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liquidwebdevelopers · 7 days ago

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Custom Shopify Theme Development: Building E-Commerce That Matches Your Brand

In today's fast-paced online world, getting out isn't an option; it's essential. It's important to consider that your Shopify store's design isn't only about aesthetics, but also about attracting the attention of customers, building trust, and generating conversions. This is where custom Shopify theme development can be a significant game changer.

Instead of using generic templates that are pre-made, custom theme development provides your store a design that is a reflection of your brand. Pixel by pixel after click.

What is Custom Shopify Theme Development?

The customization process for Shopify theme development is the process of creating and programming a custom-made design for the Shopify store. Instead of using pre-designed themes that are available from Shopify's Theme Store Shopify Theme Store, a custom theme is created from scratch or extensively customized to meet your company's particular needs. Control as well as creativity and conversion.

Control creative thinking, control, and conversion.

Why Go Custom? (Top Benefits)

1. Total Branding Control

With a custom theme, every part of your store—colors, layout, buttons, typography—is designed to reflect your brand identity, not someone else’s.

2. Optimized for Conversions

Standard themes are built for everyone. Custom themes are built for your customers, optimized to guide them smoothly from product discovery to checkout.

3. Blazing Fast Performance

A custom-built theme contains only the code you need, which speeds up loading times, enhances user experience, and boosts SEO rankings.

4. Mobile-First and UX-Centered

Modern custom themes are crafted with a mobile-first approach, ensuring seamless navigation, fast interaction, and high conversions on smartphones and tablets.

5. Flexibility for Scaling

Need to integrate advanced features, unique product pages, or third-party APIs? A custom theme makes that possible without performance bottlenecks.

Key Components of a Custom Shopify Theme

1. Homepage Layout

A fully customized homepage designed to hook visitors, introduce your brand, highlight bestsellers, and drive them deeper into the store.

2. Custom Product Pages

Built with tailored layouts to emphasize features, benefits, social proof (like reviews), and dynamic upselling sections.

3. Collection Filters & Sorting

Smart, user-friendly filtering systems that help customers find what they need in seconds.

4. Optimized Cart & Checkout Flow

A streamlined path from browsing to purchase, minimizing abandoned carts.

5. Advanced Navigation Menus

Mega menus, sticky headers, or mobile accordion menus—built your way to ensure ease of use.

The Custom Theme Development Process (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Discovery & Strategy

Understand your brand, target audience, and store goals. This phase includes competitor analysis and planning site architecture.

Step 2: Wireframes & Design Mockups

UX/UI designers create mockups of key pages using tools like Figma or Adobe XD.

Step 3: Theme Coding & Development

Developers write clean, responsive Liquid code (Shopify’s templating language), combined with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and JSON.

Step 4: App & Feature Integration

Add custom functionalities such as wishlists, subscription options, multilingual support, or personalized recommendations.

Step 5: Testing & QA

Extensive testing across devices and browsers for bugs, loading speed, and user experience.

Step 6: Launch & Optimization

Once approved, the theme is published. Post-launch optimization includes SEO tuning, analytics setup, and A/B testing.

Tools & Technologies Used

Shopify Liquid—Shopify’s templating language

HTML5/CSS3—for structure and styling

JavaScript/jQuery—for dynamic elements

JSON—for theme settings

Git—for version control

Figma/Sketch/Adobe—For UI/UX design

Shopify CLI—For local theme development and deployment

Custom vs. Pre-Built Theme: What's Better?

Feature Pre-Built Theme Custom Theme: Low upfront cost Higher, one-time investment Branding Limited customization 100% brand-aligned Performance May include excess code Clean, lightweight code Scalability Less flexible Easily scalable and extendable Support & Maintenance Generic support Tailored to your setup

If your business is growing and you want to leave a lasting impression, custom is the way to go.

Who Should Invest in Custom Shopify Theme Development?

Established brands needing a strong digital presence.

Niche businesses with complex product requirements.

Startups aiming to disrupt with a bold brand identity.

Agencies and designers building Shopify solutions for clients.

SEO & Performance Optimization in Custom Themes

A professionally developed custom theme isn’t just beautiful—it’s also built to rank high and convert visitors.

Fast load speeds

Structured schema markup

Custom meta tags & SEO-friendly URLs

Optimized image formats

Mobile-first responsive layouts

Lightweight code for better Core Web Vitals

Final Thoughts: Is Custom Shopify Theme Development Worth It?

If you're committed to your e-commerce, buying the custom Shopify theme is among the best decisions you could make. It provides you with a distinct advantage in a competitive marketplace, builds brand equity over time, and gives users an experience that converts.

Rather than trying to fit into a cookie-cutter template, custom theme development lets your brand shine in its own unique light exactly the way it should.

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home-office · 2 months ago

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#IFTTT #Essential Home Office

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tanishwebsquad · 3 months ago

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The Ultimate Guide to Website Designing: Creating Stunning and User-Friendly Websites

In the digital era, a website serves as the face of a business. Whether you are a startup, a blogger, or an enterprise, a well-designed website can make or break your online presence. Website designing is not just about aesthetics; it involves user experience, responsiveness, and functionality. This guide will walk you through the essentials of website designing and how you can create a stunning and effective website.

Importance of Website Design

Your website’s design influences the way users perceive your brand. A poorly designed website can drive visitors away, while a well-crafted site can increase engagement, conversions, and credibility.

Key Benefits of Good Website Design:

First Impressions Matter: Your website is often the first interaction users have with your business.

Enhances User Experience: A clean, intuitive layout ensures visitors find what they need quickly.

Boosts SEO Rankings: A well-structured website improves search engine visibility.

Increases Conversions: A compelling design guides users towards taking desired actions.

Key Elements of a Great Website

User Interface (UI) & User Experience (UX): A seamless UI/UX design ensures an intuitive and engaging experience for visitors.

Responsiveness: Your website must be mobile-friendly and function seamlessly across all devices.

Fast Loading Speed: Optimize images, use caching, and minimize code to improve site speed.

SEO-Friendly Structure: Implement proper HTML tags, meta descriptions, and keywords.

Engaging Visuals & Content: Use high-quality images, videos, and compelling copy to capture attention.

Best Practices for Modern Web Design

Simplicity is Key: Avoid clutter and focus on a minimalistic design.

Use a Consistent Color Scheme: Ensure brand consistency with well-thought-out colors and typography.

Implement Call-to-Actions (CTAs): Guide users towards desired actions such as signing up or making a purchase.

Ensure Accessibility: Design for all users, including those with disabilities.

Regularly Update Content: Keep your website fresh and relevant.

Tools & Technologies for Website Designing

Website Builders: WordPress, Webflow, Wix, Squarespace.

Coding Languages: HTML, CSS, JavaScript.

Design Tools: Adobe XD, Figma, Sketch.

SEO & Performance Tools: Google Analytics, SEMrush, GTmetrix.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Overloading with unnecessary animations and effects.

Ignoring mobile responsiveness.

Poor navigation structure.

Slow page loading speed.

Using low-quality images and content.

Future Trends in Website Design

AI-Driven Designs: Automated tools that enhance user experiences.

Voice Search Optimization: Websites optimized for voice-based search queries.

Dark Mode UI: Providing users with an alternative dark theme.

Augmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR) Integration.

Micro-Interactions: Subtle animations that enhance user engagement.

Conclusion

Website designing is an ever-evolving field that blends creativity with functionality. At ProWebSquad, we specialize in designing stunning, user-friendly, and high-performing websites that cater to modern business needs. By following best practices, leveraging the right tools, and staying updated with trends, you can create a website that not only looks stunning but also delivers an exceptional user experience. Invest in good website design today with ProWebSquad and watch your online presence grow!

For more information, visit our website: ProWebSquad or contact us at +91-9555832203.

#websitedesigning #digital marketing #websitedesigningtraninginstitute

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java-full-stack-izeon · 1 year ago

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web design

Overview of web design:

Web design is a multidisciplinary field that encompasses the creation and maintenance of websites. It involves several aspects including web graphic design, interface design, authoring, user experience (UX) design, and search engine optimization (SEO). Here’s an overview touching on key elements and trends in web design.

1. Web Graphic Design

Web graphic design is about creating visual content for websites. This includes the layout, color scheme, typography, and imagery. The goal is to make the website visually appealing while ensuring it aligns with the brand’s identity. Tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Sketch are commonly used by web designers to create mockups and prototypes.

2. Interface Design

Interface design focuses on the functionality and interactivity of a website. It involves designing the navigation, buttons, and other interactive elements to ensure a seamless user experience. A well-designed interface is intuitive and easy to use, guiding users through the site efficiently.

3. Authoring

Authoring in web design refers to the process of creating the actual content and code for the website. This includes writing HTML (HyperText Markup Language) for structure, CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) for presentation, and JavaScript for interactivity. Modern web development often uses frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js to streamline the process and create more dynamic, responsive websites.

4. User Experience (UX) Design

UX design is about creating a meaningful and relevant experience for users. It involves research to understand user needs, behaviors, and pain points, followed by designing solutions that enhance usability and satisfaction. Key UX activities include creating user personas, wireframes, prototypes, and conducting usability testing.

