole Web Design, I started out with HTML DHTML coding like 10 years ago. Everything has passed me by and I do not know where to start now. I do not like using WYSIWYG type editors.

Right now I am using gEdit from Ubuntu to start up my coding process. Once I figure out the coding part, I will be using CSS to stylize it.

Also I have a question. What is better, HTML, XML, or whatever, to produce good websites? Right now I am taking a sort of crash course on everything I have missed, but I am going the HTML/CSS route. Is there a better way to make websites now?

[banago]

You are awesome! I have just a couple questions. For people starting out web design what is the tools you would suggest for starting out.

GIMP, XAMPP. InkScape, and....?

Thanks for the warm words!

For people starting out open source web design i suggest these tools:

1. XAMPP for local testing server
2. Bluefish for coding. If not familiar with hand coding, than Komposer or Quanta Plus.
3. Inkscape of vector design. I love vector design and I use Inkscape to design websites too.
4. GIMP for photo editing and raster design, if you are good at it.
5. WordPerss for a blogging or CMS tool

Good luck! :)

[banago]

I agree with your previews approach to WordPress and Drupal

Ubuntu has a built in server. XAMPP is for Windows.

Wrong. Only Ubuntu server comes with XAMPP previously installed. In ubuntu desktop, you have to downlaod and install XAMPP. XAMPP in not only for windows.

It's a shame we don't have a good editor with FTP support in Ubuntu.
Wrong, we do have. I use Bluefish and edit files throught FTP. I connect throough FTP under Places > Conect to Server .... After that the FTP folder appears in Ubuntu as a normal foder which you can edit files of it. I love it.

[alex.rayu]

I mean, that in Ubuntu you can install apache that is native to Linux and it does not have to imitate the linux file system, it fits perfect. Right, Desktop goes without a server pre-installed.

Bluefish. But does bluefish remember your ftp settings? I remember that you had to type in the ftp string each time you wanted to open a remote folder. Which sends you searching in your passwords and addresses list.

[banago]

Bluefish. But does bluefish remember your ftp settings? I remember that you had to type in the ftp string each time you wanted to open a remote folder. Which sends you searching in your passwords and addresses list.

No, bluefish does not need to remeber anything. Ubuntu remembers everything, Bluefish just browses. I love it!

PS: This is done with WP: http://blog.macleans.ca/ Isn't it amaising?

[whiteraven]

On the lighter side of web design, if you use tableless layouts in your work, coding for IE 6 and it's quirks can be a real hassle at times. The graphic is something I saw at Smashing Magazine (http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/02/20/ask-sm-css-smooth-page-scrolling-divs-of-equal-height-dealing-with-ie-6/).

[banago]

Yes, IE6 is quite disturbing in tableless coding. I never code with tables that is why I hate IE6 :)

[-yay-]

Hopefully the Norwegians manage to get rid of IE6, according to this wired article (http://blog.wired.com/business/2009/02/norwegian-websi.html) a bunch of large Norwegian websites have started a war against IE6.

I'm keeping my fingers cossed!
Imagine a world without IE6:D

[alex.rayu]

Right. Table layout is not appreciated. There are lots of tutorials on how to make a layout with divs that is cross-browser. Initially, that is very hard, but you can just download a few layouts and build sites from them.

[darksideforge]

:guitar: AWESOME WEBSITE!!! :guitar:

[banago]

Thanks body!

[mulle12]

I like your work! Really clean, bright nice colors, simple navigation - 5/5 imo! :)

Did you use Bluefish as your editor? Kinda new to linux. :P

[Tibuda]

Yes, IE6 is quite disturbing in tableless coding. I never code with tables that is why I hate IE6 :)I never had a problem with tableless in IE6. My real problem with IE6 is PNG alpha and JavaScript. IE JS behaves different than Gecko, and is a pain to debug.

[Cope57]

Looks nice, BUT...
Your website could use some work.

