Gravity Forms

Web-based Forms can be semi-cumbersome, if not daunting and detailed to make, especially for a new designer.

The WordPress community, of which I am most familiar with – as opposed to Drupal or Joomla – is active with making things like building forms easier.

Contact Form 7 was the first contact form plugin/builder I was introduced to for WordPress. It had a great following and wide use. Previously I had used (and loved) JotForm, the “first web based WYSIWYG form builder” which, like WuFoo, lets developers visually build forms while storing the collected information in the user’s account (don’t forget Google Forms). This “offsite” setup and collection was (and for many still is) great. It was easy to build and embed, but I wanted to store collected responses in our own site’s database visible in the WordPress backend.

Well, as is often the case with me, options sparked my exploration. I eventually settled on/with Gravity Forms and have been happy ever since.

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ColorSchemer Studio

ColorSchemer Studio

In real life, architects and designers use color guides for selecting, matching and sampling the right color. The ones I’m thinking of are portable, numerically referenced and named – it’s a color-on-paper “fan deck” and they are so stinkin’ cool. Pantone has a fan deck with 2,100 colors. Many paint companies have collections of their own, too – you’ve probably seen them.

ColorSchemer Studio is a web and graphic designer’s equivalent. It’s digital, portable, and I can even edit and save color names for each project. I use it all the time, it’s value is second-to-none in the design process, and that’s why I have it listed here with this recommendation.

“I/We need a website” you might say? If we’re working together, my question to you would be, “What’s your favorite color?”

Pull out the crayons and colored pencils – it’s time to color.

Facebook Timeline

Facebook Timeline

Facebook Timeline launched today. It’s another way to say, “Hey”.

Why mention Timeline when companies, organizations, and businesses generally use Facebook Pages?

The answer comes with the word, “Subscribe”.

Beyond those personal friend requests you might make on Facebook, Timeline can be a way for individuals to share publicly with Facebook’s new(er) subscribe feature. This can make the Timeline layout and features a viable option if you are someone people would like to “Subscribe” to (think “Follow”, like in Twitter) but with whom you may not necessarily be friends.

And as an aside for the unsure and apprehensive, are you afraid to be on Facebook for fear of managing friend requests? Timeline and Subscribe can help. You can simply share with others with no expectation (or ability) to be “friends”.

w3schools logo

w3schools

Dear w3schools.com,

Thank you for teaching me and letting me learn “How it all works.” Thank you for available and organized information, and results in Google’s search. Thank you for step-by-step tutorials during my introduction and exposure to HTML and CSS. I’m where I am because of your help.

“Success brings interest.” I felt a lot of success learning what I needed to know with you guys.

Thanks.

Espresso HTML

Espresso

I happen to use Espresso as my HTML/CSS/PHP/etc. editor. Syntax coloring and autocomplete are invaluable features both for work and for learning. Visual CSS Editing and “X-Ray” on live previews contributed to Espresso 2’s 10/10 review on AppStorm.net.

HTML, etc. can be edited in many ways. In truth, I can only help get you started in your research as price, features, and interface all play into choosing a web editing tool. So if Espresso isn’t your cup of web-editing-tea, here’s a few other flavors I will point out on the menu (in no particular order):

WYSIWYG editors like iWeb or RapidWeaver are on the “code-free” menu, but can be helpful and tasty in the right situation. Dreamweaver is on all the menus, but can be a little overwhelming for the complete beginner.