Designer's Blog

Brandable .com and co.za domain names for sale!

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:38:30 +0000

During my time designing websites using Joomla! Ive had alot of experience handling domain names, transfers and have even helped during the selection process. I have been really lucky to have been able to register some great domain names which I have noticed have become available from time to time..

The domains listed below are all quite brandable and are currently for sale. Feel free to contact me with your selection and bid should you be interested.

holidays-south-africa.com
autohuur.co.za - domain name
winelandproperty.com - domain name
winelandsevents.com - domain name
joomlatemplates.co.za - domain name
joomlatutorials.co.za - domain name and complete website
sweetreviews.co.za - - domain name and complete website
bookatour.net - domain name

Check your Joomla version and build package

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:00:43 +0000

In order to install many extensions for your website as well as to keep your version of Joomla up to date you might need to check the version that you have in order to check and extensions compatitbiltiy or to select the appropriate update package. Here is how you check the version of Joomla you are currently using.

Log into your admnistrator dashboard. Hover to Help -> System Info
The second last line is the current version you are running.

Create your own custom Joomla favicon using Inkscape

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:54:41 +0000

A favicon is the small icon which appears in your browser when visiting a particular website. When people visit or bookmark your website your favicon is the small icons people see beside your link. Remember that is should be something simple enough to be shown in very small size.

In Joomla the default template favicon is not very eye pleasing. Let's look at how we go about creating our own custom favicon for a Joomla template

{loadposition adsense-island}

1) Creating your favicon using Inkscape

Begin by opening Inkscape and create a new default canvas.

Check your documents properties by selecting File ->> Document Properties.
In the Document Properties dialog box specify the width and height to be 16x16 pixels (the generally accepted default favicon size)
Also be sure to set the background colour to ffffff00, as we need to create and image without no background color.
(the last two digits assigned to 0 to allow for a transparent background)

Zoom in to get a full screen view.
(this is where Inkscape shines, it allows us to zoom really far in without losing the quality of the image while we work on it)

Import you're desired image or create your own using the tools found in the left hand taskbar.

2) Export your new Favicon

Once you have a design and your happy with it you can save your work and were ready to export your icons.

Export your new icon by selecting File ->> Export Bitmap
Under Export Area select the entire page

The Bitmap Size should be you're new width and height namely 16x16 pixels. If its not, be sure that you selected export area to entire page

Select your desired export location in the Filename dialog box. Name your new icons and give it a .png filename extension.
Click export.

Inkscape has a handy feature which allows you the option to export specific areas of an image, more exporting specific areas of a page in the forthcoming Creating Round Corner Modules tutorial.

Great, now we should have our 16x16 pixel favicon with no background color, ready to upload.

2) Upload your new favicon

Now we open Filezilla, at this point we need to upload the image to the default location Joomla uses to call up you particular favicon image from. We assume that you already have your Filezilla setup and connected to your server successfully. If not have a look at the Using FTP to connect to your website's server tutorial.

Now need to upload our new icon to our default templates root folder, something like,

public_html/templates/default_template

In this folder you will see an existing favicon.ico file (this is the default templates favicon)
Rename this file to favicon.ico_old so that we can use it again should we need to.
Upload the your new png icon to your templates root folder.
Once uploaded successfully rename the image to the filename "favicon.ico"

Hit refresh on your website and that should be it.

Remember, due to internet and browser caching it can take a few hours for your new favicon to show. Be patient, it will apear. If it hasn't yet check that the file name is named correctly " favicon.ico" and that it is located in your selected templates root folder.

And that's it. Now you can whip up sharp favicons at the drop of a hat. Enjoy

Article Notes:

Software I used during this tutorial

Inkscape - To create your icons, this one of the most easy to use and flexible open source vector graphics editor Ive used (perfect for creating great web buttons and icons)
Download Inkscape

Filezilla - A free FTP solution to upload files to your website's server
Download Filezilla

Resources to create your favicon using an online editor.
If you dont want to download Inkscape you can easily create you favicon using an online editor. Check out Favicon.com for one of the easier to use, reliable solutions.

A little background

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:15:10 +0000

My name is Josh Weerdenburg and I am a freelance web designer/architect, strategist and entrepreneur. Currently I operate from Stellenbosch in the beautiful Western Cape Winelands of South Africa and aim to provide a simple and reliable service to my clients.

Fresh, robust and innovative designs combined with professional service and a personal touch to make your web presence both simple and effective without compromising it's design integrity or stylish finish. Joomlawebdesigner.co.za is the re-launched website of sensison.com which was the original website I used as a freelance web architect...

I now specialize in using the Open Source Joomla! cms and have been developing websites, editing or creating templates and using the framework since sometime in 2006 when I first came into face to face with a content management system while working for a tour company. It was one of my duties to keep the website up to date and I knew absolutely nothing of html, css or php then. I jumped into using the system head first and now, looking back at the infinite Google searches, the countless house of trial and error and the frustration of head banging proportions I can finally say that I "am" a designer (or similar). I slowly built up a small client base and filled my portfolio with some pretty decent projects (if I may say so myself) and now I am at the point where I want to step it up a notch and really begin to deliver a top class design service.

I believe in honesty and have a transparent design process, I value your opinion and work with you to achieve the maximum results. What ever your web needs I can help whether its consulting, personal training, designing or maintaining your website. I have a very technical side to me but also enjoy creative design as a process. I appreciate effectiveness via simplicity to convey a stronger message.

I like to keep things personal and aim to can provide a service on par with the best.
Thanks for choosing JoomlaWebDesigner.co.za!

Getting Started as a Designer

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 13:32:52 +0000

As my first post I'll keep things really simple. I'll list some of my favourite resource websites and places to visit when looking for good information, advice, tips, tutorials or just a few friendly words from other designers.

My aim here is to provide my existing and new clients with a friendly place to interact with me online, to see that I am active and that I care about keeping them in the loop and staying in touch. I would also like to use it to network and connect with other web designers or Joomla! fundi's. Now, by no means do I claim to be a expert, but if you have visited any forum or community website and have received advice from some helpful samaritan when you were stuck, you will have experienced the relief and and joy of getting an answer to a question which has had you stumped and pulling your hair out first hand.

It's always great when someone offers you some thoughful advice and you are able to get on with what you were doing. I've reached the point where I think I've been learning and "sitting in the wings" for too long and that it's high time that I give something back and get out there as a serious designer. Thats's why I'm starting this weblog. To provide help and advice to the new and the existing website design and Joomla users community to the best of my abilities.

Should you spot something which is not quite right, you have a constructive comment or if you would just like to link with me please feel free to contact me of leave a comment.

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We are changing our name

Wed, 07 Jul 2004 12:00:00 +0000

Since Ive begun working as a freelancer Ive been working under the old web handle "sensison" which i used during my gaming days. The name stuck and almost always assured successful registrations where a username is required. Ive come a long way since than and have more clients who demand a higher quality service. Isnt that in actual fact what were all striving for? So thus I decided that the name sensison.com has to go and something a bit more befitting and relative to what I do and not who I am is in the cards.

This is an early heads up

Ive already registered the new domain and I will shortly I will be relaunching this website as "joomlawebdesigner.co.za"
Not to worry though. This wont affect my existing clients in any other way other than seeing my new domain name when they receive emails from me or browse to my site. Also, please bear in mind that the footer on your website which we have designed will also be updated.