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Qindex is a Tayside based Graphic Design Consultancy specialising in Logo Design, Branding, Design for Print, Packaging Design, Advertising Graphics, Exhibition Displays Graphics and Website Design. (Photography service in Angus avaiable).

Dynamic web designers with combined experience in all areas of contemporary graphic design taking projects through from the initial concept to finished website / print or digital output display.

Brochure web design, Logo designers, Graphic design, Print, Graphic design, Logo design, Corporate identity design, Brand identity, Graphic logo design, Graphic designers, Contract publishing, Magazine design, Freelance artworker, Website design, Flash animation, Exhibition graphics, Display graphic, Illustration, Artwork, Advertising, Ad design, Advert design, Advertising graphics, Marketing, Copywriting, Flyer design, Leaflet design, Mailouts, Poster design, Catalogue design, Catalogs, Brochure design, Brochures, Web design and print.

 

Web Designers Definitions

Above the fold, fold, scroll-line, canvas.

Above the fold is the part of a web page that is visible in your web browser window when the page loads and is described as being above the fold.

Link, absolute, relative, root.

Three ways to define the destination of a hyperlink where the destination is a web page or image etc.

Web accessibility.

Web accessibility is about enabling equal access to online content and services for all people, including those with visual and mobility impairment.

ASP, Active Server Pages, Application Service Provider.

Active Server Pages.

Active Server Pages is an authoring environment. ASP is commonly used for developing databases.

Application Service Provider.

Application Service Provider is the term given to companies that rent or lease software often across the internet. Such software ranges from web specific log analysis tools, search engine promotion to general business and accounting packages.

Address bar, address field.

Internet users often type website addresses into a search engine keyword field. As a result it is wise to include your website address in homepage metadata.

The address bar is the input field at the top of the browser window that displays the location (URL) of the current web page. The address bar can also be used to enter a new web page location.

Alternative, alt text, alt tag.

The alternative text, alt attribute provides a text only description of an image.

Animated gif.

A single graphic file that contains a series of images which are animated to give the illusion of movement or change over time.

Animation is best used sparingly on text intensive web pages. Movement may add a dynamic feel to content but also distracts the user from reading text on the page.

Anti-alias.

Aliasing is the distortion of a continuous line due to the nature of screen display, which relies on a matrix of pixels. Anti aliasing visually corrects this by introducing additional coloured pixels to give the impression of a continuous line or curve.

Applet.

An applet is a programme that runs inside another application such as as web browser. The programme starts when the page it is contained within is downloaded. Applets are often used to create features including news bars or more sophisticated interfaces than those supported by the HTML standard. Java is an example of a coding language in which applets can be created.

Assumed knowledge.

Assumed knowledge is the internal understanding of a system or service. It can be the root cause of poor information structure often epitomised by menus that use exclusive industry specific terminology.Relying unconsciously upon assumed knowledge leads an organisation to create a site that uses models or structures that are not applicable to the target audience.

Asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL)

ADSL is a digital communication technology standard that enables telephone lines to send and receive data as well as analogue information. Unlike a dial-up analogue modem, an ADSL connection is continuous always on. The connection is asymmetric in that more of the channel is allocated to receiving data than sending. This reflects the usage patterns of typical subscribers, with more time spent browsing than maintaining websites.

Web authoring.

Authoring is the process of creating, typically used to describe the process of web designing and, at a technical level, building a website.

Web authoring application tool.

A computer program used to create or maintain websites is often referred to as a web authoring tool such as Adobe Dreamweaver.

Auto responder.

An auto responder is an application triggered when a user sends email to a specific address or submits a web form. Auto responders can provide an automated email response to inquiries from potential customers. Such an email may contain price lists, a touring schedule or demonstration dates. More sophisticated auto responders can be configured to send follow-up correspondence, keeping your organisation top of mind.

Back-end, front-end.

A back-end is an information structure or application, e.g. database. The companion term front-end is the interface that allows a user to access the information or application.

Bitmap.

A bitmap is a pixel based image file. Each pixel within the image is assigned a colour value creating the final image. JPEG and GIF images are examples of bitmap file types.

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), style sheet, styles

The Cascading Style Sheets Specification (CSS) is a computer language that is used to write formatting instructions, rules. These rules tell a web browser how web page content should look.

Client-side, server-side.

If a web pages content can be customised or used to complete an activity, interaction is either client-side or server-side.

Client-side.

Supports interaction within a web page. Client-side scripting enables interaction within a web page. The code required to process user-input is downloaded and compiled by the browser or plug-in. An example of a client-side interaction is a rollover typically triggered when choosing a navigation option.

Client-side scripting languages include JavaScript.

Server-side.

Information is sent to a server to be processed With server-side scripting, completing an activity involves sending information to another computer ( server ) across the internet. The server then runs a program that process the information and returns the results, typically a web page.

