30 Beautiful Photoshop Text Effect Tutorials

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

Check out this beautiful collection of photoshop tuts

30 Beautiful Photoshop Text Effect Tutorials.

SkillTouch Construction

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

Beautiful example of a WordPress based CMS. This site has everything packed in. Photogalleries, a flickr tie in for social sharing of work, a twitter feed to help market the business, and beautiful jQuery visuals.

Lindsey Edwards Photography

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

Great blog site for a awesome young photographer. Check out her work and mine as well. Snixpix.com/wordpress

Khokhlan Personal Care Home

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

A full service personal care home. A great company that provides a family feel!

Page done with: PHP, CSS, HTML, and jQuery www.khokhlan.com

Apple – HTML5

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

Awesome HTML5 effects from Apple..  ( need safari or a webkit browser to view the CSS3 ) Apple – HTML5.

Firebug – The lesser known features

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

An introduction to some of the lesser known features of Firebug

What is firebug? Some say it is the web developer’s swiss army knife. Others say that it is the greatest thing since the invention of the computer. What is is exactly is a small window that is added on to Firefox that shows the source code of web pages, JavaScript contents, server requests, and some other stuff. It is an indispensable tool for the serious web developer. In this series we are going to touch on the major (and some not so famous) features of this Firefox addon and show how it can make life for a developer so much easier. Read on!

Basic Terminology

In order to understand how firebug works and how it can aid you it is essential to tackle a few terms first. HTTP Request The HTTP request sent to the server to retrieve an HTML page, image or CSS file. Requests are grouped within pages. HTTP Response. HTTP response The HTTP response is the answer of the Web server to an HTTP request. server response codes reference

Moving on..

Whenever an HTTP request is made, whether it is for a web page, image, or Ajax call, response information and headers are sent. You can actually see these codes and what is being sent if you inspect it with firebug using the console tab. This tab shows you all of the communication between the server and your page. When viewing the request, the first part is the destination address that the code is being sent to, the following part is a status code explaining what happened, and the final part tells how long it took. A pretty complete story. This allows you to see if your request if successful or if it has failed.For example: If the response (circled in green) was a 404 HTTP code then the page that the info was being sent to was not found, in which case you would need to check your path the info is being sent to. Another useful feature of the console tab is the ability to throw out values of stuff you are trying to debug. Instead of using an alert every time you want to check a value you can just use the console. To dump (get the value of) certain elements in the console you can use the nifty function console.log( ); To illustrate consider the following code:

var name = Paul;
console.log(num);

This will output the name Paul in the console. Pretty cool. You can instantly find values to variables and other things using the console. Another useful function for console beginners is console.count( ); . It enables you to see how many times a function was called in your script. If it was successful then you can use the Post tab ( circled in red ) to see what was sent. The last thing we will cover today is the command line. The command line allows you to type JavaScript in and it is executed as if it were part of the page. To illustrate type in the following jQuery and watch the magic: $(‘p’).css(‘color’,'green’); As you can see, the p tags were changed from white to green and we didn’t even have to click on something or wait for an event to happen. The action happened immediately and even showed the number of elements that were affected. Very cool tool over all. In the next part of this series on firebug we are going to check out some of the other tabs and their features. If you have more input to add or extra stuff to throw in feel free to jump in in the comments! Feel free to check out the creator’s website. FireBug – JoeHewitt.com.

Build a HTML5/CSS3 Website Layout Without Images – Part 1

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

The following is an excellent post on the power of HTML5 and CSS3. This is the first part. Build a HTML5/CSS3 Website Layout Without Images – Part 1 | Onextrapixel – Showcasing Web Treats Without A Hitch.

What is a web browser and is there really a difference?

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

Intro:

This is the first part in a series of posts on web browsers. The first will be an overview for everyday people. Normal average users who just want to see what’s out there. The following post will be for the super nerds out there. Stay tuned and see if you learn something. ( other wise leave your own insight in the comments :) )

What is a web browser

According to our lovely friend Wikipedia – “A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content.”

Check out Google’s lovely intro for a bit more of an idea.

