Thoughts

#3: Make navigation easy

Posted on May 7, 2009 by sharphue

…part of the “Ten Ways to Maximize Your Small Business Website’s Performance” series…

Don’t frustrate your visitors. Present your navigation in a clear and intuitive manner so information can be found easily. Your visitors should be able to move through your web site naturally, without having to think through all the possibilities and decide among them. “Where should I go next?” and “Which button will take me to the place I need?” are not the thoughts you want your customers to have. You want them to have thoughts like, “Wow! This is just what I need! I’m so glad I found this web site! I’ll contact them right away!”

This means that navigation is not the place for exciting new approaches. Navigation buttons should look like navigation buttons. Attractive, special, visually appealing navigation buttons, but navigation buttons all the same. Put them in places where people expect to find them.

Try to have no more than 5 to 7 main navigation buttons and then create sub-pages below them with relevant information pages. Organize them in a logical way that will make sense to your visitors’ brains even while they’re not thinking about it.

A well-designed highway or airport gets people to their destinations without making them stop and figure things out. Your website should have the same effect.

Contact Sharp Hue and let us help you create an intuitive navigation and sitemap for your web site. Check back on Sunday, May 10, 2009 for tip #4: Optimize Your Web Site for Search

Posted in friendly navigation, usability, website navigation | Leave a comment

#2: Create a Visually Appealing Home Page

Posted on May 4, 2009 by sharphue

…part of the “Ten Ways to Maximize Your Small Business Website’s Performance” series…

When people first access your web site, whether it be from a search engine or by typing the web address in from your business card, they should land on a home page that represents exactly what you do.

They should know immediately what you have to offer, and how they can get what you’re offering. Your unique selling point and the visitor’s next action step should both be visible within the first few seconds of opening your home page.

That’s not enough, though. When your visitors get the message immediately, but it feels like an ad, they’re likely to click away. When they grasp the information but feel no connection with the site and no desire to deepen their relationship with your company, you lose them.

Your visitors have to get your message, but they should also say “Wow,” and feel moved to click deeper into the site to learn more. People stay longer and explore further at a web site that is a pleasure to look at, that sparks curiosity, that engages them.

Take the time to develop a home page that gets this response, and your web site will be a valuable member of your sales force.

Contact Sharp Hue to have us create your website with “Wow”. Check back on Thursday, May 7, 2009 for tip #3: Make navigation easy

Posted in appealing home page, Web Design, wow factor | 1 Comment

#1: Ten Ways to Maximize Your Small Business Website’s Performance

Posted on May 1, 2009 by sharphue

Americans now use the internet most often to search for basic information about businesses, not the phone book. A growing number of consumers begin their transactions online, even if they visit your brick and mortar business to conclude the sale. And, in today’s economic climate, the lower cost and increased ROI of online marketing makes your web site even more important.

How can you get the most from your small business web site? Today we begin a series of ten ways to maximize your website’s performance. Stay with us to learn how to make your web site reach its full potential.

#1: Use a professional web design company

The internet is participatory. It’s full of user-generated content. So when you know you need a web site for your business, you might feel that you can just have your neighbor’s kid build one for you.

That’s a mistake.

Internet technology changes quickly. It takes an experienced web designer to keep up with the latest development and design standards so your web site looks good on every computer and every device. It takes some engineering to make your web site behave the way you want it to. It takes artistry to give your web site the look and feel that you want to have representing your company.

A professionally designed web site ties together your online and offline marketing, branding, and identity. It presents your company’s face to the world in a way that leads to increased customer loyalty, increased efficiency for your business, and ultimately to increased profits.

This isn’t the kind of thing you should leave to a hobbyist. The most expensive web site is the one that you have to abandon when you start over and have it done right. The wisest course is to have it done right in the first place.

Contact Sharp Hue to have us develop your web site right the first time. Check back on Monday, May 4, 2009 for tip #2: Create a Visually Appealing Home Page

Posted in professional web design, sharp hue | 1 Comment

Free Search Tool for Windows Server IIS FTP Log Files

Posted on February 18, 2009 by sharphue


FTP Log IP Search
Free Download (36 Kb)

Are you attached to a piece of software that just ‘Makes Your Day’? There are thousands upon thousands of software developers that are passionate about building useful tools to help solve everday needs. In many cases the software that developers create are released free to the public as freeware — software that does not have to be purchased or licensed. There are tons of web sites dedicated to searching and categorizing freeware, but sometimes you can’t find exactly what you are looking for.

