Perfect book for HTML beginners!!!
I knew little more than how to use a MySpace type HTML editor before looking at this book, and was quite apprehensive about learning the modern hyroglyphic language called HTML. However, after reading this book, I began to see more of a language rather than a jumble of texted mess. It's simple, project based approach made understanding HTML quite easy. From beginning a website to publishing on the web, Elizabeth Castro provides a simple, yet solid foundation to learn the language of web design. Before reading it, I had no idea that you could create a website without an HTML editor like Dreamweaver.
The author does expect you to know a little bit of image editing (i.e. Photoshop), but already knowing a good amount of Photoshop myself, the tecniques they used are simple and are among the first things you learn in any Photoshop book you pick up. Besides, if you can't edit the elements you are putting in a website anyway, HTML knowledge or not, your website will have limited potential depending on it's intended purpose.
While any aspiring web designer will have much more to learn to create a superb site, it's very easy to see why they say you could make a web site after reading this book. If your planning on learning Dreaweaver and Flash based web techniques later, or just want to make a simple website, this book is where you need to begin your journey!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!
Not helpful for the newbie
Bought this book for a person who wanted to learn how to make simple web pages and it was a bad choice. New users benefit most from straight forward instructions and limited toolsets. This book imagines the user to be familar with (and own) photoshop as well as other tools. It would be much simpiler if the author stuck with simple, freely available tools.
If your going to get this book, get the series
This is a wonderful book that allows you to execute and learn good habits instead of walking you down a tutorial path. Its a quick read and excellent reference for basic tasks.
If you do want to buy this book, consider getting the series.
Web Page Visual QuickProject Guide Colletion (Paperback)
by Elizabeth Castro (Author)
The series was rewritten in 2006 and has the corrections to the errors in the 2004 books of the same name.
The series has the HTML quickproject, Flash quickproject, and Dreamweaver quickproject. Flash and Dreamweaver are MX 2004 based but happen to have the same commands and keyboard shortcuts as the CS3 and 8 versions.
Dont make the same mistake I almost made and buy this individually. I paid $1 and got it all! Its was cheaper and I obtained two other books.
Great!
I have been messing around for a year(!) trying various WYSIWYG software to create the simple website that I wanted. The software was much harder to master than was HTML as Elizabeth Castro explains it. I first did the projects in this book, then with the help of her HTML, XHTML & CSS book, I have finally been able to make the site I've had in my head for so long. If you are using a PC, I have one suggestion--use Notepad instead of Word to create your web pages, because it's harder to mess up on Notepad. Three cheers for Elizabeth!
Creating A Web Page
I have other books by Liz Castro, and she continues to make life easier for all of us who want to know more about coding and controlling our own web sites. Great introductory book on XHMTL and CSS.
(14 reviews)