5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO is the practice of optimizing websites to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). Effective SEO strategies involve keyword research, on-page optimization (like meta tags and alt text for images), and off-page optimization (like backlinks). The goal is to increase organic traffic to the site by making it more discoverable to search engines.

Service outcome:

1. Usability

2. Accessibility

3. Aesthetics

4. Responsiveness

5. Speed

6. Conversion

7. SEO

8. Engagement

9. Branding

10. Scalability

Duration of our service: completely 3 months.

Key benefits of our services:

 Usability

 Accessibility

 Aesthetics

 Branding

 Engagement

 Conversion

 Navigation

 Responsiveness

 SEO

Why we chosen izeon through web design process?

Izeon have lot of things to learn in data analytics, digital marketing, web designer, data science, frontend development with backend developments. We are providing skill development enhance, productivity, and better performance of in and around at Chennai.

That’s why I chosen izeon innovation pvt ltd.

As well as we are providing lot of offers inquire now

Mail: [email protected] Website link: https://www.izeoninnovative.com/izeon/

#izeon #article #web design

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xhtmlchopofficial · 1 year ago

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From Pixel to Perfection: Mastering the Art of PSD to WordPress | Xchop

Introduction to PSD to WordPress Conversion

In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is essential for businesses and individuals alike. One of the most popular and powerful platforms for creating and managing websites is WordPress. With its user-friendly interface and extensive customization options, WordPress has become the go-to choice for website development. However, if you have a unique design for your website created in Photoshop (PSD) format, you need to convert it into a WordPress theme. This process is known as PSD to WordPress conversion, and it allows you to bring your design to life on the web. In this article, we will guide you through the steps involved in mastering the art of PSD to WordPress conversion.

Understanding the Benefits of Converting PSD to WordPress

Before diving into the technicalities of PSD to WordPress conversion, it's important to understand why it is a beneficial approach. Converting your PSD design to WordPress offers several advantages. Firstly, it provides you with a responsive and mobile-friendly website. With the increasing use of smartphones and tablets, having a website that adapts to different screen sizes is crucial. WordPress themes are designed to be responsive, ensuring that your website looks great on any device.

Secondly, converting PSD to WordPress allows for easy content management. With the intuitive WordPress dashboard, you can easily update and modify your website's content without any coding knowledge. This flexibility empowers you to keep your website up-to-date with fresh content, resulting in better user engagement and search engine rankings.

Step-by-Step Guide to Converting PSD to WordPress

Now that we understand the benefits, let's dive into the step-by-step process of converting PSD to WordPress. The first step is to slice your PSD design into individual image assets. This involves separating different elements like the header, footer, menus, and content sections. Once you have the images ready, you need to convert them into HTML and CSS code. This step involves coding the structure, layout, and styling of your website using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Next, you need to integrate the HTML and CSS code into a WordPress theme. This is done by converting the static HTML and CSS files into a dynamic WordPress theme structure. You will need to create PHP template files and add WordPress-specific tags and functions to make your theme compatible with WordPress.

Choosing the Right Tools and Resources for PSD to WordPress Conversion

To ensure a smooth and efficient PSD to WordPress conversion process, it is important to choose the right tools and resources. There are several tools available that can simplify the conversion process. For slicing the PSD design, you can use tools like Adobe Photoshop or Sketch. These tools allow you to export individual image assets from your design.

For coding the HTML and CSS, you can use popular text editors like Sublime Text or Visual Studio Code. These editors provide syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and other features to streamline your coding workflow. Additionally, there are online resources and tutorials available that can help you learn and understand the intricacies of PSD to WordPress conversion.

Customizing the WordPress Theme with Elementor

Once you have converted your PSD design into a WordPress theme, you can further enhance the customization options using popular page builders like Elementor. Elementor is a powerful drag-and-drop page builder that allows you to visually design your website without any coding knowledge. With its extensive library of pre-designed templates and elements, you can easily create stunning and unique layouts for your website. Elementor also offers advanced features like animation effects, responsive editing, and WooCommerce integration, making it a versatile tool for customizing your WordPress theme.

Enhancing Your WordPress Website with Divi Theme

Another popular option for customizing your WordPress theme is the Divi theme. Divi is a multipurpose WordPress theme that comes with a built-in visual page builder. With its intuitive interface and extensive customization options, Divi allows you to create stunning and professional websites. It offers a wide range of pre-designed templates, layout options, and modules that can be easily customized to match your design requirements. Divi also provides advanced features like split testing, global elements, and responsive editing, making it a powerful tool for enhancing your WordPress website.

Creating a Custom WordPress Theme from Scratch

While using pre-designed themes and page builders can be convenient, sometimes you may need a completely custom WordPress theme to meet your unique design requirements. In such cases, you can create a custom WordPress theme from scratch. This involves creating the necessary PHP files, adding the required WordPress tags and functions, and styling the theme using CSS. Although creating a custom WordPress theme requires advanced coding skills, it offers complete control over your website's design and functionality.

Utilizing WordPress with Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)

Another way to enhance your WordPress website is by using the Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin. ACF allows you to add custom fields to your WordPress posts, pages, and custom post types. This gives you the flexibility to create custom content types and add additional data to your website. For example, you can add fields for testimonials, portfolios, or product specifications. ACF also provides an intuitive interface for managing and displaying the custom fields, making it a powerful tool for extending the functionality of your WordPress website.

Converting a Custom Design into a WordPress Website

In addition to converting PSD designs, you can also convert custom designs created in other design tools like Adobe XD or Sketch into a WordPress website. The process is similar to PSD to WordPress conversion, where you need to slice the design into individual assets and convert them into HTML and CSS code. Once you have the code ready, you can integrate it into a WordPress theme following the same steps mentioned earlier. This allows you to bring your custom design to life on the WordPress platform and take advantage of its powerful features and functionality.

Converting a Figma Design to WordPress

Figma is another popular design tool that allows you to create stunning web and mobile designs. If you have a design created in Figma and want to convert it into a WordPress website, the process is similar to converting PSD or custom designs. You need to export the design assets from Figma and convert them into HTML and CSS code. Once you have the code ready, you can integrate it into a WordPress theme and customize it further using WordPress plugins and page builders.

Best Practices for Successful PSD to WordPress Conversion

To ensure a successful PSD to WordPress conversion, it is important to follow best practices. Firstly, optimize your images for web by compressing them without compromising quality. This will ensure faster loading times for your website. Secondly, make your theme lightweight by removing unnecessary code and scripts. This will improve the performance and speed of your website. Thirdly, test your website on different devices and browsers to ensure compatibility and responsiveness. Finally, regularly update your WordPress theme, plugins, and core files to keep your website secure and up-to-date.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of PSD to WordPress conversion opens up a world of possibilities for creating stunning and functional websites. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, the step-by-step guide provided in this article will help you navigate the complex process with ease. By understanding the benefits, choosing the right tools, and following best practices, you can convert your unique designs into fully functional WordPress websites. And if you need professional assistance, Xchop is a leading PSD to WordPress conversion service provider that can deliver high-quality custom WordPress themes tailored to your specifications. Don't miss out on the opportunities that PSD to WordPress conversion offers. Start converting your designs from pixel to perfection today!

More Info: https://www.xhtmlchop.com/

#wordpress #wordpressdesign #psd to wordpress #webdesign #figma to html #divitheme #ACF #wordpress elementor #webdevelopment #bootstrap #wordpress acf #web #website #xchop

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colourmoon-tech · 2 years ago

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A Beginner's Guide to Web Designing: Creating Stunning Websites with Ease

Introduction to Web Designing

Web designing is the process of crafting visually appealing and easy-to-use websites. For businesses in Kukatpally, having a robust online presence is essential.

Website development companies in Kukatpally excel in creating websites that are not just visually attractive but also functional and tailored to suit the local market.

This is essential because a well-designed website draws in and keeps visitors, strengthens brand recognition, improves user experience, and plays a pivotal role in SEO, which is crucial for thriving in the online world.

What is Web Designing?

Web designing refers to the process of designing and creating the visual layout, user interface, and overall aesthetics of a website.

It involves the use of various design elements such as layout, color theory, typography, images, and graphics to create an engaging and user-friendly website.

Importance of Website development companies in Kukatpally

A well-designed website plays a significant role in attracting and retaining visitors.

It not only enhances the user experience but also helps in establishing credibility and trust.

A visually appealing and easy-to-navigate website can also contribute to higher conversion rates and better search engine rankings.

Role of a Web Designer

A web designer is responsible for conceptualizing and creating the overall design and user interface of a website.

They work closely with clients or stakeholders to understand their requirements and goals.

They are skilled in using design tools and software to bring their creative vision to life.

Elements of Web Design

To create a stunning website, hire a best web designer need to have a good grasp of the various elements that make up web design. Let's take a closer look at these elements:

1. Layout and Composition

The layout and composition of a website refer to how the elements are arranged on the page.

It is important to have a well-organized and balanced layout to ensure a visually appealing and easy-to-navigate website.

2. Color Theory

Color theory is the study of how colors can evoke emotions and convey messages.

Web designers need to understand the psychology behind colors and choose an appropriate color palette that aligns with the website's purpose and target audience.

