In this post, I will introduce 7 Highly Practical Photoshop Site Mockups I have came aross on the net from a variety of sources, plus 1 Amazingly Detailed Tutorial About Converting Them into Working Web Pages.

For the 7 mockup tutorials I have selected, although they all aim towards the same objective, the techniques used during the process can be seen differently, mainly because the difference in genre (e.g. corporate design v.s watercolour design). Interesting to see the methods the authors use to achive the end result :)

As for the convertion tutorial I included here, I personally think it’s the best and most detailed one on the net! I’m sure you will find it useful, too. Enjoy :)

Here goes the 7 Highly Practical Photoshop Site Mockups, hope you enjoy them and if you like them and find them useful as I did, give the authors/writers some applause!

Awesome Tutorial Portfolio Design

Hi dudes, our new awesome tutorial! I think this is most detailed and long web design tutorial on the web  with 175 screenshots!!! This tutorial include lots of  trendy photoshop effects.

- By PSD Themes

Create a Clean and Colorful Web Layout in Photoshop

In this tutorial I am going to show you how to create a clean corporate layout in Photoshop. The original layout was created by kuntiz from ThemeForest and I want to thank him for allowing me to write this tutorial.

- By Tutorial9

Corporate WordPress Style Layout

In this tutorial you will learn how to create a corporate wordpress styled layout. If you have any questions about this tutorial be sure to ask in the comments. Also, remember with all the tutorials, the psd is available for download.

- By PSDVibe

Create a Vibrant Modern Blog Design in Photoshop

Taking a closer look into the world of web design this tutorial will cover the process of designing a vibrant and colourful modern blog layout in Adobe Photoshop. Beginning with a blank canvas we’ll go through the process of creating the entire structure and effects from scratch.

- By Blog.Spoongraphics

Creating a Dark Layout Mockup in Photoshop

Welcome to tutorial 209, in this tutorial we’ll be creating a dark layout with some nice unique styling. We’ll also be making our very own custom patterns to go with the layout.

- By HV Designs

Create a Nice Web Portfolio Design with a Watercolored Background in Photoshop

In this step by step tutorial I explain how to realize a nice Web Portfolio Design with a Watercolored Background using two brush sets, a icon pack and some basic techniques.

- By pvmgarage.com

Graphic Design Studio Web Layout

In this tutorial i will show you how easy is to create a layout with transparent buttons. This type of layout was used lately a lot because it is the latest trend in website design.

- By Grafpedia

And here is the one amazingly detailed tutorial about how to convert your design into working page. I personally found it very useful, especially for beginners who have limited knowledge about HTML/CSS.

Converting a Photoshop Mockup

In this first-ever video podcast, I start the conversion process of an Adobe Photoshop mockup of a website, into a real live CSS based website.

- By Chris Coyier from css-tricks.com

That’s it for this post! I hope you find those links/articles useful, and good luck with the mockups :)

Till next time, have a great day!

XHTML.PixelCrayons.COM: Quality PSD to XHTML Conversion in Accurate and Pristine Way

Think you have got the best PSD design for your website? That’s pretty interesting as long as you get time to code it optimally. But however, it is sad for a fantastic designer to code the design when he can put his efforts in producing something incredible at Adobe Photoshop.

To let the designers travail with creativity in Photoshop, and take more web design orders to etch your prominence in offering superb quality website designing, I often outsource XHTML coding.

How to Choose?

This isn’t really easy. Choosing one out of many service providers is a daunting task, more yet when we know that new service providers are adding up in the list daily. Three things that I think no designer would like to compromise with his project are: Timely Delivery, Quality and Customization. Minus one factor, and you aren’t satisfied with the product. This is where I rely on XHTML.PixelCrayons.com which supersedes all others.

With regard to their clientèle and portfolio, they emerge as a web coding service provider that transforms web designs into clean XHTML, CSS code or a WordPress theme in a snap. They are so quick that you might just finish your next web design and get the coded design meanwhile – they promise delivery in 8 hours flat!

You may choose to upload the image file in any extension file, including AI, ZIP and PDF. They are also cool about integrating your design with CMS, Blogging Engine or Shopping Cart.

Client Support

I have entailed the services of all major PSD to XHTML Conversion companies in the market. I lacked to experience seamless client support from all but XHTML.PixelCrayons.com

The response time of XHTML.PixelCrayons.com is quick and thorough. They asked me all necessary questions related to coding and other clarifications on design implementation. They wanted to code it according to my specifications and hence didn’t seize to ask me my requirements along implementation. My markup was then available to me within 8 hours.

