Graphic Programs

A friend/colleague sent me email recently, asking about programs for creating Web site graphics. Basically, he’s working on a low-budget labor-of-love Web site and needs something better than MS Paint. Don’t we all? Sure, the pros use Photoshop and Fireworks, but the cost is steep and the learning curve is steeper. So what’s a...

It's My Birthday! (Now buy some stuff)

Today’s my birthday. Yippee! Here’s the reason for the disclosure: in an increasingly social online world, business can no longer afford to be faceless. Facebook and Twitter facilitate connections between people that are often unexpectedly personal and intimate. For example, I’ve learned from Facebook of the death of an acquaintance’s mother; of the birth...

Reverse Image Search

Recently, I had success looking up an image using TinEye, a reverse image search engine. A client sent me an image asking about using it on their Web site. This is always a concern for me, since most better photos and images are under copyright, and I try to be careful. But with a...

Lookin' Old

When do you need to redesign your Web site? If it’s doing it’s job — that is, if it is easy to use and the right information and services are accessible and provide value to you and your customers, you should be fine, right? Maybe. Some Web sites just look dated. They might function...