3. Typography

Typography plays a vital role in web design as it affects the readability and visual appeal of the content.

Web designers need to choose appropriate fonts, establish a font hierarchy, and ensure readability optimization.

4. Images and Graphics

Images and graphics are essential elements of web design that can enhance the visual appeal of a website.

Web designers should select high-quality images and incorporate them strategically to create a visually stunning website.

5. User Experience \(UX) Design

User Experience (UX) design focuses on creating a positive and seamless experience for website visitors.

Web designers need to consider factors such as ease of navigation, intuitive interface design, and effective interaction elements to ensure a great user experience.

6. Responsive Design

With the increasing use of mobile devices, responsive design has become crucial in web designing.

Web designers need to ensure that websites are compatible and optimized for different screen sizes and devices.

Read the historical perspectives of a website

Essential Tools and Software for Web Designing

To effectively create stunning websites, web designers rely on a range of tools and software. Here are some essential tools and software used in web designing:

1. HTML and CSS

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) are the building blocks of web design. Web designers need to have a good understanding of these languages to structure web pages and create visually appealing styles.

2. Design Software

Design software such as Adobe Photoshop and Sketch are essential for creating and editing graphics, images, and layouts. These tools provide web designers with the flexibility to bring their creative visions to life.

3. Wireframing Tools

Wireframing tools like Axure RP and Balsamiq help web designers create visual representations of a website's layout and structure. These tools allow designers to plan the website's user flow and interactions before diving into the actual design process.

4. Collaboration and Project Management Software

Collaboration and project management software like Trello and Asana help streamline communication and facilitate collaboration between web designers and other team members. These tools ensure smooth workflow management and efficient project completion.

5. Web Development Frameworks

Web development frameworks like Bootstrap and Foundation provide pre-designed templates and components that help speed up the web design process. These frameworks offer responsive design capabilities and simplify the coding process for web designers.

Planning and Research

Before diving into the actual design process, thorough planning and research are essential. Let's take a look at the key steps involved in planning and researching a website:

A. Defining the Purpose and Goals of the Website

To create an effective website, it is crucial to define the purpose and goals of the website. This involves identifying the target audience, setting clear objectives, and establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the website's success.

B. Competitor Analysis and Market Research

Analyzing top competitors and understanding market trends are crucial steps in web designing. By analyzing the competition, web designers can identify unique selling points (USPs) and gain insights into user preferences and expectations.

C. Creating a Website Blueprint

Creating a website blueprint involves developing a site map, wireframing the layout, and planning. This step involves planning navigation and user flow, enabling website development companies in Kukatpally to visualize the site's structure and functionality before commencing the design process.

Designing the User Interface (UI)

Once the planning and research phase is complete, web designers move on to designing the user interface (UI). Let's explore the key aspects of UI design:

A. Choosing the Right Color Scheme

Color scheme selection is crucial in creating a visually appealing website. Web designers need to understand color psychology, create a consistent color palette, and ensure accessibility and contrast for optimal user experience.

B. Typography and Font Selection

Typography and font selection significantly impact the readability and visual appeal of a website. Web designers should choose appropriate fonts, establish a font hierarchy, and optimize readability to enhance the overall user experience.

C. Enhancing the Visual Appeal

Incorporating high-quality images and graphics, utilizing white space strategically, and creating engaging visual elements can greatly enhance the visual appeal of a website. Web designers need to ensure that images and visual elements align with the website's purpose and target audience.

D. Crafting an Intuitive User Experience (UX)

An intuitive user experience is crucial for the success of a website. Web designers should focus on designing user-friendly navigation, optimizing forms and interaction elements, and implementing mobile-friendly design to create a seamless user experience.

Building and Testing Your Website

After completing the design phase, web designers move on to building and testing the website. Let's explore the key steps involved:

A. Translating Design to Code

Converting the design into HTML and CSS is a crucial step in the website development process. Web designers need to ensure that the design translates accurately into code and implement responsive design frameworks for optimal cross-device compatibility.

B. Adding Interactivity and Functionality

Adding interactivity and functionality to the website is essential to enhance the user experience. Web designers integrate JavaScript and jQuery for interactive elements, utilize responsive web design techniques for optimal viewing on different devices, and incorporate social media integration to increase engagement.

C. Testing and Quality Assurance

Ensuring the quality and functionality of the website is crucial before launching it. Web designers need to conduct web accessibility tests, perform responsive design testing across various devices, identify and fix user experience (UX) issues, and conduct browser compatibility testing to ensure a seamless and error-free user experience.

Launching and Optimizing Your Website

Once the website is built and tested, it's time to launch it and optimize its performance. Let's explore the key steps involved:

A. Web Hosting and Domain Registration

Selecting a reliable web hosting provider and registering a domain name are crucial steps in launching a website. Web designers need to choose a hosting provider that offers reliable uptime, fast loading speeds, and secure SSL certificates for data protection.

B. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Basics

Implementing basic search engine optimization (SEO) techniques is essential to improve the visibility of the website in search engine results. Web designers need to optimize on-page elements, ensure a clear URL structure and navigation, and focus on optimizing page speed and performance.

C. Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

Monitoring website analytics, conducting usability tests, and collecting user feedback are important for continuous improvement. Web designers should track key metrics, identify areas for improvement, and optimize conversion rates to ensure a website's long-term success.

Summary and FAQs

A. Summary of Web Designing Process

In summary, web designing involves understanding the basics of web design, incorporating various design elements, utilizing essential tools and software, thorough planning and research, designing the user interface, building and testing the website, and finally launching and optimizing it for the best user experience.

B. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What skills are required for web designing? Web designing requires skills in HTML and CSS, design software, knowledge of user experience (UX) design principles, and an eye for aesthetics.

How long does it take to learn web design? The time required to learn web design varies depending on the individual's dedication and prior knowledge, but it usually takes several months to a year to become proficient.

What are the latest web design trends? Some current web design trends include minimalistic designs, bold typography, dark mode, 3D visuals, and immersive storytelling.

How important is mobile responsiveness in web design? Mobile responsiveness is crucial in today's mobile-first world. With the majority of internet users accessing websites on mobile devices, it's essential to provide a seamless experience across different screen sizes.

How can I improve the speed of my website? To improve website speed, optimize image sizes, minimize HTTP requests, use caching, and optimize code and scripts. Additionally, choose a reliable hosting provider that offers fast loading speeds.

How can I create a memorable user experience on my website? Create a memorable user experience by designing intuitive navigation, providing relevant and engaging content, optimizing website performance, and incorporating interactive elements that encourage user engagement.

Wrapping Up

Mastering the fundamentals of web design, leveraging necessary tools, and adhering to a structured design approach are pivotal.

Website development companies in Kukatpally adeptly blend creativity with technical expertise to craft remarkable websites.

Sustained dedication to consistency, ongoing learning, and staying abreast of evolving trends remains paramount in delivering exceptional user experiences.

Embrace the artistry of web design to illuminate and showcase your creative prowess!

Get in Touch

Hyderabad

A-2, Plot #52 & 53, 2nd floor, Kanaka Durga Mansion, 5th Phase, KPHB, Hyderabad-72, India

+91 9059141997, +91 8886345252

[email protected]

#colourmoondesignwebsite #websitedesigning #websitedesign #designcompanyinkukatpally #webdesigncompanyinkphb #bestwebdesign #bestwebdesigncompanyinkuktapally

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stevensavage · 5 years ago

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Steve's Creative Resources 1/30/2020

I realized I hadn't published one of these roundups in ages, so here you go - creative resources I've found, heard of, and often use!

Art Sources

Free

Pixabay - A source for art that is free as well as royalty-free. There's a lot here, and much of it is professional.

Unsplash - A source for photos that are free as well as royalty-free. The quality is very high.

Royalty Free

Canstockphoto - A great source for royalty-free art, photos, and more. Has a subscription system and a pay-more-get-more credit system.

Shutterstock - The classic source for royalty-free art, photos, and more. Has both monthly and specific purchases available.

The Noun Project - A fee or membership-based site for downloading a huge selection of royalty free icons! Once you pay for it or download it, it's royalty-free! Useful for all sorts of projects

Book Covers

Premade

Go On Write - Premade covers for books - pick one that looks right and the artist will change the title and author appropriately. A great bargain, and even has series of covers at discount! Will do custom work to.

Services

Paper and Sage - A reliable source of both premade and custom book covers.

Tools

3D Book Cover Design - Makes 3D Mockups of book covers.

Canva - Book cover creator, though you will want to provide your own art if you don't want to pay for rights to their stock photo. Also has other services.

Book Reviewers

Review Sources

Midwest book review - Will review books for free, but it's a matter of choice.

Self Publishing Review - A classic paid review service (where a pool of reviewers is available) for books. Not always a guarantee of the best reviews of course, so you take your risks . .

The Indie Review - A large, constantly-updated list of indie book reviewers.

Color Tools

Collections

Color Tools - Plenty of useful online color tools.

HTML Color Codes - Useful color tools, with a focus on web-focused colors.

