Compelling, innovative graphic and web design solutions
Useful Links
"The Internet is the most far-reaching communications breakthrough since the telephone; making the world just a little smaller. "
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Color Pickers
Color
Scheme Designer
Color
Jack
Finding the good combination of colors may be sometimes long
and grueling work. These tools will help you find the optimal
color palette.
Color in Motion
An interactive experience of color communication and color symbolism.
Software Tutorials
Lynda.com Video Tutorials
Recognized worldwide as a trusted educational resource in the field of digital arts. This is where I go to keep my skills sharp and current. Features hundreds of online video training courses for the most popular software. Online convenience allows you to learn at your own pace. More affordable than classroom training. I highly recommend this to all of my students.
Images & Fonts
Free Foto
Free images for private or non-commercial use.
iStock
Photo
Inexpensive photographs and clipart.
My Fonts.com
MyFonts has created one the best search tools in the business to
make finding the fonts you need as easy as possible. Ever seen a great font
in a magazine and wondered what it was? MyFonts can identify it for you!
For Web Designers using Dreamweaver
Goodbye 10+ Systems. Hello Business Catalyst.
I use Business Catalyst for several of my clients. BC is Adobe's hosted application for building and managing online businesses. If you are a web designer who would like to offer a hosted CMS without having to pay a programmer to install tens of plug-ins to suit each client, I highly recommend this solution.
Because it's built by Adobe, it is designed to work with Dreamweaver. You can do all your design work comfortably within the Dreamweaver interface, and then upload your template to the BC system.
Goodbye 10+ systems. It's easy to add in BC's integrated modules including: site-wide search, blogs, message boards, online forms processors, eNewsletters, event calendars, a robust eCommerce system, and much more. Anyone who has had to purchase all of these items separately can appreciate the value of the hosting plans, which range from only $9-$39/month. It is free to be a partner. The only cost is the monthly hosting, which is paid directly by your client.
You never have to join or pay any fees, unless you want some of the advantages of full partnership.
• Go to the Business Catalyst web site and learn more.
• If you ever decide to become a BC partner, use promo code VSKTEK to save 5%. If you use the promo code to sign up for a free account, you'll still get the 5% break when you become a full-fledged partner.
Feel free to call me and ask questions about my BC experience and why I endorse it without hesitation. ~Christine Ashburn (owner DesignWorks Studio)
Service Resources
iPowerWeb
Affordable, reliable web hosting solutions.
Constant Contact
Do-it-yourself e-mail marketing.
Easy Who Is
Find out if a domain name you're interested in is available.
Domain
Name Law
Info about domain name law and name disputes.
Keyword Tracker
Find the best keywords for your web site.
eBlogger
Google has a free tool you can use to create your own blog (short for "web-log")
Resources for Nonprofits
Tech
Soup
A great resource for discounted software for nonprofit organizations.
Creative Commons
Creative Commons provides free tools that let authors, scientists, artists, and
educators easily mark their creative work with the freedoms THEY want it to
carry. You can use CC to change your copyright terms from "All Rights
Reserved" to "Some Rights Reserved."
Just for Fun
10x10
Every hour, 10x10 collects the 100 pictures that matter most on a global
scale, and presents them as a single image, taken to encapsulate that moment
in time.
The
Name Escaped Me
An interactive poem by Cecil Goding. When the screen loads, click once, then
follow the instructions. This is from Born Magazine, the link below this
one.
Stone
Balancing
All of the stones in these pictures are balanced, strictly without the aid
of adhesive, pins or computer manipulation. They remain in place through
the natural force of gravity and friction. ‘Nature’s glue’ sustains
them in these seemingly impossible positions.
Coffee
Break Arcade
Take a break with free online interactive games.
The Bird's
Eye Tourist
Cool repository of aerial shots from around the world.
The Old
Toad Quiz
Test your knowledge of history, geography, sports, currents events, T.V.,
movies, science or whatever topic pops into their quiz writer’s head. A new quiz
every week.
