Help - what do all those things mean?

[Gigantic]

I've been wanting to set up a site for ages, but I just have not had the time to actually read and study what all those things mean - PHP, CGI, blah blah blah... I have enough code words in my life as it is, and here's another whole set I have to learn.

Would someone simply point me in the right direction? All I would like to do is set up a place where I could upload some pictures in folders and may be, just may be, blog as well.

I have not got a clue as to go about doing any of it, the requirements, etc etc....

thanks for your input.:frown2:

[Wojtek]

Hi,

Html -> te code that your browser will read and display
CGI -> server side scripting language.
PHP -> server side scripting language.
ASP -> server side scripting language.
Javascript -> user side scripting language.

Theres a whole other bunch of xml, xhtm and others. but the basic are listed above.

To make a basic website, you only need to know html. if your lazy a wysiwyg editor can be used (dreamweaver, frontpage). otherwise good old notepad :)


To make your website more dinamic, you can integrate a scripting language into your html code.
cgi -> think of it as a heavy, high security risk language
php -> fast and secure,
asp -> mainly on windows hosts
javascript -> exemples would be those annoying texts that follow our cursor around a given website

[Gigantic]

but then what?

I still don't get it.... sorry to be the basic dummy, but my hands are full doing other things, and I would like to know how to go about doing it myself, and then keep putting pictures and things up in there......

what do I need? I still don't get what all the different GIFs JPEGs TIFF BMP and all that mean, and why the sizes are all wonky and varies in quality and all that.... I know it's to do with detailed programming language embedded in the file to make the thing big or small and so on..... may be I should stick to 35mm.....

:cry2:

[trenzterra]

GIF - Graphics Interface Format, I think. It allows only 256 colours and supports transparency and animation.

JPEG - I forgot what it stands for, but it allows compression (which reduces image quality), and supports up to 16-bit colours.

BMP - Biggy file size, as they support up to 24-bit colours. Stands for Bitmap, made by Microsoft, I think.

PNG - Portable Network Graphics. Someone developed this as an alternative to GIF, filesizes are very small, slightly bigger/smaller than JPG. And it supports 24 bit colours too.

TIFF - Haven't used it before.

[awayfromforum]

TIFF = Mac format.

[pro5ject]

Originally posted by X-Istence
TIFF = Mac format.

Um no, it means - Tagged Image File (TIF) or - Tagged Image File Format (TIFF)
Used both on PC's and Mac's.

Not used on the web, used in print.

[Robert]

I hate Tiff's.. they are very lage in size.

[pro5ject]

File Extension : .tif

A Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) file is the most widely used file format in desktop publishing today. It is a raster-based file that supports the following:

• RGB
• CMYK
• Grayscale
• Lab
• Indexed color

TIFF files can be compressed by using an LZW lossless compression approach or JPEG lossy compression. For high-end print production, it is the best practice to use either LZW compression or a very small amount of JPEG compression. The JPEG compression approach is a lossy compression that will degrade image quality when used in large amounts.

When placing a TIFF file on a page, any clipping path that has been defined can be retained and applied. However, PhotoshopÕs Alpha channel information will not be translated when placing a TIFF.



File Extension : .bmp

Bitmap files have some confusion associated with them. Some refer to any pixel-based image as a bitmap file. However, a true bitmap image file refers to the standard Windows image format. This type of file is mostly used on DOS- and Windows-based machines.

A bitmap file is a raster- (or pixel-) based format that only supports the RGB color space and bit depths of 1, 4, 8, or 24 bits per channel. These attributes make bitmap images unsuitable for use in a high-end print production workflow.

Even though bitmap images are in the RGB color space, they are not supported by any Web browsers or Web coding languages. Therefore, they are not suitable for use as images in a Web application. You would be able to use such a graphic in an HTML export from InDesign by having the automatic conversion to a GIF or JPEG file occur. Bitmap images are best used for their intended purpose, as a system support on a PC Windows-based computer. Do not use the placement of a bitmap image when designing for a high-end print production job.



