rigthiswrong

I'm converting a PSD and have a pattern used a fair bit for backgrounds only I was never given the source pattern. Is there a way I can take the pattern out of layers style and use this as an image? A bit like when you save an image as a pattern but in reverse if that makes sense. Had this problem a few times in th past but there has to be an easier way to do this than my usual trial and error cropping.

A brief is the perfect way to start. At first I assumed that I would be provided with a brief by the client but I have since realised a clients idea of a brief can be please redesign my website I want it to look just like thissite.com, getting used to writing your own briefs where you need to can be helpful to managing your projects. Something I did was target a sector to practice with, for me it was the confectionery industry, this was more to do with the fact my first two freelance clients where confectionery businesses.

I'm liking poprock, I like the way it sounds, not too sure on the co, When i hear the .co I always think .co. what? Even thought I should know better, but out of the two I like poprock.

It's seems like a bit of a clean / retro top me I really like your layout, I do find your text to be a little too condensed and would increase the line height. May or may not work but I would be interested to see the left side at a much lighter shade to lighten the mood and of course relatively changing the navigation colours in line with this change. I think it might transform the feel of the site and bring more attention to that interesting angle you have going on. I'm viewing on a 24" screen and at this size the text become too wide. But otherwise nice and responsive. Likes

I would have liked to have been able to view your examples of work by clicking on the picture.

Never knew we had a chat room, guess I just never saw the button.

And don't even get me started on email support! You're better off asking yourself will the lifestyle suit me. It's only worth it if you can make it work. Some can, some can't, I can't, therefore for me it's not worth it. Interestingly the same kind of issues come up when working in a studio as I see posted on here - most recently do you charge the client the full whack for multi site plugin licence. I think the major difference is working with a studio is that it is a group decisions and of course security. I can so relate to design and code in 3 days and that's giving me leeway because I'm a newbie, I have been told . It think it depends on the workplace too my web developer boyfriend's last studio turned around work at a slower pace and were happy to do so. So far I have found it's the clients that add the most pressure, 2 clients with looming deadlines will want their site to be my priority that day. I had this once with freelance and quite frequently now.

I agree contracts are the only way to go, if I was to ever take on freelance work again I wouldn't hesitate... well actually I probably would and that why I'm rubbish at working for myself Reading my post I can see how this was interpreted as a contracts issue, way too much back story. I don't think I ever really thought I was going to make any money I was just really pleased someone wanted to work with me. Putting business aside I think it's more disappointing when this happens, to have something not necessarily 'award winning' but something you're pleased with and the only option is to either turn it into something it was never meant to be or to let it go to waste entirely. We're about to start doing this at work, not for us but for the clients who can let content run for months.

Well done, that's brilliant hope it's the first of many for you.

Right now it's that cadburys marvellous creations popping jelly bean candy. Otherwise it's diet coke

Yes I enjoy my work, like Lyndsey I find the time flies. Once I get home I find it hard to switch off as I'm still thinking about little tweaks I can make. I'm based in a studio; so plenty of people around to pester me all day

What do you do when a perfectly good design goes unused as, for no fault of your own, the client loses interest in the project? Late last year I had an client get really excited about a web service for artists he wanted to provide, there was promise of payment once he managed to get funding for what he thought was a going to brilliant opportunity. I gave him a design which he approved and I started building it. I received no money and no contract was made. Meanwhile the client was marketing the project idea by frequently promoting the service on it's facebook page and even distributing merchandise based on a logo I designed (actually it was a place holder graphic until I was provided with a logo) and as soon as I posted a mock up he posted this on the facebook too. This page gained quite a bit of popularity but then 4 months ago there was a sudden end to the facebook page activity and my messages have been ignored. So this design has been marketed now as another project but I put a fair bit of work into this project and it would be a shame to see a perfectly good design go to waste. Can he claim I am ripping off his site design if I adapt this for a completely different personal project of my own if it turns out he does want to go ahead with the project at a later date.

Thanks for the replies, by no means do I think I can learn everything but I can't help but want to try I don't even think there is an answer to this, it's more of a frustration, a rant even. Ultimately it's practice and implementing what I learn by actually thinking about how x technique or whatever can improve my project and thinking back to where I was 6 months ago and I'm defiantly improved. Great idea, what I do is have a duel column layout in sublime often with an old similar project going on.

I'd give it a go, can't promise any major commitment as I have so much going on but is sounds great. My first concerns too,

Visually a very nice site the invites me to read the content. I think the writing style works because it's conversational and confident, no trying t be anything you're not.

I don't know if this is common for web newbies but I'm experiencing a real overload. I cam across a phrase today 'analysis paralysis', found in one of the design sites I hand out on, but more and more this is becoming like me as I try to work out what I really need to know more than anything. Anyone else ever feel a tad overwhelmed by the volume of information a pro web designer really should know? Or for me overwhelmed by what I think I should know if I ever want to be a pro web designer In the past I've given up, partly being fed up of being my own client and partly a sense of being so far behind I will never catch up. I can't do that I'm employed now and besides I love my job - assistant web designer. I guess I'm just wondering how the pro's keep track of everything.

Photoshop is my tool of choice, I don't really think it is necessary to show a mock-up with functionality as it is essentially allot of work for an organic process that I invite the client to input into anyway. I've have always liked fireworks 9-slice sthe flow of changing simple layer styles.

Ha I'm miniature mad. Guess what my favourite Lego Land section is I've made little bits before, all from card, nothing sturdy enough to sell, so that's stopping me. I have tons of ideas for wood so the only thing stopping me getting better is time. Also need a work space. And to get better using model making tools.

For responsive design I recommend gridiculous Just had a quick look at your source code and didn't see any evidence of anything similar.

Good start, my first question was what is elrostroy and this was answers on the first page. The navigation structure looks like it has potential to be clear and easy to understand. To accommodate corners that are so round I think you need to soften your corners of the header and footer, or in reveres is you like. You have a very strong shadow in the background, I think the design would benefit from a reduction. The text in the navigation would be easier to read if there were less contrast between the two blues used.

Nice simple design, good choice of colour, I really like where this is going. To take this site to the next level I think you just need to add some elements of detail. I see detail in your footer icons but I see no other reference to this style. This is also not consistently used across all the icons. Not too sure about the use of a H4 tag under the Hello Paragraph, I would rather not see this text in bold. I feel both statements are fighting for attention and the top introductory statement should preside. As it stands I would be unlikely to scroll down past the footer to get to the icon, don't know your navigation plan for this of course, you may have already considered this. And make your logo clickable too - to return you to the home page on every page. Great start

The reason the kerrning is high is because I'm a high kerrning addict in all seriousness I will look in to this next week. I will be building this using WordPress, a first for me but I'm using a custom CMS which I'm told was inspired by the WordPress way. Thanks for the comments, will be taking a look at text issues and clutter and will share the final result.

Opps didn't mean to put the rolls eyes icon

Didn't even have to think about this one, miniatures, 1:12th scale collectors doll house furniture and accessories.

Ahh, saw the first link, saw the second missed the third.