Looking for training

Question

hi - I have been doing websites for a few years now, mostly
for very small
businesses. I am not a graphic designer per se, but I have a
decent eye for
style, but my websites are kind of flat-looking if you know
what I mean,
lacking depth or real character. And so I am looking to move
up my skill set
to match some others (who are taking some of my business away
btw). I think
I need to start by learning how to create some more deep,
striking images,
perhaps in the web graphic area or basic design. I am
currently using the
Macromedia suite of products, MX 2004. I have never used
Photoshop, just
Fireworks, but seems that most good designers use Photoshop -
should I get
that and train on that, or will Fireworks do, if so should I
upgrade to 8 on
everthing? And so I am looking for some assistance in the
training area,
even perhaps getting certified in DW? Thanks for any help!
Here you can see what my sites look like:
http://www.hil-tec.com/www.htm
John

Answer 1

thanks Alex!
J
"A l e x M a r i � o" <[email protected]> wrote
in message
news:e3tfr1$j1b$[email protected]..
> There are tons of books out there on web design.
> Here is my latest favorite:
>
> The Zen of CSS Design
> by
> Dave Shea and Molly Holzschlag
>
> Looking at a lot of other sites is also a good teacher.
> Copying (but not stealing) other design elements is also
a good way to
> learn. Like in, wow!, how did they do that?
>
> Do a google for Design for the web and see what comes
up.
>
> alex
>
>
>
>
> John Hill wrote:
>> hi - I have been doing websites for a few years now,
mostly for very
>> small businesses. I am not a graphic designer per
se, but I have a decent
>> eye for style, but my websites are kind of
flat-looking if you know what
>> I mean, lacking depth or real character. And so I am
looking to move up
>> my skill set to match some others (who are taking
some of my business
>> away btw). I think I need to start by learning how
to create some more
>> deep, striking images, perhaps in the web graphic
area or basic design. I
>> am currently using the Macromedia suite of products,
MX 2004. I have
>> never used Photoshop, just Fireworks, but seems that
most good designers
>> use Photoshop - should I get that and train on that,
or will Fireworks
>> do, if so should I upgrade to 8 on everthing? And so
I am looking for
>> some assistance in the training area, even perhaps
getting certified in
>> DW? Thanks for any help!
>>
>> Here you can see what my sites look like:
>>
>>
http://www.hil-tec.com/www.htm
>>
>> John
>>