At last!

At long last I've designed a freelance journalism website (www.johngilheaney.com) I'm satisfied with.

And to think how simple this, the third revamp, was compared to the previous two.

I'm pleased with the site because it contains elements of InDesign as well as Photoshop and Dreamweaver.

I'm also relieved because yesterday I managed to crack something small and simple which perplexed me for a while.

The problem was I couldn't centre the Shwmae/Failte message at the top and align it with the rest of the index page's contents.

I learnt that the way to centre different parts of a site is simple: make sure all the objects are in a table. If they're not then I simply do not know how an untabled jpeg, for example, could be centred/aligned with a 'tabled' object. A centering option does not exist for both, to my knowledge.

An object in a table can be 'centred' but an untabled object can only be 'middled', if you know what I mean (ah the complexities of the Properties inspector!).

Anyway, it was so good to sort that problem out.

However, to be critical of my site, a few people have said my picture looks cramped and that the banner is on the bright side. Fair enough, I respect those views but I'm happy with what I've done. In the case of the latter point I just can't shake my love of bright colours, it's the Glam Rocker within.

So what next? Well I'm looking forward to adding links to the orange slice at the foot of the page, a Photoshop gallery would be nice in time.

I'll also be looking to add podcasts, video and use Flash sparingly in the months ahead.

But, for now, this is a job well done. Patience and persistence have paid. It's a rock from which to roll!

My never-ending project!

One thing I've learnt during my web lessons and work is the world of possiblities that exists. Just when you think you've got a project nailed, enhancements and new, improved options present themselves.

But I ain't complaining about this, in fact I love it!

I've decided to add lyrics to the foot of my song pages.

The problem is the words look bare on the page, I think they'll need another image to fill the look, this will take time.

No matter, I'm enjoying this work a lot.

(The above was created by taking the Jesus pic on the page, putting it through the Filter option and then experimenting with the Chalk and charcoal option. I'm very happy with it).

Dreameaver days

I've always felt that my Dreamweaver project should have been better and at long last, after repeated updates and tinkering, I think it's on the way to being the site I desire.

I'm really pleased with this banner, I created it in Photoshop during a manic spell of working last week , I went through about ten different versions before I got to this one.

Soon, www.johngilheaney.com will be a site I can promote with pleasure and confidence, a lolly-making base (I hope!)