If you are planning on building a website that is unique in every aspect, PSD to HTML is the best way to go. Unlike the use of frameworks, you get to build elements that are unique to you. This means you will not find another website using the same elements as you as is the case with the use of such things as WordPress themes. However, for this project to be successful, there are a couple of things you have to consider when slicing PSD.
The conversion process of PSD to HTML is usually a technical process. However, this is always better than building your website from the ground up. With this option, you start by designing mockups of your website in Photoshop. This can also be done by a proficient designer. The mockup will help you understand how your website should look like so that you are not distracted during development. All in all, for the best results in converting PSD to HTML, there are a few important points you have to keep in mind.
Consistency is paramount
When it comes to any web development project, consistency throughout the designs and elements is very important. Doing so not only makes the website looks more professional but will also make the coding process much easier. When it comes to consistency, you need to start by making sure that things like margins, buttons, headers and footers are consistent in design. This will facilitate the conversion process and reduce room for errors.
Avoid the blending modes
Photoshop has blending modes that really help make images exceptional. However, when creating your PSD file, it is important to remember that the blending modes are quite difficult to recreate. This is more so when considering you will be using CSS to recreate certain designs. To make web development easier, refrain from using the blending modes as they will only make your work harder when creating HTML pages.
Focus on cross-browser compatibility
There are so many browsers out there that your visitors will be using to access your website. The last thing you want is to create a website that can only be accessed by one type of browser. This will only succeed in locking most of your potential customers out. It is prudent that you make sure your PSD to HTML conversion as well as coding process keeps in mind the user browser preferences.
Consider screen resolution
People access the Internet using handheld devices. As a matter of fact, only a handful of people rely on desktop computers to access the Internet. About 80% of the traffic you will get will be from people using smartphones, tablets or smart-wearable. There are two ways of catering to their needs.
The first is to incorporate responsive design techniques. With this option, your ecommerce website design will adjust itself accordingly to the screen it is been used on. Second, you can choose to design page layouts that fit the most common screen resolutions. That is 1366px by 768px.
The idea here is to give your visitors the ultimate experience on your website. You must work hard on limiting the need to scroll from left to write. Doing so will help your visitors really appreciate being on your website.
Organize your PSD files
To make work easier for yourself when slicing PSD, you need to make sure that your PSD files are well organized. This is the only way you will be able to know what part goes where and how it should be. Doing this will further lessen the amount of time and effort you will need to complete the process. This is because everything you need will be arranged nicely and in a tidy manner.
Do the conversion manually
The idea of using PSD to HTML in web development is to give you more control over the development process. Why would you want to give up that control now?
There are many tools you can use to automate the conversion process. However, as much as these tools appear to be the answer to your web development needs, they are not. They will change your experience. Therefore, to create the exact website that you envisioned, you have to do everything manually. This is because the lack of a human interface will make the end results more prone to bugs. This will result in a website that is unusable.
Hire a Competent Team
If you don’t have prior experience in converting PSD to HTML, it can be scary to do all the work on your own. The good news is that you can always hire an expert to help with the project. But how exactly do you find a competent team for your needs?
- Consider their portfolio
The first thing you need to look at is the portfolio of the web developer. You need someone with a proven track record; someone with an impressive portfolio for PSD to HTML conversion. Check to establish the quality of his work.
- References
Don’t just listen to what the expert has to tell you. Listen to what his recent clients have to say about his quality of work. Any good developer will be willing to give you the contact information of his most recent clients. If most of the reviews are negative, chances are you will end up being disappointed.
- Support and maintenance
Converting PSD to HTML should not be the end of the project. You want a service provider that will be available to offer you the support you need in maintenance. There is a good chance you want to update your website from time to time. Pick a team that will be available to help you fix the bugs.
- Money-back guarantee
Last but not least, consider the developers money-back guarantee. If he does not offer money-back guarantee, chances are he is not competent.
The post looks at some of the key points you need to consider in when converting PSD to HTML. Never cut corners. If you are not comfortable working on your own, consider hiring a professional to help with the work.