The markup delivered is guaranteed to look exactly like the design you created. Here are the two coding packages they offer:

The Basic Package – starting at $99

1. Markups: HTML 4.01 Transitional, XHTML 1.0 Transitional
2. W3C Validation: CSS, XHTML & HTML
3. I.E 6.x / 7.x, Mozilla Firefox, Safari

The Professional Package – starting at $199

1. Markups: HTML 4.01 Transitional, HTML 4.01 Strict, XHTML 1.0 Transitional, XHTML 1.0 Strict.
2. W3C Validation: CSS2 (Advanced CSS Code Structure), XHTML & HTML Browsers Compatibility: I.E 6.x / 7.x, Mozilla Firefox, Safari 2.x/3.x, Opera, Konqueror.
3. Includes: SEO Semantic Code, Load Speed Optimization, Complete Presentation Separation, Maximum Cross-Browser Compatibility.

In addition to the standard packages, they customize various add-ons including layout options, markup options, drop down menus, rollovers, transparent PNGs and integration services.

So while they take care of what they are pro at: Slicing and Coding, you can take care on what you are at: Designing. Keep visiting for more Adobe Photoshop tuts, and you might want to get it XHTML by XHTML.PixelCrayons.com!

It continues to amaze me as to how the web is brimming with PSD to XHTML conversion tutorials – showing experimental WebPages with step by step coding process. But then, with more and more people getting hooked to web development, the demand of tutorials is being equally proportionate. One of the frequently asked questions addressed in PSD to HTML Tutorials is how to slice your PSD into quality HTML and CSS code. It may sound too random, but the beginning in XHTML conversion process matters a little too much.

My acquaintance with many web designers has lately been so strong that I can now get into their shoes and sympathetically understand their point of view. I have realized that the biggest challenge for a successful web designer is to get timely and quality conversion done; and for a seasoned XHTML programmer, it is the beginning process.

The two prerequisites of XHTML are Adherence with Time and Adherence with Quality. After a long association with competent web designers, I have sensed the irrevocable importance of timely work delivery; and along with it the irresistible need of outsourcing to XHTML Conversion companies.

Website design/ development companies can’t take the risk of being behind the times and subsequently cut a large number of potential clients. The recessionary period simply outcasts any chances of loosing clients! Just because the web design companies are brimmed with design orders doesn’t mean saying “no” to new clients, thereby ruining client relationship. So to accelerate time to business value, design pages are outsourced to XHTML.

Stiff competition in the web designing market has also outlined the need for pixel perfect websites, which is precisely one reason why more and more web design companies hire XHTML conversion companies. XHTML is not so much about having a ‘strict code’ as about ‘conformity and compatibility’. E-marketers of the 21st Century have realized that even the high-end booze businesses are making serious efforts to survive in the global recession. This formula reiterates in e-business too- and when it’s about XHTML conversion, quality is revered.

All-in-all, XHTML conversion is all about time, quality and cost- or to be precise, it’s about all three going hand-in-hand. This is well realized by many top notch XHTML service providers who leave no stone unturned in their service offerings. Having said that, I’m going to use this as a basis for how to select a promising PSD to XHTML Conversion Company.

1. Work Process- If you have decided to outsource your PSD for XHTML, it’s not because you want to, but because you have to. Hence you would want the work process to be seamless, easy and less time consuming. Check if the provider allows you to integrate with CMS/Blogging Engine and Shopping cart of your choice. As you are the client, you ought to have choices! Check for the same liberty of choice with PSD file format.
2. Client Support- You are hiring a conversion company primarily for saving time. Quick response time and instant communication options prove to be the success measuring devices.
3. Work Quality- XHTML quality should not only meet, but supersede the PSD mock up design. A qualitative XHTML means quick loading, optimized pages, table free design, cross browser compatibility, SEO semantic code, and most importantly- meeting all client’s requirements- howsoever and whatsoever they may be.

The complicated thing with web programmers is that their learning process never ends. Just as XHTML has overshadowed HTML, some other language/coding style may hammer its identity in the coming days! In an inquisitiveness to know about the XHTML Conversion companies, I surveyed few top-notch companies.

All that glitters is not gold. There really are few who have economical price listings, though they are laid back on time, sometimes it’s the other way round. However there still are few companies who deliver what they promise. They deliver what they say: Quality Code, Timeline Conformance with Top Notch Client Conformation.