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Design web album and deployment using Adobe and Macromedia- Part 1
By Robert Kennedy
OK, here is my mission; completely install a customer example photo gallery found here http://www.cardprinting.net/ in 2 hours or less. The basic process starts from Adobe Illustrator CS or Corel Draw 12. This is the format all customers' work is saved in. There are aproximately. 300 files I need to access export and create a photo album with full navigation.
Here's how I did it. Instead of opening each file in its native program I tried opening CDR and AI files in Adobe Photoshop. Guess what? It works with the ai files but not the cdr files. Why is this important? Because 90% of my files are in ai format! Illustrator only allows you to open 1 file at a time, Photoshop allows you to open as many as your computer's resources can handle. At the same time Photoshop converts each vector based image to a bitmap, which is required for the web. Now, you could create a course of 'actions' to complete this more efficiently, but I want to remove or retouch some undesirable from each image. I am a 'perfectionist' so I want these images looken good AND loading fast for the web. Personally I find Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Fireworks offer the best export filters for the web.
So now I have 300 images looken good, properly cropped and optimized for the web. What is the best way to create a Photo Album from so many images? Again let's refer to my favorites for this, Macro Media or Adobe? I work with both for different projects and really can't pick a favorite here! They are both excellent for this. Macromedia Dreamweaver has a function found under commands>create photo album, shown here http://www.weprintcolors.com/screens/screen_dw_create_photo.htm. You will need Fireworks installed for this to work. Go ahead and fill in all the text fields that are required information shown here http://www.weprintcolors.com/screens/screen_dw_create_photo_menu.htm. It is important you take the time to craft your words carefully, especially in the first field as this text is written into every html file generated. Check the appropriate format, rows and columns etc. Check the box for file names on or off and check the box for, 'create navigation page for each photo'. OK that's it you're ready to fire away, click OK. Amazing, eh?
I have timed this part of the process to 3 minutes for 100 images with a Pentium 4 2.8 mgh, 512 ddr ram. Your speed may vary from workstation to work station. No matter how you cut it. There is no better way to get you image collection online!
Cheers,
Robert
About the Author
Robert is regarded as an industry expert is print and design. Online since 1999, Robert was one of the pioneers that brought graphic design tools to the web. For online graphic design solutions visit http://www.weprintcolor.com
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