Recently, we noticed an ongoing brute force attack on our client FTP Server that was degrading system performance and using up system resources. A brute force attack is when someone/something tries to guess usernames and passwords to gain unauthorized access to a system. We have a lot of clients that access their web hosting via our FTP services, but none of them have the username of ‘Admin’ or ‘Administrator’ so it was pretty obvious someone was trying to gain unauthorized access.

One way to block the unauthorized access is to go through server log files and look for the attempted logins as ‘Admin’ or ‘Administrator’ and block the individual IP Addresses of associated malicious systems at the network firewall. When we realized we would have to search 65 Megabytes of worth of FTP log files (equivalent to 65 thick novels/books) — we decided it was time to write a little program to handle the specific task for us.

Now, Sharp Hue is not known for building desktop software tools, but we are problem solvers and decided to tackle the challenge anyhow. The product is a freeware utility called, FTP Log IP Search:

The application is rather basic, but easy to use and can rip through 65 megabytes of logfiles while you do other things.

  1. First, select the directory containing the log files.

  2. Next type in a phrase that you suspect is appearing in the log files — in our case it was the user trying to login as ‘admin’.

  3. Specify the column number that the IP Address appears in your log files … remember that column numbering starts at 0, yes, Zero!

  4. Execute the search and go do other things.

When you return you’ll have a nice list of matches that you can hand over to your network security person to block at the firewall. Hope you enjoy!

Posted in free ftp log file search, ftp log analysis, ftp log parser, ftp logs, iis ftp, windows server 2003 | Leave a comment

Free Tool to Convert Microsoft Word Bullets to HTML

Posted on February 11, 2009 by sharphue


Word to HTML Lists
Free Download (36 KB)

Web designers and developers that fill their sites with content submitted to them in Microsoft Word format will really love this freeware utility from Sharp Hue. The simple program allows you to quickly take a bulleted list from Microsoft Word and convert it to the correct HTML format that browsers use to render bulleted lists.

While bulleted lists are a great way to organize information and Microsoft Word is a great tool to write content, very few people realize how cumbersome and time-consuming it actually is to convert the Word bulleted list to the correct HTML Lists version.

The main problem when copying and pasting bulleted lists from Word to most HTML editors like Dreamweaver, Visual Studio, and Notepad is that the actual bullet character and a tab are inserted before the list item as seen below. The only way to get rid of them is to move the cursor around and start deleting … this can take forever!

Even after removing the bullet characters and tabs, one must apply the opening and closing list item HTML tag before and after each item. Even more work! The solution? A handy little tool we built at Sharp Hue to speed this process up: Word to HTML Lists.

The software is rather self explanatory and simple, but if you spend as much time as we do working content into client’s web sites, you will be very excited to have a tool like this do all the work for you. As far as we know, such a tool does not exist anywhere else, so enjoy!

Posted in free bullet conversion tool, HTML, html lists, microsoft word, word bullets to html | 4 Comments

Using Image Size in Adobe Photoshop CS3

Posted on October 23, 2008 by sharphue

Images often need to be resized, and the Transform option may seem like the best tool for this. However, images can easily be ruined due to stretching. The Transform option isn’t the best option when working with images because it doesn’t maintain any image resolution and it doesn’t constrain proportions.

It is quite easy to resize images using the “Image Size” tool that is located under the image menu.

Open the photo you wish to resize.

Click on the Image menu and a menu will drop down that includes the “Image Size” option.

Click on “Image Size” and an option box will appear on the screen.

Before making any changes to the photo make sure the “constrain proportions” and “scale styles” are selected. This will ensure that the image is not distorted. Also make sure that the resolution stays the same while you are typing in numbers.

The photo was brought in at 503×604 pixels and it needs to be a width of 300.
Change the width number to 300. If the “constrain proportions” and “scale styles” options are selected, Adobe Photoshop will mathematically change the height number to a correct proportion. In this case, 360 is the number that was given.