Material Palette - Useful tools for desginging palettes, finding icons, and locating specific colors

Color Schemes

Color At Adobe - A color theme creator that lets you create schemes, or even get one from a picture, and has a powerful interface.

Color Calculator - A color scheme creator that also has useful advice and guides.

Colormind - A color theme creator that creates schemes with simple clicking, or get one from a photo.

Colors at Halfpixel - A simple palette creator (with a mobile option) with intuitive controls.

Coolors - A useful and powerful color palette creator that's easy to use and powerful.

Huesnap - A palette repository and creation tool

Contact Management

Mailing Lists

Mailchimp - Mailchimp may have some restrictions, but it's the go-to for easy mailing list management, which is perfect for authors and artists. It also integrates well with other tools.

Professional

LinkedIn - The classic business networking site, and pretty unavoidable for most professionals.

Game Creation

General

Game Maker Studio - A powerful game creation tool, with free and paid options

Unity - A popular, well-supported game creation tool, not only popular, but one with many tutorials available.

Interactive Fiction - Graphics

Ren'py - A powerful game creation tool with an inclination to visual novels and life-sim, and capable of powerful customization.

Interactive Fiction - Text

Choicescript - A choice-based game system, both for fun and used commercially.

Twine - A web-based Interactive Fiction development tool with multiple options.

RPGs

RPG Maker - Game creation tools - the original was RPG focused, but the company has also expanded into Visual Novels.

Generators

Generator Sites

Chaotic Shiniy - A diverse source of generators in a variety of styles.

Darkest of Nights - Fantasy-oriented generators.

Donjon - Generators for a variety of genres and game systems, some of which provide graphics as well!

Dropping-the-form - Generators for various settings.

DunGen - A powerful dungeon generation tool!

Eposic - Generators - among other imaginative efforts.

Fantasy Name Generators - And there are a LOT of them here. About anything you could want, and a few you didn't know you needed.

Feath - Generators of various types, conveniently categorized.

Generator Blog - Links out to many other generators.

Generatorland - Lots of generators and generator tools.

Mithril and mages - Generators for a variety of genres.

Name Pistol - Band name generators.

RanGen - Random generators, from fantasy to helpful writing tools.

Serendipity - A generator site with some setting and name generators.

Seventh Sanctum - A gigantic collection of generators founded in 1999, with a focus on writing and RPGs.

Springhole.net - A site of generators and other creative tools.

Squid.org - Home of a complex name generator with many, many options.

The Force - A powerful name generator with multiple options.

Graphics

Graphic Tools

Art Rage - A painting-oriented digital art program supporting many operating systems, tools, and formats.

Clip Studio - A comics, painting, and illustration tool with many options and features

Mediabang - A comic and painting application that's free and multiplatform!

Paintstorm - A low-cost digital painting program with many advanced features.

Graphic Tools - Free

Gimp - Aka The GNU Image Manipulation Program. A free, open source graphic tool that will take care of almost all of your graphic needs (barring a few limits like CYMK conversion and the like).

Krita - A free graphic tool focused on professional workflows.

Made With Mischief - A quick, free sketching and brainstorming tool.

Sketchbook - A free sketching program.

Graphic Tools - Painting

BlackInk - A painting program, focusing on stylistic work as opposed to realistic

Mac

Pixemlator - A low-cost alternative to Photoshop for Mac, with lots of compatibility options

Helpful Tools

Relaxing Backgrounds

4 Ever Transit Authority - Ride the bus through randomly generated art deco cities. A great program to run in the background or on your TV or monitor to relax you while you create.

Anomolies - A relaxing background display/artgame that creates surreal spacescapes, often with strange nebulas and sites that resembe anything from devices to lights to disturbing lifeforms.

Becalm - A relaxing journey via sailboat through surreal worlds with a relaxing soundtrack and audio. Can be run for a few minutes or in a loop and you can switch between multiple settings.

Panoramical - Available on Itch.io And Steam. Panoramical is an audio/visual remixer where you can tweak settings in multiple environments, turning them into audio/visual displays. Find your favorite setting, leave it on, and relax.

Station To Station - A simulated train ride through imaginary environments. Run it in the background or through your television while you create to help relax you

Portfolios

Services

Adobe Portfolio - The popular porftolio site - that comes with many Adobe subscriptions.

Artstation - Multimedia-focused portfolio and blog platform

Format - A portfolio site with store services as well.

RPG Resources

Random Charts

Chartopia - A site with a huge and expanding amount of charts for RPGs, easily sortable and classified.

Self-Publishing

Audiobooks

ACX - Amazon's self-publishing audio platform

Audible - Another amazon audiobook publishing platform

Findaway - A wide-ranging audiobook distribution service.

Cards

Drive Thru Cards - Self-publishing for card games, both physical and downloads.

eBook

Itch.io - Itch.io doesn't just do games - it also allows for people to publish books, and is very open-minded.

Kobo Writing Life - Distribute your eBook via Kobo

Nook Press - Distribute your eBook via Nook

eBook-Multiple

Draft2Digital - A service that distributes to multiple eBook platforms.

Smashwords - A wide-ranging ebook distribution service.

Physical And Ebook

Ingram Spark - Ingram's eBook and physical book publishing platform. Wide reach, but may require some setup fees and has some limitations.

KDP - Amazon's full-service print and Kindle publishing service. Warning, the eBook distribution is only through Amazon.

Lulu.com - A print and eBook creation and distribution service.

RPGs

Drive Thru RPG - Self-publishing for RPGs, both downloadable and in print. Also supports related merch like calendars.

Video Games

Itch.io - Itch.io is a supportive, indie-oriented game store site. It also has a lot of self-published resources for game development, as well as supporting books of all kind.

Website Creation

Services

Squarespace - The popular website creator with many options.

Weebly - Easy and simple to use website, blogs, and stores.

Wix - A simple And effective website source, though paid options are reccomended.

Wordpress.com - The classic site, with free and paid options. Obviously blog-focused.

Writing Research

Maps

Old Maps Online - A way to find and view old maps of the world. Great for research and imagining.

Writing Tools

Ebook Creation

Calibre - A free ebook creation tool.

Jutoh - Not only converts your book to various ebook formats, it's a powerful enough tool that you could even write books in it.

Word Processing

LibreOffice - A full, free, open source office suite. Beyond the free price, it's fantastic ad using ODT format and creating PDFs.

Word Tools

Describing Words - Ideas for how to describe a given word.

Dictionary.com - The classic online dictionary.

Related Words - Helps find words similar to or related to one you're using.

Rhyme Zone - A tool to help you find rhyming words.

Thesaurus.Com - The classic online thesaurus, with plenty of useful options and displays

Wordsworth - A tool to see if words you're using fit the time period you're writing

Writing

Scriviner - A writing tool that combines note taking, tracking, and writing into one application.

Writing Checking

Grammarly - A pricey but powerful service and software for checking grammar, spelling, and even plagarism if you need. There are free, limited options.

Hemmingway - A grammar checking tool with both web and desktop versions.

Pro Writing Aid - A subscription-based writing checker service/tool.

#resources #art #writing #self-publishing #creative resources

9 notes · View notes

hannahhill-photography · 4 years ago

Text

Mon 2pm

Dan Vjetech - https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/creative-photography-ideas/ http://www.danvojtech.cz/blog/2016/07/amazing-how-focal-length-affect-shape-of-the-face/

All equally wrong

Around 70 is the correct face shape

Joseph Benoit Suvee - the invention of drawing - https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/231/joseph-benoit-suvee-the-invention-of-drawing-recto-sketch-of-lower-leg-bones-of-human-skeleton-verso-belgian-about-1791/

The story of this piece goes that the woman was making a tracing of the mans silhouette on the wall to help remember him when he went away. But she fails to make the most of the time when he is there she is not living in the moment she is focused too much on making a document of him when isn't there.

Kayne West - Reluctant selfie - https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/kanye-west-most-reluctant-selfie-ever-9154674.html

Kayne looks passive aggressive and fed up of the selfie. The trend seems to be all people want from celebrities they don't want a conversation they would much rather have a photo for evidence and brag about to their mates.

Claranace Brown - Possessed - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022276/

Slavoj Zizek - The perverts guide to cinema - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0828154/

The Cottingley fairies - https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/The-Fairies-of-Cottingley/

Hoax

The two girl who made these ethereal photos were given a camera by their father and they processed and printed these images themselves. They tried to convince their parents that fairies lived at the bottom of their garden. In reality they were paper the story got so much coverage that the writer of Sherlock homes Sir Arthur Conan Doyle came to see if they actually existed.

William Hope - https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2010/oct/29/haunted-photographs-william-hope-halloween

He created these photos which looked haunted he used techniques like scratching out subjects eyes and creating highlights which make the images have this ethereal look. His work is an example of victorian spirit photography.

The normalising machine - http://mushon.com/tnm/

Robert Capa - https://www.magnumphotos.com/photographer/robert-capa/ https://www.icp.org/browse/archive/objects/civillians-carrying-belongings-in-the-streets-madrid-0

Capa was a war photographer who documented many wars but he's probably most famous for his pictures of the Spanish civil war. Capa’s mother was a migrant from Hungry who travelled to states in search of the American dream for her and her family. His images of civilians fleeing are my personal favourites they document the chaos and the urgency they must feel in escaping their homes with the fears of war. You get a feeling that he understands them being a son of migrant himself.

