Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:05:56 +0000

Adobe AIR is cross-platform executable software; you can perform variety of networking applications on the desktop. Therefore it is more and more popular and many independent web developers have begun to develop variety of interesting applications with the Adobe AIR platform. In this article we introduce the seven AIR-specific Web design programs, whether in visual design, interface design, interactive design and Web developers Adobe AIR program can be found useful for web designers.

Em Calculator
James Whittaker developed this Em Calculator to help web designers for computing the most appropriate font size, table alignment and so on, and automatically generate the corresponding CSS code with size, line height, borders and many more.

Download URL: www.jameswhittaker.com/blog/article/em-based-layouts-vertical-rhythm-calculator/

ColorPicker
Although the standard 32-bit screen can display 1,677 million colours, but there are limited numbers of colours which are suitable for Website, so ColorPicker can mark suitable colours and its 16 colour-coded decimal values for web designer. If the selected colour is not available from the value of Web standard, ColorPicker can also adjust the colour options for users to choose the most similar colour.

Download URL: colorpicker.riaforge.org

AIR Icon Generator
Sometimes web designer urgently needs to make a temporary Logo to client, but if designer use Illustrator or CorelDRAW with normal procedures to design is often slow in coming, hence AIR Icon Generator will come in handy. Designer just select the desired style (currently there are only two can be selected) and colour, and then enter the text to display, Air Icon Generator can quickly generate Icons automatically; It can generate a total of 4 different sizes Icon files.

Download site: clockmaker.jp/labs/air_icon/

Google Analytics Reporting Suite
Most web maters installed Google Analytics on their websites to analyse site traffic, but each time had to connect to Google Analytics interface to manage multiple site traffic, and is not convenient. The Google Analytics Reporting Suite can import multiple websites at the same time, as well as generate variety of statistical tables.

Download URL: www.adobe.com/cfusion/exchange/index.cfm?event=extensionDetail&loc=en_us&extid=1282521

Shrink O’Matic
Why should use expensive Photoshop software to scale images? In fact, with AIR application Shrink O’Matic, designers can easily set the output parameters such as thumbnail size, the output name and format, and then drag images to the Shrink O’Matic window to immediately complete the thumbnail work.

Download URL: toki-woki.net/p/Shrink-O-Matic

WebSnapshot
Web designers need to collect a number of exciting design web pages for reference, but some web pages iare too long and by pressing Alt + Print Screen is not enough. This time WebSnapshot can come in handy, and user can choose to retrieve the thumbnail or the entire web site picture, or part of the current web page you want to browse.

Download site: myspyder.net/tools/websnapshot

Pixus
How do you find out the size of a button or tables of web page? Pixus is a very interesting AIR application and its function is very simple, it displays information on the desktop with a semi-transparent box, the user simply put Pixus on the object which user want to know the size, and it will display info immediately on the box.

Download site: code.google.com/p/pixus

Edited By Henry Lu

For those interested in joining a web design team, an Adobe Dreamweaver course is a fundamental criteria for attaining relevant certifications that are recognised around the world.

Additionally, it’s good practice that you learn all about the entire Adobe Web Creative Suite, which includes Flash and Action Script, to have the facility to facilitate Dreamweaver professionally as a web designer. This knowledge can mean later becoming an Adobe Certified Expert or Adobe Certified Professional (ACE or ACP).

Knowing how to build a website just gets you started. Traffic creation, content maintenance and knowledge of some programming essentials are the next things. Consider training that also contain modules to include these skills perhaps HTML, PHP and MySQL, in addition to SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and E-Commerce skills.

Getting your first commercial position can feel more straightforward with a Job Placement Assistance service. But don’t place too much emphasis on it – it isn’t unusual for their marketing department to make it sound harder than it is. In reality, the still growing need for IT personnel in Great Britain is what will make you attractive to employers.

One important thing though, avoid waiting until you’ve qualified before polishing up your CV. Right at the beginning of your training, list what you’re working on and place it on jobsites!

Quite frequently, you’ll secure your first position while you’re still a student (even in the early stages). If you haven’t updated your CV to say what you’re studying (and it isn’t in the hands of someone with jobs to offer) then you won’t even be considered!

The top companies to get you a new position are usually specialised and independent recruitment consultants. As they will get paid by the employer when they’ve placed you, they have more incentive to get on with it.

To bottom line it, if you put the same amount of effort into getting a position as into studying, you’re not likely to experience problems. Some men and women bizarrely invest a great deal of time on their training and studies and then just stop once they’ve passed their exams and seem to suppose that interviewers know they’re there.

Typically, a new trainee will not know to ask about a painfully important area – the way the company divides up the courseware sections, and into what particular chunks.

Often, you’ll enrol on a course taking 1-3 years and receive a module at a time. It seems to make sense on one level, but consider these issues:

With thought, many trainees understand that their providers typical path to completion doesn’t suit. You may find that a slightly different order suits them better. And what happens if they don’t finish at the pace they expect?

For the perfect solution, you want ALL the study materials up-front – enabling you to have them all to return to any point – at any time you choose. Variations can then be made to the order that you complete your exams where a more intuitive path can be found.

We can guess that you’ve always enjoyed practical work – a ‘hands-on’ type. Usually, the painful task of reading endless manuals is something you’ll force on yourself if you absolutely have to, but you’d hate it. So look for on-screen interactive learning packages if book-based learning really isn’t your style.

Memory is vastly improved when all our senses are brought into the mix – experts have been clear on this for years now.

Programs are now found in the form of CD and DVD ROM’s, where everything is taught on your PC. Video streaming means you are able to see your instructors showing you how to do something, with some practice time to follow – via the interactive virtual lab’s.

You really need to look at examples of the study materials provided by the company you’re considering. Be sure that they contain instructor-led video demonstrations with virtual practice-lab’s.

Opt for CD or DVD ROM based materials where possible. This then avoids all the potential pitfalls with broadband outages, failure and signal quality issues etc.

If your advisor doesn’t ask you a lot of questions – chances are they’re actually nothing more than a salesman. If they’re pushing towards a particular product before looking at your personality and current experience level, then you know you’re being sold to.

Of course, if in the past you’ve acquired any previous certification, then you will often be able to start at a different point than a student who’s starting from scratch.

It’s usual to start with a user-skills course first. This can help whip your basic knowledge into shape and make the learning curve a less steep.

(C) 2009 Scott Edwards. Visit AdultRetrainingCourses.co.uk/padreco.html or Web Designing Course.