Click “okay.”

The image will resize with the proportions and resolution intact.

This tool is one of the easiest to use in Photoshop CS3 and it helps your images look clear and keep their desired appearance.

If you need to increase the image size, you’ll want to make sure the resolution doesn’t diminish. You can easily increase the image size by typing in the resolution that you desire and Photoshop will match the resolution with the size that will work. Never increase the size more than once because the pixels might get blurred and create “noise” within the image.

The re-sample option below “constrain proportions” and “scale styles” allows you to specify how you want your image to be resized. These options include “Nearest Neighbor,” “Bilinear,” “Bicubic,” “Bicubic Smoother,” and “Bicubic Sharper.” Here’s an idea of what these options do and when to use them:

“Nearest Neighbor”: Produces a smaller image file but also a lower image quality, used mainly for illustrations. Resizes by replicating pixels.

“Bilinear”: This option produces medium quality results and resizes by adding pixels that match the surrounding pixels’ colors.

“Bicubic”: This option produces a higher quality result because it uses precise calculations to determine what values are being used within the image. Because this is more precise and higher quality, it takes a little bit more time.
“Bicubic Smoother”: This option gives the smoothest results when enlarging images.
“Bicubic Sharper”: This option is best used when you’re reducing your image and you want to maintain detail. It re-samples your image and at the same time sharpens your image.

Posted in Adobe Photoshop CS3, image size | Leave a comment

Using Live Trace in Adobe Illustrator CS3

Posted on October 21, 2008 by sharphue

Adobe Illustrator CS3 includes a tool called “Live Trace” that turns pixels into a vector. A vector can be scaled up or down and it will not lose its quality, so this is a better choice for designs that may be used in a number of different contexts, such as a business logo.

Live Trace is the easiest way to convert a photo or piece of art into a vector, and using the tool’s options will give you a controlled and personalized rendering. Give yourself time to explore all the options, and you’ll find that you have lots of creative new ideas, as well as the technical benefits.

To try out Live Trace, first bring a photo into Adobe Illustrator Cs3. In this case, we’re using a photo of a flower.

When you click on the photo with the selection tool you will notice the Live Trace feature at the top of your screen. To get an idea of what the Live Trace feature does, click on it. As you can see, the result is unclear and doesn’t resemble the original photo. Live Trace will always put out a black and white rendering unless you use the options palette.

Let’s take the photo back to its original state. A shortcut to undo the Live Trace is “control + Z (PC)or Apple + Z (Macs)

Once the photo is in its original state, click on it again with the selection tool. Next to the Live Trace button there is a small drop down arrow. To keep the image photo-like, try modes such as “color 6,” “color 16,” or “photo low fidelity” and “photo high fidelity.” Those options will try to render the graphic in a photo-like fashion.

The “photo high fidelity” option was used to create our flower vector.

But what if you want your flower to look like an illustration?

Within the option bar there are more choices. The very last of the choices is “Tracing Options.” Return your photo to its original state, click on it with the selection tool and click on “Tracing Options.”

A box will pop up with numerous options for you to choose from. Now’s the time to start playing with the different effects! Check the Preview box on the right side so you can see what changes you’re making to your photograph. Play with the different possibilities to see what best suits your taste.

To get the vector flower as shown below, we used the color mode with the number of colors set at 5.

The possibilities are endless with Live Trace. Try the other options and see what cool renderings you can come up with.

Posted in Adobe Illustrator CS3, live trace | Leave a comment

Using the Blend Tool in Adobe Illustrator CS3

Posted on October 13, 2008 by sharphue

Adobe Illustrator CS3’s Blend tool creates a sequence of shapes or colors that results in entirely new design effects. With it, you can make three-dimensional effects, interesting abstract backgrounds, or well-controlled gradients.

To try it out, begin by making two shapes: one large and one small. Have your big shape and your small shape separated from each other so it’ll be easy to see what’s happening.

The Blend icon in the Illustrator toolbox looks like a square and a circle being connected with dots. To get to the Blend tool options, double click on the icon in the tool box. Within the option box are three options for different types of blending: Smooth Color, Specified Steps, and Specified Distance. In this example, the two shapes will be “blended” using the Specified Steps option. This means that you can specify the number of steps between the objects simply by typing a number into the box. For this example, the number 5 was entered.