Markup Validation Service (http://validator.w3.org/)

Web Page Analyzer (http://www.websiteoptimization.com/services/analyze/)

[banago]

Yes, I know there is room for improvement. Thanks for your advice!

[avaralom]

Nice! I like the bright colors especially. The design is nice and simple too, always a plus for me.

This is also an inspiration for me, seeing what can be done with Inkscape especially since I'm going to use that for redesigning my own website. :D

[banago]

Thanks Avaralom - Good luck with your new site!

[banago]

One more thing Avaralom, if you need any help on Inskcape or anything web realted let me know.

[whiteraven]

How about GIMP, Geany and Wordpress?

I am working on a site for a client (not anywhere near finished), using Wordpress and a custom theme. GIMP was used mostly to resize some photos, but as the site progresses it will contain GINP graphics as well.

The site design was conceived by the client and is not negotiable, hence I had to design the Wordpress theme from scratch. So far, both the XHTML and CSS validate well. I've done some limited cross-browser testing, but I would be glad to have some input from you all regarding anything that appears broken or misplaced. Yes, I know that IE 6 drops the right column and am working on a separate stylesheet just for IE 6 (grrr... wretched browser).

Drop me a line here if you care to have a look, a screenshot any issues you find would be great - nothing like a real world test.

Web site (temporary location): Showcase Kitchens and Baths (http://www.twoheartsranch.com/showcase/)

Cheeers!

[fela]

I can't get the page to load, but of course open source web design works! You don't need any proof for that. Take a look at how many sites use drupal for instance (among other open source projects such as joomla).:popcorn:

I'm just waiting for the day when the volume of Linux users reaches critical mass so that the big companies like Adobe will release software for Linux. Imagine Adobe CS4 on Linux....a guy can dream:lol:

[whiteraven]

I can't get the page to load

@fela - hope others aren't having the same problem. It loads properly for me, so wondering what the issue is. Hmmmm.....

[banago]

@fela - hope others aren't having the same problem. It loads properly for me, so wondering what the issue is. Hmmmm.....

I could see the site - nice design, well done. As for your question, I think GIMP is great for web design, it is all my fault that I do not like raster design, I prefer vector design. Also, Geany might be great, but I am very happy with BlueFish, it allows me to edit files online through FTP.

What do you say?

[whiteraven]

Thanks banago - for some reason I initially had problems with Bluefish, maybe version related (I'm still on 7.10 Gutsy) and found Geany a bit more stable. I use Gftp and have Geany set as the editor, so I can also edit online directly, though I do most of the site development on my workstation using XAMPP. I'll maybe try Bluefish again after I upgrade Ubuntu. Gotta learn Inkscape better than just the basic knowledge I have at the moment. Perhaps after this project is over...

[Lunx]

Hi guys,

I have just redesigned my site in Ubuntu with Inkscape, Bluefish and WordPress.

Please tell everybody that Open Source Web Design and Developement works - here is the proof: WPlancer.Com (http://www.wplancer.com/).

How do you find it?

Thanks

Banago

Top quality work and, as you say, proof that OSS can really cut the mustard. I'm just starting out in learning web design and desktop publishing and am amazed at the quality of applications available. Just started using Bluefish yesterday and love it, less of a learning curve than I thought there'd be.

I plan to promote the cause of open source as much as I can (without being a zealot ;) ), I'll point people at your site as an example of what can be achieved, may even have a bit of a read myself :)

Cheers

[banago]

Top quality work and, as you say, proof that OSS can really cut the mustard. I'm just starting out in learning web design and desktop publishing and am amazed at the quality of applications available. Just started using Bluefish yesterday and love it, less of a learning curve than I thought there'd be.

I plan to promote the cause of open source as much as I can (without being a zealot ;) ), I'll point people at your site as an example of what can be achieved, may even have a bit of a read myself :)

Cheers
Thanks very much for your encouranging words. I wish you good luck with your projects!

[MattyDread]

Thanks for the warm words!