The Candidates

While there are many computer makers and software manufacturers out there, there are equally as many different types of browsers.
While some of these aren’t really going to break your internet experience because you haven’t heard about them, some of them will break your internet experience because you don’t know about them.
What I mean by that is this, each browser has a sort of personality that goes with it. Each browser has slightly different approaches in the way it handles the user internet experience. Just because you haven’t heard about all of Firefox’s plugins, or Chrome’s extensions, doesn’t mean that its a big deal. On the other hand, if you haven’t heard of Internet Explorer 6′s security problems, or the fact that it delivers a highly flawed web experience, then you have been missing out.Not to worry, today we are going to fix that!

So are all browsers created equal?

The answer to this is a resounding NO!!
Here are the general principles you should keep in mind:

• The older the version of the browser you’re using is the less equipped it is to handle all of today’s internet needs.
• Also, an older browser is most likely has security problems that make your browsing time unsafe.
• Furthermore, each year new technologies come out to make the internet a more fun, and more informative place to spend time. New technologies go hand and hand with this movement. Plugins such as Silverlight, or Flash, or Divx have plagued us all at one time or another. Most newer browsers come equipped with these features and capabilities.
• Modern browsers mean you can access the full power of modern web applications. There is a growing movement all across the web to halt support for older browsers. Companies like facebook, Google, and more are leaving behind the trappings of the past. To ensure you can use these sites to their full potential it is essential to make sure you are using a current browser.

So with all these choices which browser should I use?

That really depends on what you want to do. Lets look at the cooler parts of the big five.
First up is:

Internet Explorer 6:
Since this is the most widely used web browser in the world, we will cover each version.
First off, using Internet Explorer 6 is about the equivalent of driving a Model-T Ford in today’s time. You are sacrificing all of the security, features, and ease of use of a modern web browser for no reason. IE6 is buggy, full of security holes, and the hate of all web designers abroad. In the coming months more and more sites are going to become unusable for this type of browser so you should really think of upgrading.
Internet Explorer 7 This browser is a step up from IE6 but its’ time too is beginning to run out. With the emergence of new security threats each day, new technologies that push the limits of JavaScript and CSS IE7 is slowly starting to seem dated. The need to upgrade from IE7 is not near as urgent as IE6 but a noticeable difference is sure to be observed.
Internet Explorer 8 This is actually not a bad browser. There are a few things here and there that aren’t supported. Mostly cutting edge stuff like CSS3 and new JavaScript stuff, but overall its a pretty decent browser with a pretty steady rendering engine.
Internet Explorer 9 Not even out of the gate yet and it has been hailed by people in the know to be the ace in the hole that will put Microsoft back in the respectable ranks of real web browsers. It is said to be able to handle all of the upcoming CSS3 that’s coming though the pipe as well as boasting full support for HTML5. (The newest iteration of the language that is the backbone of the internet) This is supposed to be the version of IE that puts Microsoft back in real competition with the other cutting edge companies of today.

Next up: Safari
One with think that being an avid Mac user I would be stuck to Safari like glue but truth be told, as Safari is an excellent web browser, it is kind of a one trick pony. What is does have going for it though is that it has excellent support for CSS3 and HTML5. It has a solid support for JavaScript too. Safari is quite a capable browser in terms of pushing the envelopes of the web. Even with all of that, the cooler features are its’ quick launch screen that has a visual history navigator, meaning it shows you pictures of the websites you have visited. Safari is a very slick user experience. However, even though Safari has no glaring reasons not to use it I prefer other solutions for the adaptability. It has no extensions or plugins, it’s completely closed, and it takes forever to startup. There is speculation that these drawbacks may change in the coming months as Apple bolsters each of its war fronts in its battle against Google.

Firefox
This is perhaps one of the most progressive, adaptable browsers you can get. Its secure, fast, and you can make it do anything you want. Whether you are looking for a nice way to integrate you gmail or just a more efficient way to read the news, Firefox has a solution for you. Its strength comes in its diversity. Through minor software addons called plugins / addons, you can adapt firefox to check you mail, instant message with friends, or inspect the contents of a web page. In addition to the tons of addons, an almost limitless supply of themes exist so you can change the look and feel of the browser quite dramatically. This is my browser of choice and they are constantly on the move making improvements.