File Extension : .gif

The Graphic Interchange Format (GIF) is a standard and recognized file format used in online and Web applications. GIF files can either be in grayscale or RGB color spaces. This works to keep the GIF files used very small and quickly accepted in an HTML Web page.

GIF files are created by using a limited color gamut that supports transparency. Transparency is the GIF file formatÕs strong point. Using this attribute of the file format increases its appeal to Web designers. To further the uses of the file, a pseudo animation can be created by using an animation feature found in flipbook style cartoons. This ÒflippingÓ of images can be used to create the illusion of true animation.

GIF files can only store and display 256 colors in the RGB or indexed color gamut. In addition, the GIF file can be Òinterlaced,Ó where as every other row of information can be displayed at one time. As soon as that initial row of information is received, the next rows of data are downloaded. These attributes make GIF files unsuitable for use in a print production workflow, but highly desirable in a Web design situation.



File Extension : .jpg

Uses of the JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) file format are far and wide. Initially, the file format was intended for use in Web applications, but has found a home in the high-end print production markets, as well. The JPEG file format can be your best friend if used properly, or your worst enemy if implemented incorrectly.

A JPEG file is encoded by using an adjustable lossy compression approach. This means that to achieve smaller file sizes, image data is actually thrown away. In small doses, the JPEG compression approach can be very effective and efficient. However, in larger amounts, the resulting file will contain ÒnoiseÓ and undesired artifacts in the image. Be very careful when preparing JPEG files for use in a print production workflow.

The JPEG format will support the RGB, CMYK, and grayscale color spaces. The use of JPEG images is supported in HTML and Web applications. However, unlike a GIF file, all of the color information is stored in the file. There is no support for transparency in a JPEG file.



File Extension : .png

A Portable Network graphic (PNG) file is a pixel based image that can be used to display images on the Web (some older browsers may not support the use of this format). The start of the PNG file was in an alternative to the proprietary Compuserve GIF file format. It will support 24-bit color, using a lossless compression approach.

The PNG file settings that can be controlled are:

• Transparency information
• File defined background color
• Adobe Gamma correction

Use of a PNG file in a Web project is a good fit. However, because of the lack of support for the CMYK color space, and the fact that there can be no color separations, the PNG file is not a good fit in a print production cycle.

[CareBear]

The start of the PNG file was in an alternative to the proprietary Compuserve GIF file format.The GIF file format isn't proprietary, but the compression algorithm used in it is (namely LZW which is used in TIFF files as well).
The patent for LZW expired earlier this year though so no royalties have to be paid anymore to develop software that is able to write GIF/TIFF files with LZW compression.

I think the starter of the thread was looking for a more simplistic explanation though :).

Basically if you want to manipulate photos you'd keep them in TIFF or BMP format as long as you're adjusting them since they're lossless formats (meaning that no detail is lost with repeated saving of the file), the downside of the no quality loss is their larger file size.

If you want to publish/distribute images on the internet (or any other medium) and you don't want people to have to download files that are several Mb's in size then you have the option to use either GIF of JPEG.
You'll choose GIF if your image has a limited amount of colours (like line art of graphics), if it's a photo then you'll pick JPEG since that's best at compressing reallife images to manageable sizes with little visible quality loss.

(Edited to add that one other advantage of TIFF is the fact that you can save it with an alpha channel)

[Wojtek]

to get back on topic,

for a website, the 2 ones that are mainly ysed re jpg and gif

[Demigod]

I'd use blogdrive.com for blogs.

[Gigantic]

THANK YOU ONE AND ALL!!!! YOU ARE ALL AMAZING!!!

OK. I'd like to thank everyone for helping me understand what the hell I've been doing wrong.