Search engines use server-side processing. When a keyword is sent, a program on a server matches the word or phrase entered against an index of website content. To complete the same search as a client-side process would require the browser to download the entire search engine program and index.

Server-side scripting languages include ASP and PHP.

Common Gateway Interface (CGI). Common Gateway Interface is a standard that allows a web page to communicate to its host server to activate a script such as an email feedback form.

cgi-bin

The cgi-bin is a directory on the server where CGI scripts ( binaries ) are stored. Scripts stored in this directory are able to run processes on the server.

Content.

Content is web designer, web developers speech for the text, images, sound, video, etc., that a website contains, and that can be viewed using a web browser.

Depending on the web browser a person is using, ‘content’ may be perceived to also include non web media formats such as Word documents and PDF's. For example plug-ins for Internet Explorer can automatically open Word documents and PDF's within the web browser window.

Content management system ( CMS ).

A web content management system allows a number of people to maintain a website using a simple web-browser-based interface instead of manually authoring web pages. Content management systems generally consist of a number of templates corresponding to standard types of information,

Event promotion
Staff profiles
Press releases
Product listings

Privileges.

Users of the system may be assigned specific privileges to restrict the types of change they can make to the website.

For example, the communications manager might only be able to add and edit press releases; changes to product pricing can only be made by the product manager.

Deep-linking.

Confirm that they have reached the right destination use the title of the destination page as the link text. Deep linking is linking directly to a sub-page of a site rather than the homepage.

Default

A default is the initial state of a page. With software the defaults are the preference settings a program has before you change them to suit your particular tastes.

Default settings are important as they can easily become the status quo. Document templates for programs such as Microsoft Word are the starting point for less adventurous / experienced computer users. In the case of Word, this includes using English for spell checking, leading to the unintentional substitution of commonly used words, e.g. colour, and favourite.

<div>

A <div> ( division / section ), is a block level HTML element that can be used to add structure / group content. A web page might include, a navigation menu, articles and web advertising. In the HTML code, the three types of content might be separated, by placing each in its own <div>.

Document type definition (DTD)

The DTD affects the way a web page displays in different browsers. This is particularly noticeable when setting type sizes and also affects the padding and spacing around elements.

The document type definition (DTD) is the validation standard used by a browsing device when it displays a web page. The definition specifies the code base used language by the web page and consequently the elements that are valid.

Document type declaration ( doctype ).

The document type declaration is often referred to as the doctype. The DTD is specified in a document type declaration, the formal presentation of the chosen DTD. The declaration is made before the content of the web page. Document type declaration, specifying a ( strict ) DTD.

Domain name system ( DNS ) server.

Domain name system ( DNS ) server resolves a domain name to an internet protocol IP address. The domain name www..CO.UK is resolved to the IP address 200.00.200.00. as an example. You can access a website by typing either its domain name or the IP address into the address field of a web browser.

Dots per inch ( DPI ).

Photographic images are typically printed at 300 DPI. At around 600 DPI the halftone pattern is no longer discernible to the unaided human eye. Dots per inch is a metric from offset printing that describes the reproduction quality of the printed image. Printed images are commonly created using a dot halftone pattern. The smaller the halftone dots, the greater the number of dots that can be printed within a set area and the finer the reproduction quality.

Screen resolution.

In comparison to print media, screen based images are of a much lower quality resolution. The finest ‘dot’ is limited to a single pixel. Images optimised for screen display are usually 72 DPI a quarter the typical resolution of a printed image. This lower resolution is the reason why images from web pages appear ‘pixilated when printed.

Navigation.

Navigation is both the system that a visitor can use to move around a website global navigation, breadcrumb trails, related links, pagination previous / next page, footer navigation, etc. and the visual manifestation of such systems hyper linked text, tabs, buttons, etc..

Website navigation has two main functions.

To tell the user where they are ... and to enable the user to go some where else. In the case of text based hyperlinks, navigation may also inform the user of where they have been. Navigation is often referred to when discussing website structure and information architecture.

Graphic interchange format ( GIF ).

The graphic interchange format is a file compression system used to reduce the size of image files. Best used to optimised images containing large areas of flat colour.

Host, web hosting.

For a website to be viewed by other people it must be stored on a computer server that is connected to the internet. A company that provides this service is known as a web host; and the service it provides is hosting.

Hyperlink.

Often shortened in conversation to link, the hyperlink is the core concept / technology that allows the web to operate. A hyperlink connects one web page to either, Another document web page or file, or a different part of the same document.

Signifying a hyperlink.

A hyperlink is typically signified by an underline. For this reason, when formatting text for web display, avoid the use of an underline for emphasis. Instead, set content in a bold or italic / oblique variant of the body copy typeface.

