This tutorial will help you code your PSD mock-up into a functioning website
This second part of a two-part tutorial at SixRevisions focuses on converting and coding your PSD mock-up into a clean HTML/CSS template.
Create your own 3D Web page display artwork
Late last month I posted a link to a file that would create a custom waving flag. Today, I have another handy link for you from the same folks at Artbees. 3D Web Page Display takes your simple Web page screenshot and creates a 3D piece of display artwork. Like the previous file, this is not a Photoshop Action file, but a simple layered PSD that you double click a layer, paste your screenshot and you’re done.
As you can see in the image above, the results are quite cool. You can customize the background color, the color of the banner snipe – or remove the banner snipe completely if you wish.
Creating your own waving flag has never been easier
I’m not sure how useful this little gem would be to you, but I found it quite cool because it’s so simple. Artbees has made Flag Creator, a layered .psd file, available for download. The file will convert your flat flag artwork into the wavy flag as seen above. This is not a Photoshop Action file, instead you simply double click a specified layer, paste your custom artwork in the resulting window and hit Save. That’s it, your wavy flag is automatically created.
iPhone 4 GUI layered PSD file
If you’re designing apps or comps for the iPhone 4 with a retina display (640×960), you’ll find this collection of iPhone 4 GUI elements quite helpful. This fully layered Photoshop file contains all the elements you need, and weighs-in at a whopping 4074×2986 pixels and 63MB in size.
I generally only save image files as layered PSD files, it saves space on my hard drive and a load of time when making edits. Another advantage is that you can control which layers show up after you place them in your Adobe InDesign document.
Once you place your PSD file in your InDesign document, select it and choose Object>Object Layer Options… In the dialog box that comes up you’ll see a list of the layers in the placed PSD file. You can simply click the icon next to the layer name to turn it on and off.
InDesign's Object Layer Options dialog box
If you choose, you can check the Preview checkbox to have the preview image show the changes. I generally leave Previews off because it slows down InDesign tremendously – especially with large layered files. It’s extremely helpful if you name your layers in Photoshop so you know what they are after you place the PSD in your InDesign document.
With iOS4’s recent release, you may be searching for UI elements to build your iPhone app, or use various elements in your designs. Here are two fantastic resources for you to download the UI elements, and they’re absolutely free.
iOS4 UI elements in PSD format
iOS4 (iPhone 4) GUI in PSD format – Teehan+Lax has released their latest PSD file with updated and accurate UI elements.
iPhone 3 OS UI elements in vector format – These elements are older, but since they’re in vector format, they’re much easier to work with.
Layered Photoshop files can be a great learning experience
Lava360 has put together a great list of Adobe Photoshop PSD files, free for download and use in your designs. Of particular use might be a DVD disc and case template. Even if you don’t need the actual artwork, it’s always nice to see how other artists compose their files.
View the list of free PSD files here.
Apple iPad GUI Elements in a layered Photoshop file
Teehan+lax has made available a layered Photoshop file containing all the iPad GUI elements you could possibly need. The file is built using vectors, so it’s all still fully editable. If you need to mock up something quickly for a client, this layered Photoshop file will certainly do the trick.
You can download the 24MB layered Photoshop file here.
And if you have the need for an iPhone version, grab the 9MB layered Photoshop file here.
If you place a PSD file with a transparent background into Adobe InDesign and export it as a high-res PDF, you may notice that the edges of your placed image look horrible. There’s usually a black & white halo around the edges of the transparent PSD (see the image above for example). You won’t see them on a placed TIF file, and they generally don’t print anyway, but they’re annoying nonetheless. Fortunately, Bob Levine at InDesignSecrets has finally spilled the beans on what the problem is, and how to fix it. In most all cases, it’s as simple as turning off the Smooth Images feature in Acrobat. Read Screen Artifacts on Transparent PSDs in Exported PDFs Can Be Deceiving…Most of the Time for more information.