Firstly, I had my lab transfer some 35mm negatives, scanned on an AGFA d-Lab 3 - supposedly onto High JPEG. Once I got the CD, I took a look at the pictures on my Mac, fidgted around a bit, and lo and behold, without some programmes' own Anti-Aliasing, I found so much noise, I kept thinking that it was my fault, that I should have used a much slower speed film, with a lot less grain. Now I know film naturally has grain when blown up until I can see the minute details - but the very noisy pictures have been bothering me to no end, and I still think that the scanner machine which also prints the regular 4x6 for the public, does not have the settings correct, and I also found out that the lab is using a PC, taking a look at the pictures on ACDSee, then burning the compiled files onto disk.

Then, as I am compiling pictures to decide what my portfolio will look like, I was completely confounded as to how I go about creating an easy-to-upload website that would still show nice pictures for the clients to download. - - This part I am still not quite sure; however, you have all answered the complexity in the file compression methods used. Generally when I do use Photoshop, I always save my files as TIFF, but recently, my iMac crashed, my nice Panoramas from the last year buried in it - the X system folder is nowhere to be found.... it is now at the shop, and I am hoping to the Devil that the files can be salvaged......

Either way - my question to you folks now, is what do FTP uploading, and so on and so forth constitute, and can you take me step by step on how to go about creating this simple website? Or is this not the sort of question I should be asking here, without paying someone to do it for me? Because none of my friends know a damned thing, and anyone who is associated I know close to me all have their sites done by someone else, and don't know a thing either.....

Thank you, once again, you are all too kind.

[sharkbyte]

FTP - File Transfer Protocol (commonly used to transfer your images, files,etc onto your website)...im trying to think of how to explain building a website step.... i get back to you when i do. for now all i can tell you is just keep playing around with THIS (http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/reference/html_cheatsheet/)
until you learn a little bit. then type up some "tags" (a href,font,etc, see link for more) and save it has FILENAME.html

[Wojtek]

So a simple page will look like:

<html>
<head>
<title>My Portfolio</title>
<head>

<body>
<center>
<b>This is my portfolio</b>
<br><br>
Picture One<br><img src="http://www.yourhost.com/image001.jpg"><br><br>
Picture Two<br><img src="http://www.yourhost.com/image002.jpg"><br><br>
Picture Tree<br><img src="http://www.yourhost.com/image003.jpg"><br><br>
</center>
</body>
</html>

When you scan your images, you can see they are HUGE.
Using photo/psp resize them so they fit on the screen.

To 'put your website on the net', you first need a server. A server is a computer that stores the data that can be accessed from the web. When you register with a host, they create an account for you on their server. Look in the paid hosting section for good hosts :) To send data (pictures,html pages, etc) to the server, usually you use an FTP program. Such as cuteftp. The program opens a connection with the server and logs you in. You can then transfer files and they'll be automatically updated on your website.

The 1st page that you see when you goto any website, www.bla.com for example, is index.html So you will have to name your 1st page index.html and the rest anything you want. You'll need a create a link to the other page using :

<a ref="http://www.yourhost.com/index2.html">Click here for page 2</a>

And slowly like that create a simple website :)
Have fun! :)

[Gigantic]

Well! Thanks again.... I am beginning to understand....

basically it's like a delivery service, yeah? I put the package together here, then shove it down one of them "tube" thingies and the stuff gets to the right server for people to access.

Now where do I type all that programming you just put down? Is that within the cuteftp thing?

Can you recommend me a good Mac FTP thing?

I'll just have some pictures in folders and I assume that'a about all I need to do, except for a fancy page and all that - and that's where the design comes in, right, with those TAGS and things?

Oooookayyyyyy.... slowly I'll get there....

cheers!
Y

[sharkbyte]

as for (free) mac ftp programs,etc... im not sure what to type. but as far as where to put it down, just use your favorite typing program (ex:Micorosoft Word) and MAKE SURE you save it has FILENAME.html not FILENAME.doc.html or FILENAME.txt.html , etc