For people starting out open source web design i suggest these tools:

1. XAMPP for local testing server
2. Bluefish for coding. If not familiar with hand coding, than Komposer or Quanta Plus.
3. Inkscape of vector design. I love vector design and I use Inkscape to design websites too.
4. GIMP for photo editing and raster design, if you are good at it.
5. WordPerss for a blogging or CMS tool

Good luck! :)

Hi banago - first off I'd just like to say I'm really impressed with your work! I've decided to give open source web design a go and I've installed Bluefish, Inkscape and GIMP. I was wondering how I go about installing XAMPP?

Cheers

[banago]

Hi banago - first off I'd just like to say I'm really impressed with your work! I've decided to give open source web design a go and I've installed Bluefish, Inkscape and GIMP. I was wondering how I go about installing XAMPP?

I am planing to write about installing XAMPP in Ubuntu soon. However, the following link woudl be enough I think: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=223410

Good luck and let me know about anything. I would be happy to help.

[alex.rayu]

Why would you want to install XAMPP when you have apache, PHP, mysql in ubuntu distros? Is there nything that would make one want XAMPP rather than that?

PS Your site is much better now. But still a bit too much aqua, to my taste.

[Orlsend]

Why would you want to install XAMPP when you have apache, PHP, mysql in ubuntu distros? Is there nything that would make one want XAMPP rather than that?

PS Your site is much better now. But still a bit too much aqua, to my taste.

I was thinking of that too. they way more easy to set up.

[alex.rayu]

I was thinking of that too. they way more easy to set up.

Wow, what can be easier than selecting stuff from the Synaptic and clicking "Apply"?? There must be something that I dont know that XAMPP has.

[banago]

XAMPP is supereasy to setup. You just uncompress the package and begin developing. No configuration and other things that would be required if you install Apache, MySQL and PHP/Perl separaltey. I love XAMPP.

[airtonix]

1. Mount your sites ftp/sftp server with nautilus.
2. Access it via gEdits file manager.
3. ????
4. Profit.

[Tibuda]

XAMPP is supereasy to setup. You just uncompress the package and begin developing. No configuration and other things that would be required if you install Apache, MySQL and PHP/Perl separaltey. I love XAMPP.

sudo aptitude install apache2 php5 php5-gd php5-mysql libapache2-mod-php5 libapache2-mod-perl2 mysql-server mysql-client mysql-query-browser rapacheNo configuration or other things. What we need is only a meta package depending on all these packages.

[ghettowarrior]

I also work on ubuntu for professional designing,
I use:
inkscape (a lot)
the gimp
bluefish
Gcolor2
Xampp

and I make my sites with drupal,

http://www.attheriseofday.com/

here you can see thaat it is really possible with only opensource

greetings

[Mister LinOx]

I like it very well, indeed, my man. Hahah.
Quite a few open source programs can work wonders if in the right, creative hands.

[banago]

Yeah, that's true. Open Source has great potential.

[banago]

My site WPlancer.Com (http://www.wplancer.com/) was down for a little bit. It is up and running again. Thanks for your support.

[Tibuda]

My site WPlancer.Com was down for a little bit. It is up and running again. Thanks for your support.

This is linking to wpalncer dot com. Fix it.

[banago]

Thanks, body! :)

[Newfoundlander]

Nice work there, Banago.

I've been doing graphic design and DTP for 15 years and have used a combination of Atari, Windows, and Linux as my main platforms. For over a year now I've been using only open source applications like Gimp, Inkscape, Scribus, FontForge, and KompoZer.

There is really nothing that I can't do on Linux now.

[Darkaiser]

wow:o...this is great;)

[Shiv4m]

Wow really nice, I really wanted to start making websites just for fun.

[banago]

Thanks for the nice words guys - I really appreciate that.

[banago]

Refreshing ...

[banago]

Very quiet.

[meho_r]

I must show this to my brother :D Great work, /me likes it.

[banago]

I must show this to my brother :D Great work, /me likes it.

Thanks there - appreciate that :)

[stalkier]

Great job bro. I'll have to check out wordpress.

