It has been awhile since I updated this blog. I have finally finished the design and development of a friend’s Web site. It took me much longer than I originally expected it to take but the finished product is well worth the time and effort spent.
I learned a lot about one of my graphic (PhotoShop) programs. I also use Fireworks by Macromedia. There are similarities between the two programs but there are also some major differences. Fireworks far exceeds PhotoShop’s rendering of text. I have found that the text in PhotoShop becomes blurred once you change the format into a jpg file while Fireworks stays crystal clear even in a low-resolution gif. There are other benefits to using Fireworks but I will spare everyone the details since I don’t really know the program as well as I’d like.
Anyway, if anyone passing by would like to see what I can do, here is the site I designed Companion-Way.com
I had some fun with CSS and background images. The site even validates in W3.org’s validator for both the CSS and HTML! 
I have also started my own hosting service and I’m hosting my friend’s site. This is a new adventure for me so I’ve been real busy learning how to manage my hosting servers. Sometimes I feel I’m in over my head but then it all comes together and I’m truly amazed. So far, I’m only taking friends and people I know personally as clients but I may setup space for hosting blogs with blog software installed for a small monthly fee. I’m not sure how far I want to go with the hosting business. The more clients I have the more time it will require. I’ll just have to wait and see how it all comes together.
If anyone happens by and has a blog software preference, please leave a comment.
Very nice design work.
Well laid out, tasteful header graphic.
Good Job.
Blogging software, you’re using it, well an older version. I just installed WordPress and I love it. Took all of ten minutes to install. Using a script I found on scriptygoddess.com I was able to easily import all my posts and comments from Movable Type. No more rebuilding posts for me, PHP is the way to go.
I agree that php is the best. I am going to be using WordPress when I move this site to my own server. I just have two sites to complete for clients first. I’m excited to setup WordPress. Hopefully I can use some of the hacks I used to manipulate b2. I’ve learned a lot since I setup this site. Going to do a complete redesign too.
Looking for a good designer? he he he!