Google Chrome
Being The new kid on the block isn’t fun sometimes, but Google Chrome doesn’t seem to be shy. In the short time it has been out it has amassed an impressive amount of market share and has become quite flexible with its own addons. It supports all of the latest and greatest features and shows no signs of slowing down. This is definitely worth checking out if you are looking for a fast web browser with some slick enhancements.

Opera
Watch these guys because they have had some serious innovation coming out of there for a while now. This browser has some of the most radical features of any right now. Here is a quick run down on why Opera is different: Turbo internet speed: They actually boost how fast you see the pages you view by compressing the pages before they are sent to your browser / phone (on iPhone). Streaming and syncronizing: Opera actually allows you to stream music and photos from another computer as long as they have their Opera web browser running (Really cool feature). Ultra Security – Opera boasts some of the best security in the industry. I recommend at least browsing their feature page!

Flock

The last item on the Agenda today is Flock.
Flock is basically Firefox with social integration built in. The browser even allows you to add firefox addons. This browser is built around the idea of integrating all of your social media into one place. So whether you are looking for news, facebook, Twitter, or just browsing personal photos on Flickr, Flock has special tools and a special interface made to make this stuff look slicker than it ever has before not to mention easier to access.

Conclusion

This concludes “What is a web browser and is there really a difference?” In the next part I am going to be going over more in depth details for developers. I will be covering which rendering engines each browser uses, how they are different, and what pitfalls you need to know about for each.

Microsoft agrees with Apple regarding Flash

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

Whats the world coming to! Microsoft actually sides with Apple for once. The world will have to hold their breath and wait and see whats going to happen with HTML 5 and CSS3. Two blossoming technologies that hold great promises. Follow the link below to get the full scoop on the ongoing flash debate. http://techcrunch.com/2010/04/30/microsoft-html5/ What do you think?

Life and business…

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

What is it about? What is the point? What are the important parts? Ok so a lot of people have a lot of different views on what is important in life. What goals should be put first, what should I do in my life so that I feel that I accomplish something, how do I get to where I want to get. I just wanted to weigh in with my opinions on things and some random thoughts. So my first thought, what is the point and whats it about? Life is about the people around you. Whether it be family or friends, people are the most fundamental point in your life. They are your purpose and your pleasure at the same time. What I mean by that is stated in the following. Anyone who calls themselves a Christian knows that they have a responsibility to model Christ to people. That’s why I say people are your purpose. From family members, to people who look up to you, to people you work with on a daily basis, you are supposed to be a role model for them. Beyond that though, from a secular perspective, to support this statement more, in business if you aren’t good with people and don’t genuinely take interest in others, then you will not succeed. This could also make a case as being your purpose in life. Wether Christian or non-religious, you could say your purpose is inseparably intertwined with dealing with people and culturing relationships. So what should be my goals in life? In my opinion you have to have a two pronged approach. You have to seek a relationship with God first and second seek to better the life of you and your family. In my youth I used to think that you had to have a cut throat aggressive mentality to succeed. In my more seasoned late twenties, I understand you just have to have patience, enthusiasm, and respect for others. Combining those qualities while giving God the honor for your success will erase whatever ceiling you have on your success threshold. Seek God first and he will give you the desires of your heart. It’s just dangerous though to center your life’s hopes on this because then your motivation for getting to know God can just be because you want him to give you your greatest desires. Who wants to be with someone just because they are trying to get something out of you. So in recap, life is all about people. Take care of those closest to you first because you can help your neighbor put his house in order until your own is under control. Find what you like to do, what you can do well, and what you can pay the bills with, then seek God’s will and blessings and go after what you set your goals on. Do your best and being a good example for him, do your part for excelling in the arena of life, and trust God to take care of the rest. These are just some of my random thoughts on life. What do you think?

What is RSS and why should I care?

