Author: Nicole
Date: September 6, 2008 at 10:49 am

As a freelancer or when starting a web design business, the tools of the trade can seem overwhelmingly expensive. HTML editing software, graphics programs, web hosting…the list of potential expenses goes on and on depending on what you’re trying to do.

However, I’ve found that there are ways to slash these costs, so you don’t spend your first few months just trying to make up for your overhead costs.

The standard HTML editing software is Adobe Dreamweaver. Most other web designers I’ve talked to use it and love it, but its price tag of $399 caused me to hesitate. The thing is, there are many features in Dreamweaver that are simply unnecessary for a skilled web designer, and I for one did not think I should be paying for all these extras that I didn’t need to get the job done.

That’s when I found Notepad++. It’s a free notepad replacement that allows you to edit source code and publish it for the web. It has many of the same features of Dreamweaver, like syntax highlighting, design view and auto-completion, without all the bulky extras. I highly recommend this software for EVERYONE, not just those on a strict budget.

For those enterprising web designers who also dabble in graphic design, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are standard fare. And don’t get me wrong, if you are heavily into graphic work and it’s a regular part of your job, these tools are pretty much necessary. But if you’re like me, and only do some basic editing and manipulation, I would suggest GIMP, the GNU Image Manipulation Program. This is a free, open source program that has completely replaced Photoshop for all of my graphics needs. If you’re used to Photoshop or Illustrator, learning to use GIMP can seem awkward at first, but otherwise it’s remarkably easy to use and surprisingly powerful.

Before shelling out money on any program, you should do your research. A lot of times you’ll find that most of what you’re paying for is unnecessary, and there are an increasing number of open source solutions out there.

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Categories: Uncategorized, web design