Philip-Lorca diCorcia - https://www.moma.org/artists/7027 https://www.moma.org/artists/7027?=undefined&page=&direction= https://www.moma.org/collection/works/57815?artist_id=7027&page=1&sov_referrer=artist

diCorcia’s images have allot of narrative attached to them they like Crewdson are highly constructed and attempt to look realistic as they could be part of a real life. The particular image I picked out asks allot of questions did he fall, was he pushed, has he been mugged. What circumstances have occurred to put the subject on the floor with his belongings out in front of him.

Jennifer Karady - https://jenniferkarady.com/soldier_stories1.html

These images have a really traumatic narrative and explore the the long term effects of being a solider. Its a really important piece of work and the image alone or the text alone explain the experience but in combination they explain his personal experience and we as viewers and readers feel empathy for him that his experience at war will continue to effect his day to day life for the rest of his existence.

Taryn Simons - The innocents - http://tarynsimon.com/works/innocents/#1

Again another very important piece of work Simons photographs people who have served in prison for a crime they didn't commit. Some of these people spent most of their adult lives in prison because they were prosecuted wrongly for a crime they didn't commit the crimes they were accused of are brutal and violent crimes ( Rapes, murder, robbery). The images tell their story some of the images are taken at the scene of the crime others are taken at the places where they were arrested. The images are very dark and this is to visualise the dark times they have been through. The series is very interesting without the use of text we wouldn't know who these people are and their story. Text is something Simons uses very well I have previously looked at her work and she is one of the few artists that uses text so effectively.

Stuart Franklin - The documentary impulse - https://www.lensculture.com/articles/stuart-franklin-stuart-franklin-on-impulses-documentary-and-otherwise

Documentary photographer who uses many styles landscape, documentary, still life.

Can a photography tell the truth ?

What stops it from telling the truth ?

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wesleybates · 5 years ago

Text

Top 14 Web Designer Skills You Must Have

Before looking into the web designer skills list, let's clarify what a web designer does in a company, and what kind of skills are required. Below is a web designer job description template:

Web designer job description from Workable:

This Web Designer job description template is optimized for posting on online job boards or careers pages. It is easy to customize for your company and specific designer or developer duties and responsibilities. Post Now on Job Boards

Web Designer Responsibilities

Include:

Executing all visual design stages from concept to final hand-off to engineering

Conceptualizing original website design ideas that bring simplicity and user friendliness to complex roadblock

Execute all visual design stages from concept to final hand-off to engineering

Conceptualize original website design ideas that bring simplicity and user friendliness to complex roadblocks

Create wireframes, storyboards, user flows, process flows and site maps to communicate interaction and design ideas

Present and defend designs and key deliverables to peers and executive level stakeholders

Establish and promote design guidelines, best practices, and standards

Requirements:

Proven work experience as a web designer

Demonstrable graphic design skills with a strong portfolio

Solid experience in creating wireframes, storyboards, user flows, process flows, and sitemap

Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator or other visual design and wire-framing tools

Proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for rapid prototyping

Experience working in an Agile/Scrum development process

Excellent visual design skills with sensitivity to user-system interaction

Ability to solve problems creatively and effectively

Up-to-date with the latest Web trends, techniques, and technologies

BS/MS in Human-Computer Interaction, Interaction Design or aVisual Arts subject

Through the description of the required skills in the job template above, we can get a general idea of what a web designer does. It provides lots of information about what skills are needed, which design tools one should master, and which technical skills are required.

For a better understanding and to help guide new Web designers, Mockplus has divided Web designer skills into three categories: professional skills, technical skills, and soft skills.

Web Designer’s Professional Skills

Then from the aspect of professional skills, the necessary proficiencies of web designers are as follows:

1. Design Tool:

Craftsmen always have a set of tools. As the job descriptions listed above, a web designer must use several essential design software applications. Although it is now possible to design websites in a web browser, tools such as Photoshop, Sketch, and Mockplus are very useful tools for image processing, icon design, and prototyping. Using the right tools at the right stage will make your work more effective.

PS (Photoshop): powerful image processing for graphic and web design.

Adobe Illustrator: referred to as "AI", is a very good vector graphics processing tool, mainly used for font design, graphic design, product packaging design, book /magazine layout, and illustration design.

Adobe After Effects: referred to as "AE", is a graphic video processing software introduced by Adobe. In a nutshell, it is a dynamic version of PS, which is very powerful with a complicated operation.

2. Design Sense:

Having a good sense of design is very important for web designers. Web design is more than just making a good-looking website. You must have an understanding of design elements such as typeset, images, and basic design principles such as layout principles, form design principles and more.

3. UX Design:

UX stands for user experience, or how people feel when they use the site. To provide a good UX, you need to research your users to help create user personas (18 Free Excellent User Persona Templates for inspiration) and use sitemaps to lay out pages and content. This helps you understand the user's path during actual site visits. Through repeated testing, a website’s design can be improved, ameliorating user experience, and thus increasing user conversions.

4. Responsive Design:

With the growth of smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, more and more people use small screens to view and read web page information. As a web designer, you should understand the principles of responsive web design to keep your web pages readable on small screens. (12 best responsive web design tutorials to get you started!)

5. Graphic Design

Web design is different from graphic design. If you are a web designer with graphic design skills, this will enhance your marketability.

6. Adobe Animate

Animation can make a dull web page dynamic. An appropriate animation will make your website more attractive. Especially for name-brand clothing, cars, film, and television websites, an animation is particularly important. Visual impact will help with brands identity and recognition.

Web Designer’s Technical Skills

With the rapid development of web development technology, the requirements for web designers are getting higher and higher. In addition to being proficient in professional skills, understanding the necessary web development language will have a longer-term benefit for you.

1. HTML

Some people might not think Web designers should master HTML, however, whether you are a developer or not, you should know basic HTML/CSS. This will help you to more easily read, edit and solve problems. However, depending on your actual work as a designer/developer, the level and scope you need to know may be even broader. In any case, you should be aware of how styles and colors are controlled and adjusted by code. These skills are extremely useful in the long run.

2. CSS

CSS and HTML are partners in website development and are the basic building blocks of web page structure and style. HTML determines the structure of the site, and CSS handles the visual appearance. For example, CSS lets you adjust colors, change fonts, or add stunning backgrounds.

3. JavaScript

With the ability to write design code in HTML and CSS, you can help render yourself more competitive by learning to program in JavaScript. As a web designer you know JavaScript, that may help you solve big problems in actual work. In addition, according to a survey by StackOverflow, JS is the most popular programming language for full stack developers.

4. Web Server Management

Most web designers think they can ignore the server, but the web server and downtime issues are inevitable. You don't need to be a back-end expert, but understanding how a web server and its basic features work will help you solve problems faster.

Web Designer’s Soft Skills

Now that we’ve discussed professional and technical skills, we should look at adding some soft skills to help keep our web design work more organized.

1.Time management:

Whether you are a freelancer or work for a company, time management skills are important. The rapid updating of project iterations means that the design must also be updated from time to time. Good web designers need to manage their schedules and follow up on project needs.

2. Project Management:

Project management is a key job skill in almost every industry, and web design is no exception. Good project management skills not only benefit the project but also benefit your career.

3. SEO:

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is useful for anyone building a website. Web designers and web developers should at least understand the basics of SEO, and that will be a plus for your work.

Many factors can affect the ranking of a website in a search engine, from the content of the site to its inbound links to its download speed, performance, and its mobile-friendliness. All of these are factors that web designers should pay attention to when designing. Once you know SEO, you can use these factors to make the site more attractive to search engines, thus making it easier to find for customers.

4. Customer Service:

Although customer service is not a technical skill, providing excellent customer service is a requirement in order for a good web designer to win customers and achieve better results. Even the best web designers/developers may fail.

Summary:

As you can see, there is no mystery in becoming a web designer but consulting an efficient web designer is important. For this refer Web Designing Company in Denver, CO. Your website will surely improve by their techniques.

#Website Design #Web Designing #Digital Marketing #SEO

0 notes

java-full-stack-izeon · 1 year ago

Text

web design

Overview of web design:

1. Web Graphic Design

2. Interface Design

3. Authoring

4. User Experience (UX) Design

5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Service outcome:

1. Usability

2. Accessibility

3. Aesthetics

4. Responsiveness

5. Speed

6. Conversion

7. SEO

8. Engagement

9. Branding

10. Scalability

Duration of our service: completely 3 months.

Key benefits of our services:

 Usability

 Accessibility

 Aesthetics

 Branding

 Engagement

 Conversion

 Navigation

 Responsiveness

 SEO

Why we chosen izeon through web design process?

That’s why I chosen izeon innovation pvt ltd.

As well as we are providing lot of offers inquire now

Mail: [email protected]

Website link: https://www.izeoninnovative.com/izeon/

#izeon #web design

0 notes

garrysmith010 · 5 years ago

Link

Are you searching for a step by step Sketch to HTML tutorial? We will provide some of the best approaches of converting Sketch files to HTML/CSS code.