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

So with the world wide web expanding information is everywhere. From stock tips to sports scores one can find anything he or she wants simply by doing a quick Google search. I personally know a lot of people who have a routine of going to msn, cnn, or fox news every morning to check the daily headlines. They then proceed to a few more sites to get their daily dose of whats going on in the world. Wouldn’t it be great though if you could save yourself a lot of time, gather only the information you want, and have that content come straight to you? After all let’s face it, who wants to scan headlines just to hear about Britney Spear’s newest haircut or Tiger wood’s newest mistress. Instead of wasting your time on the stuff you don’t want to see have the stuff you do want to see come right to you. Welcome to RSS. Google defines RSS as a quick way to bring regularly updated content to you, but it’t more fine tuned than that. For example, Say that you like the finance section of Usa Today a lot but you don’t really care for their front page, or much of their other content, RSS allows you to subscribe just to that section. Well you might be saying to yourself i’m not that interested in news. Well HOLD UP! RSS isn’t limited to simple news stories. Any kind of information that gets regularly updated can be fair game. Sports scores, the newest sale at your favorite department store, stock quotes, and much more. There is a world of opportunity that is awaiting and instead of going to each site manually each day and spending tons of time, take advantage of the world of RSS and grab more information quicker.

So how do I get Started?

In order to hit the ground running there are a few things that I you need to do to get going.

• 1) Sign up for an RSS syncing service. Its easy to use RSS by itself, but why have all that information if you can’t sync, store, and share it? For this step I highly recommend
  Google Reader.


• 2) Choose how you want to access your content: There are many ways across all your systems and devices.


• You can directly access your subscriptions by going to your reader account at google.com/reader.
• You can have a program on your computer that accesses your account for you and then shows you.

There are many desktop programs out there that organize, or better said, aggreagate your news content for you.




There are even programs out there that aggregate your news and your social media updates! One such program that I use is called Socialite.
So while you’re having your mornig coffee you can check you social media updates, catch up on the latest stock tips, and see what’s going on with your favorite tv show all in under 5 minutes.



That concludes today’s topic.

Stay tuned for our next post. What’s the big deal about which web browser I use? This is going to be a 3-4 part series starting out with basic concepts for everybody and ending the final parts with advenced concepts for developers covering browser rendering engines.

New!! Imperative tutorials.. check it out and give some feedback..

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

So I want to know what everyone wants to see coming in the future months. The categories on the agenda will be:

• Web design basics: What is css, html, and javascript, elements of a web page and more.


• Web Development Advanced: PHP, jQuery, WordPress


• Technology 101: Where we will cover topics such as RSS, web browsers, search engines and the like.


• Mac 101: How do I use this thing? What’s the best software out there? How do I make my life better with the simple day to day things this offers?

I am looking for suggestions and involvement so feel free to drop me some comments!

Getting Ready to launch sidebar widget!

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

Guess what everybody.. Im getting ready to launch a whole new tutorial side to my site. I will be covering a wide range of topics. Random Rants, Basic technology tutorials, and web design tutorials. Stick around for the upcoming changes. Its going to be an exciting time!

Imperative Design Redesign Finished!

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

This is a test post.

Retro Ad – 1

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

Abstract Love

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

The Original

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

Im a perfectionist. The more work I do the more I want to go back and tinker with older projects. I guess its a blessing and a curse. :)

Creative Castle

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

Mockup for an upcoming project.

Auto Experts Center

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

Whether You are looking to repair that dent in your car, crack in your windshield, or you just need to get some basic servicing done, the folks over at Automotive Experts center do great work.

Carrollsenginerebuilders.com

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

Athens premire engine rebuilding company. Complete site work including, PHP, Javascript, and of course the basics.

Dark Road

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

Referral Promotion: April-June

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

Refer a friend who signs with Imperative ad receive a 10% finders fee. Offer valid  through the end of June 2010.

Grade My Dates

By: Paul  on 05 Sep 2010

This is one of my newer clients. We are working together to create a way to “rate” a date after you go on it. Users will be able to assess their dates before they go on them and then chat with other users as well. Kind of like a rate my professor meets facebook.