[ArmenianLeader4]

Nice site... I would have used GIMP if I were you, but that's just me.. I use GIMP better than I use photoshop. I'm currently doing several websites using GIMP alone. It just seems to be easier than inkscape. Plus, i've been using GIMP a hell of alot longer than inkscape.

[banago]

I would have used GIMP if I were you, but that's just me.. I use GIMP better than I use photoshop. I'm currently doing several websites using GIMP alone. It just seems to be easier than inkscape. Plus, i've been using GIMP a hell of alot longer than inkscape.

Actually I am very happy with Inkscape, but I am sorry I am not a great GIMP user too. I know has a great potential, but I have never been good at raster design. I agree with you.

[Sand & Mercury]

Hey, I'd like some feedback on my portfolio, which is still in the works:

http://sandandmercury.net/alpha

Spent hours and hours this week working on getting this from graphical mockup to HTML... spent even longer getting it to validate, and look passable in IE6. Seem okay so far?

Once this is 100% polished and valid, I'll set to converting it into a Wordpress theme, something I've never done before... wish me luck!

[banago]

Sand & Mercury,

Very very nice site. There are needed some imorvements, but wow, well done.

What is the program you used to produce the graphics?

If you like to produce some graphics for me, I can turn your static site into WP.

What do you think?

[Niva]

I've never used Inkscape but The GIMP is perfect as a Photoshop alternative.

I do all my web design and publishing in linux and Wordpress. I have Bluefish installed but for php editing I usually just fall down to using gedit by default :)

My digital drawings are usually painted with Photoshop though I've done some GIMP sketches and recently I finished a digital modification of a dragon in GIMP which included the color and contrast adjustments and some of the final paint effects. Results are here:

http://www.eternalseven.com/?p=479

I've done a few redesigns of my site over the years and helped people put their sites together but I'm really not in the business of designing stuff. The theme for my website is freely available for those who want it here though:

http://www.eternalseven.com/?p=65

Have fun and long live wordpress!

[Sand & Mercury]

Sand & Mercury,

Very very nice site. There are needed some imorvements, but wow, well done.

What is the program you used to produce the graphics?

If you like to produce some graphics for me, I can turn your static site into WP.

What do you think?
Thanks! I use GIMP for everything graphics-wise.

As for shoehorning this site into WP, I really think it's something that I need to learn to do myself, so I don't have to rely on other people to do it. If you'd like a few graphics here and there, I'd be happy to help -- and if I get stuck with this next phase, I'll ask here. :KS

I've never used Inkscape but The GIMP is perfect as a Photoshop alternative.

I do all my web design and publishing in linux and Wordpress. I have Bluefish installed but for php editing I usually just fall down to using gedit by default :)

My digital drawings are usually painted with Photoshop though I've done some GIMP sketches and recently I finished a digital modification of a dragon in GIMP which included the color and contrast adjustments and some of the final paint effects. Results are here:

http://www.eternalseven.com/?p=479

I've done a few redesigns of my site over the years and helped people put their sites together but I'm really not in the business of designing stuff. The theme for my website is freely available for those who want it here though:

http://www.eternalseven.com/?p=65

Have fun and long live wordpress!
Oh my god your fantasy art is breathtaking.

[darksideforge]

better late than never, i suppose:

GREAT SITE!

[Sand & Mercury]

My new portfolio is up as of the other day now. :D Link is in my sig. (sandandmercury.net)

I started over from scratch. I worked out the Wordpress use and the skill will be very useful, but I ultimately dropped it; it's not necessary for such a small site. I'm much happier with this new setup, it's simpler, a bit more personal and less pretentious.

[Martje_001]

http://www.ponycluboosterwolde.nl/

Just finished a new website. It's, again, a Django-powered website. The administrator can easily edit all text on the website ;).

[banago]

http://www.ponycluboosterwolde.nl/

Just finished a new website. It's, again, a Django-powered website. The administrator can easily edit all text on the website ;).

Nice site!

[stewie17]

Looks good. Nice job.

[banago]

Looks good. Nice job.