#sketch to HTML conversion

0 notes

321arka · 6 years ago

Link

The most updated version of ConDoc plugin i.e. ConDoc Tools 4.5 will be launched soon. It is compatible with sketchup 2019.

Given below, some exciting features of this latest version :-

VECTOR DASHED LINES:

SketchUp now contains dashed line types to substitute the old raster style, for crisp vector dashes.

In 2019 version drawing sets involve the updated demolition plans, foundation plan, roof plan, and elevations. These drawings are fully updated to make use of the new dashed line feature.

CONDOC MODEL ORGANIZATION GUIDES (MOG):

It is now possible to quickly and precisely arrange any model with level, element, location and condition. You need to just put the model organization guide into your project, click into the exact container, and start modeling.

LEVEL LAYER TOGGLE:

In this latest version, a level layer toggle is included to detach each floor of your design with a single mouse click. It will save huge time by getting away the Layers dialog.

NEW 2D TO 3D WORKFLOW:

The conversion from 2d sketch to a precise 3d model becomes more rapid in this new version. There is a new annotations scrapbook with 2d blocks for scaled walls, doors, windows, furniture, and fixtures. Just put the pieces into exact position to build up your design.

As soon as your design is prepared for further examination and fine-tuning in 3d, apply the brand new CAD export settings in LayOut to deliver your 2d drawings to SketchUp.

EXTENDED ANNOTATIONS:

ConDoc 4.5 comprises of a totally reinvented annotations scrapbook. There will be numerous new and enhanced palettes, symbols, and schedules.

To get more details, visit condoctools.com

#ConDoc Plugin #SketchUp #Roof Plan #Demoliton Plan #Foundation Plan #Drawings

0 notes

stevensavage · 6 years ago

Text

Creative Resources 7/9/2019

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve's Tumblr. Find out more at my newsletter.)

I haven't posted one of these in a few months, so here's the latest roundup of creative resources! I've added a few here and there, plus some game development tools.

Art Sources

Free

Pixabay - A source for art that is free as well as royalty-free. There's a lot here, and much of it is professional.

Unsplash - A source for photos that are free as well as royalty-free. The quality is very high.

Royalty Free

Canstockphoto - A great source for royalty-free art, photos, and more. Has a subscription system and a pay-more-get-more credit system.

Shutterstock - The classic source for royalty-free art, photos, and more. Has both monthly and specific purchases available.

The Noun Project - A fee or membership-based site for downloading a huge selection of royalty free icons! Once you pay for it or download it, it's royalty-free! Useful for all sorts of projects

Book Covers

Premade

Services

Paper and Sage - A reliable source of both premade and custom book covers.

Tools

3D Book Cover Design - Makes 3D Mockups of book covers.

Canva - Book cover creator, though you will want to provide your own art if you don't want to pay for rights to their stock photo. Also has other services.

Book Reviewers

Review Sources

Midwest book review - Will review books for free, but it's a matter of choice.

Self Publishing Review - A classic paid review service (where a pool of reviewers is available) for books. Not always a guarantee of the best reviews of course, so you take your risks . .

The Indie Review - A large, constantly-updated list of indie book reviewers.

Color Tools

Collections

Color Tools - Plenty of useful online color tools.

HTML Color Codes - Useful color tools, with a focus on web-focused colors.

Material Palette - Useful tools for desginging palettes, finding icons, and locating specific colors

Color Schemes

Color At Adobe - A color theme creator that lets you create schemes, or even get one from a picture, and has a powerful interface.

Color Calculator - A color scheme creator that also has useful advice and guides.

Colormind - A color theme creator that creates schemes with simple clicking, or get one from a photo.

Colors at Halfpixel - A simple palette creator (with a mobile option) with intuitive controls.

Coolors - A useful and powerful color palette creator that's easy to use and powerful.

Huesnap - A palette repository and creation tool

Contact Management

Mailing Lists

Mailchimp - Mailchimp may have some restrictions, but it's the go-to for easy mailing list management, which is perfect for authors and artists. It also integrates well with other tools.

Professional

LinkedIn - The classic business networking site, and pretty unavoidable for most professionals.

Game Creation

General

Game Maker Studio - A powerful game creation tool, with free and paid options

Unity - A popular, well-supported game creation tool, not only popular, but one with many tutorials available.

Interactive Fiction - Graphics

Ren'py - A powerful game creation tool with an inclination to visual novels and life-sim, and capable of powerful customization.

Interactive Fiction - Text

Choicescript - A choice-based game system, both for fun and used commercially.

Twine - A web-based Interactive Fiction development tool with multiple options.

RPGs

RPG Maker - Game creation tools - the original was RPG focused, but the company has also expanded into Visual Novels.

Generators

Generator Sites

Chaotic Shiniy - A diverse source of generators in a variety of styles.

Darkest of Nights - Fantasy-oriented generators.

Donjon - Generators for a variety of genres and game systems, some of which provide graphics as well!

Dropping-the-form - Generators for various settings.

DunGen - A powerful dungeon generation tool!

Eposic - Generators - among other imaginative efforts.

Fantasy Name Generators - And there are a LOT of them here. About anything you could want, and a few you didn't know you needed.

Feath - Generators of various types, conveniently categorized.

Generator Blog - Links out to many other generators.

Generatorland - Lots of generators and generator tools.

Mithril and mages - Generators for a variety of genres.

Name Pistol - Band name generators.

RanGen - Random generators, from fantasy to helpful writing tools.

Serendipity - A generator site with some setting and name generators.

Seventh Sanctum - A gigantic collection of generators founded in 1999, with a focus on writing and RPGs.

Springhole.net - A site of generators and other creative tools.

Squid.org - Home of a complex name generator with many, many options.

The Force - A powerful name generator with multiple options.

Graphics

Graphic Tools

Art Rage - A painting-oriented digital art program supporting many operating systems, tools, and formats.

Clip Studio - A comics, painting, and illustration tool with many options and features

Mediabang - A comic and painting application that's free and multiplatform!

Paintstorm - A low-cost digital painting program with many advanced features.

Graphic Tools - Free

Gimp - Aka The GNU Image Manipulation Program. A free, open source graphic tool that will take care of almost all of your graphic needs (barring a few limits like CYMK conversion and the like).

Krita - A free graphic tool focused on professional workflows.

Made With Mischief - A quick, free sketching and brainstorming tool.

Sketchbook - A free sketching program.

Graphic Tools - Painting

BlackInk - A painting program, focusing on stylistic work as opposed to realistic

Mac

Pixemlator - A low-cost alternative to Photoshop for Mac, with lots of compatibility options

Helpful Tools

Relaxing Backgrounds

4 Ever Transit Authority - Ride the bus through randomly generated art deco cities. A great program to run in the background or on your TV or monitor to relax you while you create.

Anomolies - A relaxing background display/artgame that creates surreal spacescapes, often with strange nebulas and sites that resembe anything from devices to lights to disturbing lifeforms.

Becalm - A relaxing journey via sailboat through surreal worlds with a relaxing soundtrack and audio. Can be run for a few minutes or in a loop and you can switch between multiple settings.

Station To Station - A simulated train ride through imaginary environments. Run it in the background or through your television while you create to help relax you

Portfolios

Services

Adobe Portfolio - The popular porftolio site - that comes with many Adobe subscriptions.

Artstation - Multimedia-focused portfolio and blog platform

Format - A portfolio site with store services as well.

RPG Resources

Random Charts

Chartopia - A site with a huge and expanding amount of charts for RPGs, easily sortable and classified.

Self-Publishing

Audiobooks

ACX - Amazon's self-publishing audio platform

Audible - Another amazon audiobook publishing platform

Findaway - A wide-ranging audiobook distribution service.

Cards

Drive Thru Cards - Self-publishing for card games, both physical and downloads.

eBook

Itch.io - Itch.io doesn't just do games - it also allows for people to publish books, and is very open-minded.

Kobo Writing Life - Distribute your eBook via Kobo

Nook Press - Distribute your eBook via Nook

eBook-Multiple

Draft2Digital - A service that distributes to multiple eBook platforms.

Smashwords - A wide-ranging ebook distribution service.

Physical And Ebook

Ingram Spark - Ingram's eBook and physical book publishing platform. Wide reach, but may require some setup fees and has some limitations.

KDP - Amazon's full-service print and Kindle publishing service. Warning, the eBook distribution is only through Amazon.

Lulu.com - A print and eBook creation and distribution service.

RPGs

Drive Thru RPG - Self-publishing for RPGs, both downloadable and in print. Also supports related merch like calendars.

Video Games

Itch.io - Itch.io is a supportive, indie-oriented game store site. It also has a lot of self-published resources for game development, as well as supporting books of all kind.

Website Creation

Services

Squarespace - The popular website creator with many options.

Weebly - Easy and simple to use website, blogs, and stores.

Wix - A simple And effective website source, though paid options are reccomended.

Wordpress.com - The classic site, with free and paid options. Obviously blog-focused.

Writing Research

Maps

Old Maps Online - A way to find and view old maps of the world. Great for research and imagining.

Writing Tools

Ebook Creation

Calibre - A free ebook creation tool.

