Software
The course comes with a selection of software, some of it as 30 day trials, some as full versions. The software supplied with the course has varied over time, sometimes because of the end of a distribution agreement, sometimes because of new versions, sometimes because we have found something we haven't tried before and like it.
Graphics Programs
We have always supplied a 30 day trial of Paint Shop Pro. Why? Because we use it, and because its functionality is excellent. Some people have asked why we don't supply a trial of a well known and popular graphics program which we obviously won't mention by name. Simply because of the cost to you should you decide to buy the full version. Paint Shop Pro has made serious inroads into the field of graphics and retails at around £99.00. Paint Shop Pro also includes an imagemap facility and has excellent optimisation tools for the web.
Paint Shop Pro can usually be found discounted through Amazon or similar resellers. Also you can usually find one of the previous versions on Amazon even cheaper.
Free Image Editor: SUMO Paint
SUMO Paint is a Free online image editor http://www.sumopaint.com/web
Go directly to the application http://www.sumopaint.com/app
20 Great Online Image Editors
Check out this review of Free and subscription based online image editors http://mashable.com/2008/11/13/online-image-editors-2
HTML Editor
During the life of the course we have used 3 HTML editors. HotDog, AceHTML (full programs) and now TSW WebCoder which comes with a 90 day license.
WYSIWYG Editor
We have only ever supplied one - Macromedia Dreamweaver. This application is by no means the cheapest by a long way, but, if you are going to start your own business as a website designer, it is well worth buying. If not immediately, then certainly a ssoon as you get the chance. In truth it can duplicate as wysiwyg or html editor, it has an imagemap facility and a FTP facility.
It is the industry standard web development tool and we have used it professionally for years. However, at a price of £349 it may be beyond what some of you wish to spend at first. The version with the course is an evaluation copy. Should you decide to buy Dreamweaver, shop around for a good price and make sure you get a full commercial version (not an academic version) that has not been registered.
Dreamweaver is a big program to learn so we would advise you take a good look at the books, courses and online tutorials available for it.
Image Mapper
Giffy Cutter like all image mapping applications can seem tricky at first, but follow the instructions in the course and you'll find that once you have got one right the rest are easy. The only odd part is that giffy cutter adds 001_10 to your image name in the code it generates. Delete this and everythin works fine.
Handy Image Mapper is provided with the newer versions of the course. It is simpler to operate than Giffy Cutter and so should make it easier for you to complete this section of the course.
FTP Client
We have had 3 File Transfer Protocol applications so far. The first was Homepage Upper, a personal favourite until its creators decided to discontinue it. Following that came Cute FTP, a very easy to use program with the only drawback being that it is a 30 day trial. Like image mapping, your first file upload seems to be a leap of faith, then the rest are easy.
Should any of your trial programs run out of time, we should be able to find you an alternative.
MAC Users - You can still do the course. Some of the programs will be different, but the instructions are virtually the same. Contact us for guidance.
Software Older Versions