Class:MFA Illustration 2018/Week 2

First Week

• Discuss Wiki
• History of the Internet
• How the internet works for us

This Week

• Review First Week & your email/domain questions
• The "size" of the internet
• Image Optimization

Notes

Review Illustration Inspirational Website Submissions

• Matthew's pinboard list of the photo websites the class shared

The "size" of the web

• Screen Designers Guide to DPI
• A List Apart: Responsive Images in Practice

Image Sizes Today

Small - 800px wide

Medium - 1200px - 1600px wide

Large - 1800px wide and up

• Screen Designers Guide to DPI
• A List Apart: Responsive Images in Practice

Optimizing Images for The Web

Last semester we covered many aspects/techniques related to optimizing your images for the web.

• Image Format Reference
• There is a tool called Imageoptim for further compressing your images

Hosting Your Email

Depending on the website solution and hosting solution you pick, you might need Email Hosting, or better Email Hosting.

I have created a Email Hosting Services reference page for you here.

Introduction To Digital Portfolio Techniques

This week in class I walked you through a series of slide presentations highlighting the foundation techniques for this semester.

Highlights Include

• Evolution of site design and technologies
• The Magic Poster theory
• Photographers should NOT have to learn code

We also talked a little bit about Responsive Web Design

• The article that started it all: Responsive Web Design at A List Apart
• 30 Responsive Portfolios For Your Inspiration
• If you are interested, the best place to start is A Book Apart: Responsive Web Design
• Fantastic repository of responsive sites: mediaqueri.es

Hosting Your Sites

Some of you will end up using a hosted web site solution and not need to setup a dedicated web host, others will end up needing to upload your website to a dedicated host.

Do you need a dedicated host?

Will you be building your website yourself (HTML/CSS) and uploading it? - Yes

Will you be using indexhibit or Wordpress to build your website? - Yes

Will be using a hosted solution like PhotoShelter, Squarespace or Cargo to build your website? - No

Even if it is not your main website, will you need to export galleries and post them online for friends/clients to see? - Possibly

It's important to go with a Hosting Provider that you trust, one that you can contact when you need some help.

I have created a Hosting Providers reference page for you here.

• My preference for all of you is to go with Dreamhost over Godaddy for JUST the hosting part.

Photography Site Building (CMS) Solutions

There was a time where a Photographer would build (or hire somebody to build) their website from scratch. Adding and removing content from these websites would require somebody to edit the HTML and upload the changes to a web server. Successful websites are no longer built like this... Content Management Systems (CMS) have redefined how the internet works. These tools are either hosted, or need to be installed on your webserver to run.

This week I introduced the class to the concept of Content Managed Solutions. We will be spending a lot of time looking at these options.

I have created a Site Building (CMS) Solutions reference page for you here.

Assignment

Simple assignment this week:

• Use the techniques shown in class to bring in 10 compressed photos next week (05/31)
  • Watch the video above for a refresher
  • Name your files responsibly

I have created a Dropbox folder for the class. It's an easy way to collect/organize projects and assignments. If you do not want the folder on your hard drive taking up space you don't have to sync it to your drive, you can use the selective sync settings to disable it and just use the web interface.

Please keep reviewing options/working your web sites.