Jutoh - Not only converts your book to various ebook formats, it's a powerful enough tool that you could even write books in it.

Word Processing

LibreOffice - A full, free, open source office suite. Beyond the free price, it's fantastic ad using ODT format and creating PDFs.

Word Tools

Describing Words - Ideas for how to describe a given word.

Dictionary.com - The classic online dictionary.

Related Words - Helps find words similar to or related to one you're using.

Rhyme Zone - A tool to help you find rhyming words.

Thesaurus.Com - The classic online thesaurus, with plenty of useful options and displays

Wordsworth - A tool to see if words you're using fit the time period you're writing

Writing

Scriviner - A writing tool that combines note taking, tracking, and writing into one application.

Writing Checking

Grammarly - A pricey but powerful service and software for checking grammar, spelling, and even plagarism if you need. There are free, limited options.

Hemmingway - A grammar checking tool with both web and desktop versions.

Pro Writing Aid - A subscription-based writing checker service/tool.

Steven Savage

www.StevenSavage.com

www.InformoTron.com

#creativity #resources #creative resources #writing #art #fiction #games #video games

1 note · View note

2700fstreet · 6 years ago

Photo

BALLET / 2018-2019

HARLEQUINADE

STUDENT GUIDE

WORKING REHEARSAL

AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE

Choreography by Marius Petipa Staging and additional choreography by Alexei Ratmansky, assisted by Tatiana Ratmansky Music by Riccardo Drigo with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra Scenery and costumes by Robert Perdziola, inspired by Orest Allegri and Ivan Vsevolozhsky Lighting by Brad Fields

School Show: January 29

Teacher and Parent Guide: Harlequinade

Let’s Get Started…But First, Some History

Perhaps the ballets you’ve seen are either about dying swans, sleeping beauties, or waltzing snowflakes. But the ballet you’re about to see, Harlequinade, is a comedy. No kidding—it’s a comic ballet based on the early form of theater called Commedia dell’arte (literal translation: “comedy of art”), which began in Italy in the sixteenth century. These improvisational entertainments were filled with hilarious stock characters who enjoyed using every trick in the comic trade including slapstick, humor, and mimicry.

But can this style translate to ballet? You bet!

Imagine masked performers using pantomime to act out comedic sketches about themes of love, jealousy, and old age. Then, picture four recognizable characters including: Harlequin (a jester), Columbine (his lover), Cassandre (Columbine’s father), and Pierrot (Cassandre’s servant).

Finally, dream up playful costumes and vivid sets and the cartoonish world of make-believe, and it’s a field day for funniness—where pantomime and gesture are easily played out in full choreography.

The truth is the humor of Commedia dell’arte never left the stage. In fact, these stock characters and over-the-top story lines have delighted audiences for centuries—from Shakespeare’s comedies to classic Charlie Chaplin antics—even providing the funny foundation for such modern movies as Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Dumb and Dumber.

But now, let’s get back to the ballet!

Harlequinade was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa, the “father of classical ballet,” in 1900.

STOP…for an important side note:

Petipa is also credited with many other familiar ballets including La Bayadère, Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty, Raymonda, and The Nutcracker. He’s the “guy” who placed the ballerina center stage in grand spectacles featuring a corps de ballet (or group of dancers) surrounding her.

Interested in Petipa? Learn more: www.abt.org/people/marius-petipa/

and especially: https://petipasociety.com/about/

Again…back to the ballet…

Sadly, the original Petipa Harlequinade choreography was “lost” (not recorded on film or kept alive through continuous performances) until Alexei Ratmansky, American Ballet Theatre’s Artist-in-Residence, decoded Petipa’s notes to reconstruct much of the original ballet.

Need a sneak preview of all the fun?:

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Who’s Who

All of the characters in Harlequinade are archetypes of Commedia dell’arte. You can easily recognize each stock character by his or her distinctive costumes and role in the story:

Harlequin: The comedic male lead. He is a servant who is in love with Columbine. While Harlequin’s questionable behavior often gets him into trouble, his positivity and cleverness always help him to come out on top. Harlequin dons a diamond-checkered ensemble and black masquerade mask.

Columbine: Cassandre’s beautiful daughter and Harlequin’s love interest.

Cassandre: Columbine’s greedy elderly father who tries to keep Harlequin from pursuing his daughter.

Pierrot: Cassandre’s comic servant. Pierrot wears white oversized clothing (including a powdered face) with bright red slippers.

Pierrette: Columbine’s servant and Pierrot’s love interest.

Good Fairy: A sprite who spreads good fortune. She saves Harlequin’s relationship with Columbine by gifting him wealth.

Caption: (Columbine) Isabella Boylston and (Harlequin) James Whiteside

Credit: Photo by Alan Alejandro

So, What’s Going On?

Act I

Columbine and Harlequin are in love. But Columbine’s father would rather she marry a rich, old suitor, and so, he keeps her locked away in a tower. Cassandre’s servant, Pierrot, also helps thwart Harlequin’s romantic efforts. But when the Good Fairy alters Harlequin’s financial prospects, true love prevails.

Caption: Harlequin (James Whiteside) serenades Columbine (Isabella Boylston) to show his love. Credit: Photo courtesy of American Ballet Theatre

Caption: The Good Fairy (Claire Davison) grants wealth to Harlequin (James Whiteside). Credit: Photo courtesy of American Ballet Theatre

Act II

The second act is a celebration of Columbine and Harlequin’s wedding. Similar to another Petipa ballet, The Nutcracker, this act is a series of divertissements (pronounced dee-vehr-tees-MAHN), which are short dances within a ballet that display a dancer’s technical skill without advancing the plot or character development.

Caption: Act II celebrates the love of Harlequin and Columbine with many different dances. Credit: Photo courtesy of American Ballet Theatre

Check This Out…

COSTUMES You already know a bit about Harlequinade’s costumes representing your typical characters of Commedia dell’arte. Now take a closer look at how the costumes (and masks and makeup) aid in character development.

The Harlequin’s diamond checkered costume resembles a jester because he, too, is a trickster who likes to entertain. Pierrot’s sleeves and pants are too long, causing him to fumble, just like he does in his attempt to stop Harlequin’s quest for Columbine’s love.

Here are some more costume sketches. How do the designs help you better understand the characters?

Caption: Harlequin’s checkered ensemble, distinctive hat, and masquerade mask resemble a court jester in Act I. Credit: All costume design sketches by Robert Perdziola

Caption: Columbine’s costume in Act I features a demure and youthful tutu with light pink accents and bow details.

Caption: James Whiteside (Harlequin) and Thomas Forster (Pierrot) Credit: Photos by Andrea Mohin

SETS Notice how the set design in Act I differs from that in Act II. The first act takes place outdoors on the streets of the village. The homes are cartoony, but realistic at the same time (they’re cheerful and Disney-like, but also have depth, dimension, and an air of mystery).

In contrast, Act II takes place in a grand ballroom with high ceilings, great windows, and stunning architecture. Everything is bright, and everyone is together at the celebration. This scenery also illustrates Harlequin’s change in prosperity.

Caption: Set design for Act I. Credit: All set designs by Robert Perdziola.

Caption: Set design for Act II.

CHOREOGRAPHY After reviewing Petipa’s notes from the original production of Harlequinade, choreographer Alexei Ratmansky made alterations to the ballet. For example, in the early 1900s when the ballet premiered, ballerinas were not allowed to raise their legs past ninety degrees. Even in pointe shoes, dancers would pirouette on demi-pointe (the ball of their feet) rather than on the tip of their toes.

And shockingly, dancers would not always point their feet at all, but hold them in a semi-relaxed position. Clearly, both social norms and technical ability have greatly evolved over the past century, and Ratmansky has taken that into consideration in this production. In that way, this production of Harlequinade is a blending of old and new ballet customs.

Caption: Pierina Legnani in another Petipa ballet, Raymonda (1898). Notice her low leg line.

Caption: Note the more advanced technique and virtuosity of modern ballet as shown in this photo of Isabella Boylston (as Columbine). Credit: Andrea Mohin

Listen up…

The “Sérénade” in Act I (where Harlequin courts Columbine with a song he pantomimes on his mandolin), became a popular repertory song for many instruments including voice. In 1926, noted Italian tenor, Beniamino Gigli, recorded the song and made it a worldwide hit. Listen to the song (retitled “Notturno d’amour”):

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Petipa often liked to insert a popular song into the score of his ballets. Composer Riccardo Drigo met this request by inserting a French song about the Duke of Marlborough into Act II (a song which we know today as “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”).

Caption: Columbine (Isabella Boylston) in a pas de deux (dance for two) with Harlequin (James Whiteside). Credit: Photo by Marty Sohl

Good to Know: Take Note!

Petipa wrote down his choreography through a system called Stepanov notation that was developed in Russia in the 1890s. Note takers sat in the studios, scribbling in real time as dancers rehearsed. Notation looks like a score written out in an organized system of lines, arrows, X’s, and O’s. The tedious technique, however, became obsolete after the Russian Revolution. This was due to the exodus of dancers from the country. The art, previously preserved through oral tradition, was passed down from teacher to student less often. Those who did stay in Russia struggled to recall all of the details of the dances. Without photos, drawings, and, of course videos, Petipa’s notation was the only preservation of the choreography.