Click “OK” to accept the number you’ve typed in, and select each of your shapes with the Selection tool. The cursor will become a square resembling the icon in the toolbox. When you are above a point of the shape the square will turn black to show that you’ve reached a point.

Click one point on each of your shapes to implement the Blend tool. The shapes are now connected with shapes that mathematically reduce in size from the larger to the smaller shape.

If you don’t have the effect you want, select your shapes again with the Selection tool and double click the Blend tool to get the option box back up. Enter the new number, and when you click “OK” the Blend tool will automatically change the shapes.

The other options within the blend tool can be used in the same way. Play around with the Blend tool starting with lines to see some of the other possibilities. You can place one shape on top of the other or put a smaller shape within a larger one. Try out color effects and see how the Blend tool interacts with other tools as well. Once you see the myriad possibilities, the Blend tool will be one you’ll reach for often.

Posted in Adobe Illustrator CS3, blend tool | Leave a comment

Using the Rotate tool in Adobe Illustrator CS3

Posted on October 6, 2008 by sharphue

The Adobe Illustrator CS3 tool called Rotate can be used to make the popular sunburst effect. The Rotate tool mathematically spaces and rotates the shape so there is no guesswork.

The Rotate tool is located in the Adobe Tool box and looks like an arrow made into a circle.

Create a triangle shape for the sun rays. This can be done by creating 3 points with the Pen tool, or by going to the star shape maker and pushing the down arrow to form a triangle.

Select the sunray and then click the Rotate tool. You will see an axis point in the middle of your shape. Click once to place the axis point at the bottom of the shape. The shapes will rotate around the axis point to form the sunburst effect.

Once the axis point is in place, hold down Alt + shift. This will duplicate the shape and rotate it around the axis.

To get the rest of the sunburst, all you have to do is click control (or apple) D, which is the shortcut for Duplicate. Repeat this shortcut until the sunburst shape has copied and rotated all the way around the axis point.

Now that you have your sunburst you can manipulate it however you choose. For instance, you can grab the white arrow and change the color of some rays or even go to the effect > filter gallery and put effects on the sunburst to make it pop.

Helpful shortcuts used in this tutorial:

Duplicate:
(PC) Control + D
(Mac) Apple + D

Copy and Rotate:
(PC) Alt + Shift
(Mac) Opt + Shift

Posted in Adobe Illustrator CS3, Rotate tool, sun burst, sun ray | 1 Comment

Using Replace Color in Adobe Photoshop CS3

Posted on September 16, 2008 by sharphue

You’ve chosen the perfect image for your project, but the color palette doesn’t fit your needs. What can you do?

The Replace Color option is your solution. This tool allows you to change a specific color within an image quickly and easily. It isn’t hard to use, and you can save your settings and reuse them on other images.

Replace Color can be found under Image > Adjustments > Replace Color. Within the Replace Color palette are options such as hue, saturation, and lightness.

Suppose you have a photograph of stadium seats and you need to change the color from bright red to a cool blue. It only takes a few easy steps using Replace Color.

Before you begin, create a Background Layer Copy ( control > J for PCs and Apple > J for Macs) so the original is safe behind the photo in case something goes wrong.

Bring the photo into Photoshop. Make sure “Preview” is checked under the save option. This will show any changes being made to the actual photograph.

Go to Image > Adjustments > Replace Color. The Replace Color palette will appear on your screen with a few options inside.

Choose the Selection option. (This will show you what is being selected in the Preview box above. Masked areas are black and what’s chosen by the Eyedropper will be in white.)

Select the Eyedropper tool with a plus sign and use it to select the red tones in the image.

Click around on the seats with the plus sign Eyedropper until all of the seats appear in the Preview box. When everything is selected, move on to the Hue, Saturation, and Lightness options.

To change the seats to blue, work with the Saturation and drag the slider to the left. The image will show the color change if the Preview option is selected. You can also select a replacement color manually by clicking on the square color preview box.

When the seats are the desired color, choose “okay.” The original red seats have been changed to a cool blue in no time.


Posted in Adobe Photoshop CS3, Photoshop Replace Color, Photoshop tips | Leave a comment