Web page template with 960 grid system

I pretty much use this PSD on a day to day basis as my starting point to designing web pages.

The PSD has the 12 and 16 bar 960 grid system. Even if you don’t like using the 960 Grid system you will find this template useful. Guidelines mark out your 940, 960, and the 1024 pixel lines. If you can’t see any Guidelines turn them on by pressing CTRL ‘H’ (pc) or CMD ‘H’ (mac). Using this as a default base will hopefully give you a starting point for your web designs in Photoshop.

On each of my PSD’s I will release this week you will see I have one white layer above all other layers. Saving a PSD out like this reduces its size by up to 20%. Just a little handy tip if you are struggling to reduce your PSD size.

The PSD’s dynamics are – Width: 1100px Height: 960px

Download the web page template with 960 grid system below

The iPad has been designed and created for media consumers. It is not geared towards the design community which is probably why we have had such an outcry about the usability of Apple’s new product. It runs the OS software the iPhone uses and not full OS X which is seen as a big let down by designers. Using the same software as the iPhone means that like iPhone the iPad will not allow multitasking.

The size of the device however I really do like. I like the large bezel around the edge it has be thick because of the way it’s held! Not quite sure why everybody keeps slagging this feature so much. The size of the screen is perfect for browsing sites I really don’t think there will be too many arguments about its outstanding browsing capabilities.

What the iPad does not have is a real usefulness and an area it can currently fill and help me with my design. Which brings me to my main point…

How Adobe can help the iPad and themselves

A few days ago Steve Jobs had an alleged rant about Adobe in a meeting screaming:

“Adobe are f#cking lazy! AHHHHHHH” – something like that

His comments were aimed mainly at Flash the fact he thinks it is buggy and this being the reason for not incorporating it into the iPad or the iPhone. Also saying the progress of HTML5 will make Flash more or less pointless for online videos.

However what he may have created with the iPad is the opportunity for Adobe to create a program/app so good for designers I think every designer would want it. If Adobe did get their finger out of their arse and created a PhotoShop app capable of allowing illustration with a pen straight onto the screen it could revolutionize the way we work.

It would turn the iPad into an awesome Wacom almost incomparable to other Wacoms. Small, sleek, sexy, it’s constantly connected to the internet, affordable, and most importantly, it could be superbly productive. For an app like this I would pay up to £200 for.

If you were able to create an illustration or a design layout within a PhotoShop app and then have the ability to save out the PSD you could put it on a USB device upload it to your main computer or even upload it on Dropbox through their free app on the iPad.

This wouldn’t be Apple going into the Wacom market it is them allowing programmers to make apps within the iPad that gives it the same ability’s of a Wacom. It would be small enough to carry everywhere in your rucksack/large handbag. You would be able to sketch down ideas while on the train in the park or even sitting in the pub!

The iPad already does have a working illustration app called Brushes which you draw with your finger. I personally feel this app just isn’t a strong enough reason for me to even think about buying the iPad as it is still so limited with layers and does not allow the creation of vector images.

I’m no genius when it comes to saying how the iPad will do sales wise but even if the iPad had just this one app, I would buy one and I have a feeling that a lot of designers illustrators out there would too.

For years we as designers have been told to always include a clear link back to a website’s home page in the main navigation of all websites. Recently times have changed – web users are much more technologically advanced than they were 3-4 years ago, they know what to click and where key information should sit within a web page, they even know that a websites logo doubles-up as a link back to the home page. Right?

When designing a website we now have a dilemma, which is this: Do we stick to what we’ve been doing for years now or do we make the change and ditch the home button? After all, is it really needed?

Next time your browsing the web take note of whether or not the site you are using has a home button and if you use it. Here are a few extremely successful sites that have decided to ditch the home button:

Amazon

Apple

Microsoft Store

MailChimp

Of course there needs to be link back to the home page via any page of a website, you would never leave it out. But in the case of these sites you get to it via their logo – some other sites use an icon or a clear, concise breadcrumb trail.

So do we Need it or Shall we Ditch it?

Ask yourself how detrimental it is to the site? Is it relevant to all users, or is it only for first time visitors that may need to return to the home page? Take FaceBook for example; you sign in on the home page and once you’ve signed in you never need to see the home page again (other than to sign in). A large eCommerce site will target its traffic at individual product or category pages, for example: If you find a product on Amazon via Google you wouldn’t need to visit the home page, you’d just purchase and move on.

Also consider your users and how savvy they are. We’re convinced that the majority of web users know that a sites logo doubles up as a link to the home page but at the same time would your mum know that?

The Answer is This…

Do what makes most sense in terms of navigation. Ask yourself, can the user get to the content that they want and what is on the home page alone that they need to go back for? It’s purely a judgment call and one that I am sure all web designers will be making from now on.