Thanks man, I appreciate your good words!

[alex.rayu]

Guys I heard you say you use GVFS for FTP access. What do you do about the server timing out and then GVFS needs to be restarted or otherwise FTP is unworkable bug? My post elsewhere is here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=8817599

[timmy_sprinkles]

Very good job. That's a perfect example of open source web design actually... working. :P

[aklo]

Very nice and professional looking site but can be improved to be even better.:popcorn:

Try to use texture instead of the shiny gradient bars. Reflective effects are no longer an "in" thing for web design yes they do exist but not on your scale of usage.

I've also viewed your portfolio and they are some impressive work as well. Seems like you really like blue :p

Good job. I'm learning php and in the progress of doing my first ever php site too.

My tools are inkscape and bluefish.

[23dornot23d]

You get a big thumbs up from me ..... lots of good work done here and its a very professional layout too .... have bookmarked your site for future developments .....

As no doubt this will improve even more ..... well done .....

I wish I too could do as well as this ....

Good luck in all that you do .....

[sendblink23]

I've never used Inkscape but The GIMP is perfect as a Photoshop alternative.

I do all my web design and publishing in linux and Wordpress. I have Bluefish installed but for php editing I usually just fall down to using gedit by default :)

My digital drawings are usually painted with Photoshop though I've done some GIMP sketches and recently I finished a digital modification of a dragon in GIMP which included the color and contrast adjustments and some of the final paint effects. Results are here:

http://www.eternalseven.com/?p=479

I've done a few redesigns of my site over the years and helped people put their sites together but I'm really not in the business of designing stuff. The theme for my website is freely available for those who want it here though:

http://www.eternalseven.com/?p=65

Have fun and long live wordpress!

I'm amazed at your arts... I wished I had the creativity on painting digitally. I do try, but my brain suffers slowdowns of excessive thinking.

[alex.rayu]

I'm amazed at your arts... I wished I had the creativity on painting digitally. I do try, but my brain suffers slowdowns of excessive thinking.

@Niva: Yeah man you rock!

[Niva]

My new portfolio is up as of the other day now. :D Link is in my sig. (sandandmercury.net)

I started over from scratch. I worked out the Wordpress use and the skill will be very useful, but I ultimately dropped it; it's not necessary for such a small site. I'm much happier with this new setup, it's simpler, a bit more personal and less pretentious.

Thanks for the kind words guys, much appreciated.

To Sand & Mercury (or anyone who can answer this question) great looking site! What are you using to get the scrolling jpeg slideshow? Is this a plugin or some sort of html feature that I'm not aware of? I see the source code on the site calling out the images but I don't think that's the whole story.

Thanks for the response in advance.

[banago]

@alko and @23dornot23d - Thanks very much for your good words. Yes, there is room for improvments. I just wanted to tell everybody that Open Source Web Design is a realty and very great quality work can be achieved through it.

[Charybdisz]

Hi,

how to install Bluefish 2.0 (released yesterday)?

[Niva]

Hey guys I updated the header to my site after being motivated by Sand and Mercury's site using the JQuery Cycle plugin.

Problem is that I've noticed a couple times on loading the site does not come up correctly. I'm not sure if it's me or if this really happens on other computers. I think it may be because of how I've coded my theme to use a table for the header instead of strict CSS.

What I noticed is that upon fresh loading the site the images all load and then collapse into the container but they still seem to be out of place. Upon refreshing the site everything looks as it should with the images correctly cycling at the right place.

Can someone please PM me if you notice the same thing? I appreciate it thanks!

Link is in the signature btw.

[Niva]

Small update, I noticed some performance issue on the site with this script so I recently uninstalled it and instead am using a random php generation for the header. It's a cool script but it had some small issues with it.

One of the things that really bothered me is that when the site was being loaded all of the images would break out of the container until they were completely loaded, then would collapse back into the container. It may have been an artifact of how I had it set up but it didn't look well.

Performance issues included server load, also graphically slowing the browser down while images were rotating.