Ratmansky utilized the historical records (housed at Harvard University) to try and reconstruct a number of Petipa ballets. After much study, he became conversant in Petipa’s choreographic “language”—understanding how one movement would naturally flow into the next. Harlequinade is Ratmansky’s fourth Petipa reconstruction. This list includes Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and Paquita.

Caption: An example of early 20th century dance notation from Petipa’s La Bayadère, circa 1900. Credit: Nikolai Sergeev Dance Collection

Find out more at: https://hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu/repositories/24/resources/3185

FYI: Labanotation, a system first developed by Rudolf Laban in 1928 to analyze human movement, is considered the most common method of dance documentation today. Want to learn more? Check out: www.dancenotation.org/lnbasics/frame0.html

What to Think About…

How do the stock characters and comedic style of Commedia dell’arte remind you of contemporary comedy you see in movies, television, and live theater today? Give three examples.

The dancers use mime, or gestures, to communicate parts of the story. Because ballet doesn’t use language like spoken word in theater, or lyrics in opera, the movement has to tell the whole story. Sometimes dancers act out the meaning using mime. Think about an example where a dancer’s mime or gesture “spoke” to you or told you something you didn’t know.

Think about the complexity of preserving the ethereal art of dance. What is the “best” way to document and carry on ballet—notation, video, photography, oral tradition, or something else? What method would you choose?

Since it’s an open rehearsal, ABT will start and stop the ballet at various times. Watch carefully during these breaks and think about the full elements of a production—from story line to choreography—practice, practice, practice—and finally, performance. Is there something in your life that matches or is similar to this process?

Caption: Masked dancers in a divertissement. Credit: Photo by Marty Sohl

Take Action: Let’s Have Some Fun

Now that you’re familiar with the characters and general themes of Commedia dell’arte, it’s your turn to take the lead! Write your own script in Commedia dell’arte style. Incorporate slapstick humor, pantomime, and maybe even some moments for the actors to improvise. Remember that a main part of Commedia dell’arte is a connection to everyday life. You can still use the themes of love, revenge, and trickery, but focus on issues that are relatable to you and your peers today.

One of the reasons Commedia dell’arte started to die out was because traveling troupes weren’t able to connect with their audiences either due to language differences (both actual languages and just style/dialect of speech) or from not changing the material with the changing times. Your challenge is to stay in the world of Commedia dell’arte while making it relevant and exciting for audiences today. Then, share your work with family and friends.

EXPLORE MORE

Go even deeper with the Harlequinade Extras.

Now you’re ready to see ABT’s working rehearsal of Harlequinade.

Writer: Mary Callahan

Content Editor: Lisa Resnick

Logistics Coordination: Katherine Huseman

Producer and Program Manager: Tiffany A. Bryant

David M. Rubenstein Chairman

Deborah F. Rutter President

Mario R. Rossero Senior Vice President Education

American Ballet Theatre’s engagement is made possible through generous endowment support of The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund.

Support for Ballet at the Kennedy Center is generously provided by Elizabeth and C. Michael Kojaian.

Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David M. Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

Kennedy Center education and related artistic programming is made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts.

#ballet #abtat2700f #harlequinadeat2700F

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wikitopx · 5 years ago

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As an old penal colony, Saint-Laurent du Maroni has the distinction of being a town built by and for convicts.

Saint-Laurent is next to the River Maroni in western French Guiana, and 70 years after the colony shut down the remnants of camps are not hard to find. If you’ve read the book Papillon you’ll want to see firsthand what the author went through. The wide, muddy Maroni River forms a natural border with Suriname and promises endless ecotourism escapades: You can hack through the primeval jungle, visit Amerindian tribes and spot exotic wildlife most of us have only seen in movies. Let's explore the best things to do in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni.

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1. Camp de la Transportation

Life in the criminal colonies of France in the 30s and 40s was revealed to the world in Papillon, an autobiography of former prisoner Henri Charrière. Whether you read the book or not, you should take the guided tour of the facility where the new prisoners arrive to be treated.

Most of the old prison buildings are in decent shape and give a good if the grisly sense of what it must have been like for a prisoner: You’ll see the solitary cells and learn about torture methods.

Also preserved is Charrière, the cell organization before he is sent to the colony of Devil Island. Here among other prisoners' graffiti, the word "papillon" is engraved.

2. Petit Paris

When you get to Saint-Laurent du Maroni drop by the tourist office for a leaflet with an itinerary of the town center.

Affectedly known as Petit Paris, these roads joined when the prison camp expanded after 1887. With many officials and officials coming to the town of Saint-Laurent du Maroni aired at this time.

There are bulletin boards in French and English that tell stories of structures such as the Governor's Mansion (now the subdivision's home), the Maritime Court, the town hall and the old bank, the Saint- Laurent and Joffre Barracks (currently the headquarters of the gendarmerie).

3. Centre d’Interprétation de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine

The former kitchen and mess hall at Camp de Transportation has been turned into an exhibition space.

Here there are displays on the daily life of the 70,000 convicts who came through these doors between 1852 and 1938. There are sketches, photographs and artifacts recalling the voyage from the port at Saint-Martin-de-Ré in Western France across the Atlantic to Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni.

Then in the old dormitories, there’s an exhibition showing when and how the town was built, and some of the challenges it may face in the future.

4. Camp de la Rélégation

About 15 kilometers up the Maroni River is another former prison camp, opening for tours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

In terms of penalties, relegation, which means people who have committed repeat offenses before they are sent to Guiana have little hope of being free: After years of hard labor, they have been sent to This colony, currently in the village of Saint-Jean.

Here some 18,000 people were granted extra rights like being able to contract for work, on the condition that they never attempted to leave the colony. These buildings were reused to house immigrants from Eastern Europe after the war and more recently as barracks.

There is a contemporary sculpture commemorating those convicted by Bertrand Piéchaud in front of the camp.

5. Marché

At Place Flore Lithaw there is a market every Wednesday and Saturday from 07:00 to 14:00. If you want to feel about Saint-Laurent, there's nowhere like it.

You rub your shoulders with the residents who return for their day, catch the Guianese Créole conversations and the friendly hostess calls. And then there’s the enticing spectacle of tropical fruits and vegetables like cassava, bananas, papaya, mango, yam, and rambutans, some of which you’ll know and other so exotic you may need to ask about.

Blending with the scent of the market is the scent of local Chinese cuisine, Bushinengué (Creole), H'mong (South Asia) being prepared at the market restaurant.

6. Banks of the Maroni River

The saint-Laurent tourist office, just a few steps from the river, this is a good place to stop for a picnic or admire the vast blue Maroni River under the swaying palm. There’s a refreshing breeze by the water and a kiosk for fresh tropical fruit juice, ice creams or crêpes.

As you wander you’ll notice something that at first looks like an island, but is actually a shipwreck overcome by tropical vegetation. This is the Edith Cavell, a British Merchant Navy vessel that ran aground in 1925 and was left here after efforts to tow it failed.

7. Île aux Lépreux

Opportunities for adventure abound in Laurent-du-Maroni, but you don’t have to embark on a grueling expedition to escape civilization. The Ile aux Lépreux river island is uninhabited because as the name will tell you, it's a quarantine place these days.

That period is long gone, and now it’s a space of semi-wilderness for quiet walks. There are typical Amazonian huts in the forest, known as carpets; these are shelters with no walls, designed to help people keep cool at night.

On this island, they have been equipped with benches and you can pause to drink water or picnic.

8. Forêt de Saint-Jean

Another wild excursion near Saint-Laurent is a forest trip to the prison camp in Saint-Jean, which was retaken by the forest. This camp was founded in the early 20th century and is connected to Saint-Laurent by rail.

But about 70 years after it stops working, you may need an experienced guide to show evidence of this missing compound. Whether you walk or ride a mountain bike, a lot of the fun of the path comes from tropical flora, as you glide over palm trees or cross the roots of large hardwood trees.

9. La Charbonnière

There’s the history of a more recent kind in this quarter of Saint-Laurent.

This neighborhood was built in the mid-80s to house members of the Maroon ethnic group (descendants of runaway slaves). They fled the civil war in Namibia, rumbling in the river until 1992. La Charbonnière lay by the river, with locals parked on the banks and unloading fresh fruit for shops and markets.

It’s still a down-at-heel part of Saint-Laurent, but the village’s dwellings are cute chalet-style huts coated with wood shingles.

10. Rhumerie Saint-Maurice

Open to visitors in the morning, Rhumerie Saint-Maurice is the only remaining rum distillery in French Guiana. The facility was modernized around five years ago at a cost of €8m and the much-loved La Belle Cabresse, an award-winning white rum with 50-55% vol.

In the store, you'll find rum that has been three or seven years, and of course, you can try before you buy. A good thing about coming to the source is that bottles are much cheaper at the distillery than if you buy then in other towns around Guiana, like Cayenne or Kourou.

More ideals for you: Top 10 things to do in Saint Brieuc

From : https://wikitopx.com/travel/top-10-things-to-do-in-saint-laurent-du-maroni-709702.html

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