Converting PSD to Responsive HTML
There are lower powered devices including tablets and smartphones besides the old configurations of laptops and desktops. You have to take care of portrait and landscape options, while you also need to ensure that downloads are efficient and quite fast too. Hence when you are using HTML there are several factors you have to consider including design fluidity and web browser compatibility.
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That's the reason the job of converting PSD files to HTML 5 has gained further prominence. The transformation has to be done seamlessly, which is why it's a job best left to professionals. There are several creative professionals who don't want to be involved with the coding, and they can benefit from free download software to handle the conversion responsibilities. However you have to remember that there can be trial and error involved and you might end up wasting your time; hence hiring a professional company to do the job seems logical.
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Did PSD to HTML ever make sense?
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PSD to HTML workflows definitely had their advantages when it came to website design. There are two reasons why it made practical sense to go down this route.
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Those were the days when browsers didn't support all the features of CSS and hence it was quite hard to create cross browser effects without making the most of images. That's the first place where PSD to HTML had its advantages. Shadows and rounded corners were created as images by designers and they would use smart coding techniques to use these images on the page. Since they had to be realized under any circumstances, creating them simultaneously as the high fidelity mock-up was the smart thing to do.
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The second and more important factor was the fact that web was available to desktop and laptops rather than mobiles and tablets. Hence you had to design for 1024×768; a fixed resolution, which was a lot easier. These two reasons were enough for designers to look at Photoshop as an integral design tool. Image assets were necessary for single screen resolution.
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The process of PSD to HTML5 Conversion
Responsive design has become very important today and web design has gone through a sea change with W3C recommending HTML5 as the newest HTML standard. It has happened after a decade or so and a large number of companies are making the most out of PSD to HTML5 conversions to create websites that boast of cross-browser compatibility. PSD to HTML conversions also mean users can turn their designs into a real format. PSD to HTML5 Conversion process has five important steps that need to be looked at closely.
Step 1: A PSD Design
As your PSD has to be converted into HTML5 template, it's important that you have your PSD ready to begin with. To make things easier for yourself and save time, you might also want to consider different factors and elements that might have to be added to your PSD.
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Clear Understanding
Right at the onset and before you start making your design, you have to have a fair idea of your project. Only then will you be able to come up with an appealing design with all the important elements including Header, Navigation Bar, Footer, Sidebar and that too, put together in a sequential order.
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Photoshop Layers
It's a good idea to make your PSD in Photoshop layers so that you can pick the right elements at the right time. And you won't have to rely on Photoshop Slice tool as well.
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Step 2: Colors
You simply cannot underestimate the importance of colors to the success of a website, which is why they have to be chosen carefully. The industry your business belongs to should always be at the back of your mind when choosing colors.
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Step 3: HTML5
It's important for cutting edge multimedia and ensures that your content is not only readable to humans, but non humans including browsers and computers as well. HTML5 has made the process of creating stunning websites a lot easier and you don't have to rely on images to make an impact.
For example, now there is no need for an image that would denote call for action; CSS3 and HTML5 can do the trick for you. Thus you are saved a lot of time. HTML5 defines your web page and it has made doctype a lot easier than it has ever been. <!Doctype html> is all you need to add to let browsers know that your website is using HTML5.
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Step 4: CSS Level 3
Cascading Style Sheets Level 3, CSS 3 came into being after HTML 5 and it has made it possible to re-define websites with every little code. It involves several new selectors and properties and that can make your website appealing besides being fun to browse. The new 2D and 3D transforms available in CSS3 can be used to create 2D and 3D effect on different elements of the website. You could only do that with 2D and 3D images created in Photoshop before.
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Step 5: Media Queries
Media queries accompany CSS3 and they can help you create a responsive site. You have to focus on that when creating a website otherwise you will have to go through the process all over again for different types of devices. Using a responsive design means the website that works well on a desktop will work equally well on an iPhone or an iPad for that matter because it adapts to different screen sizes.
Â
That's the reason the job of converting PSD files to HTML 5 has gained further prominence. The transformation has to be done seamlessly, which is why it's a job best left to professionals. There are several creative professionals who don't want to be involved with the coding, and they can benefit from free download software to handle the conversion responsibilities. However you have to remember that there can be trial and error involved and you might end up wasting your time; hence hiring a professional company to do the job seems logical.
Â
Did PSD to HTML ever make sense?
Â
PSD to HTML workflows definitely had their advantages when it came to website design. There are two reasons why it made practical sense to go down this route.
Â
Those were the days when browsers didn't support all the features of CSS and hence it was quite hard to create cross browser effects without making the most of images. That's the first place where PSD to HTML had its advantages. Shadows and rounded corners were created as images by designers and they would use smart coding techniques to use these images on the page. Since they had to be realized under any circumstances, creating them simultaneously as the high fidelity mock-up was the smart thing to do.
Â
The second and more important factor was the fact that web was available to desktop and laptops rather than mobiles and tablets. Hence you had to design for 1024×768; a fixed resolution, which was a lot easier. These two reasons were enough for designers to look at Photoshop as an integral design tool. Image assets were necessary for single screen resolution.
Â
The process of PSD to HTML5 Conversion
Responsive design has become very important today and web design has gone through a sea change with W3C recommending HTML5 as the newest HTML standard. It has happened after a decade or so and a large number of companies are making the most out of PSD to HTML5 conversions to create websites that boast of cross-browser compatibility. PSD to HTML conversions also mean users can turn their designs into a real format. PSD to HTML5 Conversion process has five important steps that need to be looked at closely.
Step 1: A PSD Design
As your PSD has to be converted into HTML5 template, it's important that you have your PSD ready to begin with. To make things easier for yourself and save time, you might also want to consider different factors and elements that might have to be added to your PSD.
Â
Clear Understanding
Right at the onset and before you start making your design, you have to have a fair idea of your project. Only then will you be able to come up with an appealing design with all the important elements including Header, Navigation Bar, Footer, Sidebar and that too, put together in a sequential order.
Â
Photoshop Layers
It's a good idea to make your PSD in Photoshop layers so that you can pick the right elements at the right time. And you won't have to rely on Photoshop Slice tool as well.
Â
Step 2: Colors
You simply cannot underestimate the importance of colors to the success of a website, which is why they have to be chosen carefully. The industry your business belongs to should always be at the back of your mind when choosing colors.
Â
Step 3: HTML5
It's important for cutting edge multimedia and ensures that your content is not only readable to humans, but non humans including browsers and computers as well. HTML5 has made the process of creating stunning websites a lot easier and you don't have to rely on images to make an impact.
For example, now there is no need for an image that would denote call for action; CSS3 and HTML5 can do the trick for you. Thus you are saved a lot of time. HTML5 defines your web page and it has made doctype a lot easier than it has ever been. <!Doctype html> is all you need to add to let browsers know that your website is using HTML5.
Â
Step 4: CSS Level 3
Cascading Style Sheets Level 3, CSS 3 came into being after HTML 5 and it has made it possible to re-define websites with every little code. It involves several new selectors and properties and that can make your website appealing besides being fun to browse. The new 2D and 3D transforms available in CSS3 can be used to create 2D and 3D effect on different elements of the website. You could only do that with 2D and 3D images created in Photoshop before.
Â
Step 5: Media Queries
Media queries accompany CSS3 and they can help you create a responsive site. You have to focus on that when creating a website otherwise you will have to go through the process all over again for different types of devices. Using a responsive design means the website that works well on a desktop will work equally well on an iPhone or an iPad for that matter because it adapts to different screen sizes.
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