Information architecture ( IA )

Information architecture describes the structure and methodology by which information such as website content is organised.

Information architecture is typically formulated through consideration of user intention primary tasks and managing the relationship between the user and content or services how tasks can be completed. A humanist perspective would place emphasis on catering solely to the user’s needs however, for commercial organisations, business needs are an additional consideration. A business may want to promote messages or products that would not be actively sought out by the user.

Internet.

The internet is a global network of inter connected computers. The internet provides the infrastructure through which software applications or services such as email, websites and instant messaging operate.

Intranet.

An intranet is an internal networked communication tool often accessed through a web browser. An intranet is often a means of establishing a corporate culture and can become an active means of managing an organisation’s day to day activities.

JavaScript.

JavaScript is a client-side scripting language. It is often used to supplement the standard web browser GUI elements such as drop down menus, check boxes and buttons to create more sophisticated interfaces.

Navigation roll-over's, drop down and fly out menus. Customising and controlling new browser windows pop up windows. Checking content before allowing a user to submit a form validation.

Joint Photographic Expert Group ( JPEG )

An imaged reduced in file size for web display is described as optimised. A JPEG is a file format used to reduce the file size of an image. It is best used to compress photographic or continuous tone imagery. For images that use flat colours and where maintaining a consistent hue is important, GIF or PNG file formats should be used.

Data compression.

Speed of download has a significant impact on the experience of using the web. If a website takes too long to display, a person will simply use the back button and choose another website from the list of search results that they’re using as a starting point for finding content, products or services.

Data compression is one way of reducing the time it takes for a web page to load, by reducing the data size or file size of the individual files that make up a web page.

Compressing photos.

One form of data compression, that has become relatively common place, is used to reduce the size of photographic image files. Most consumer digital cameras now use JPEG compression to fit more images onto a data drive, memory stick, etc. The JPEG file format is also used when creating photographic images for the web.

Digital photos.

A digital photo comprises of thousands of individual picture elements or pixels. If you use image manipulation software, and zoom into a photograph, these individual pixels are clearly visible. Viewed at a distance, pixels become harder to distinguish from the overall image. A digital image file contains instructions that a display device such as a computer monitor uses to recreate the photo by turning on the appropriate number of pixels, and making each pixel the correct colour and brightness.

JPEG compression reduces file size by using mathematical equations or algorithms to store colour values. Rather than exact instructions for each and every pixel, colour values are approximated by using algorithms to record in general, how colour values change over an image.

The JPEG compression also reduces file size by reducing the range of colour values in an image. This reduction in the range of colour values is commonly referred to as clipping and has the effect of reducing the overall tonal range of an image, highlights become slightly darker and shadows slightly lighter.

Lossless and lossy compression.

Data compression is often discussed in terms of the fidelity of the compressed data to the source data. A compression method that results in a file that is an exact match for the source data is described as lossless, while a compression method that results in data that in some way differs to the source is described as lossy.

Taking the example of a digital image, JPEG compression is lossy compression pixel colour values are stored using algorithms that only approximate the pixel values of the source image.

With a photo, high-quality JPEG compression will result in a clearer, brighter image; low quality JPEG compression will result in a poor image, often with noticeable banding in areas of continuous tone such as solid colours or gradients.

Markup.

Markup comprises a set of symbols or a language that can be used to provide instructions. The use of markup is supported by rules that define the symbols and how they should be used. A web page is created by marking up content text, images, etc. using the Hyper Text Markup Language HTML.

The markup provides instructions to the software used for viewing a web page web browser on how the page should look and work.

Markup and typesetting.

Markup standards are not exclusive to web or computer based technologies. Markup is not exclusive to web and computer based technologies. Prior to electronic publishing, plain text would be marked up with instructions to the typesetter. These instructions would indicate that text were a heading, quotation, caption, etc.

Based on the markup, the text would be styled using the appropriate typeface, point size and weight.

Metadata, meta element, meta tags.

Web page metadata elements are often referred to as meta tags. Metadata is information about information , classification by subject, format and author..

Natural language.

Depending on how your website is hosted, mixing upper and lowercase letters in filename may break your links, stick to all lowercase and no punctuation apart from hyphens.

Natural language is using human readable labels for file and folder names based on the content they contain. The files containing information on your organisation may be contained within a folder labeled about us and named about-us.html

Optimise / optimize, optimisation / optimization

The aim of optimisation is to reduce the time it takes to access a website or run a program. Images, application and XHTML code can all be optimised.

Using CSS significantly improves the speed of a website, a single style sheet can be used for all pages but is downloaded only once.

Search engine optimisation.

Web pages can also be optimised for to improve ranking on search results pages search engine optimisation.

PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor ( PHP ).

PHP was originally an abbreviation of Personal Home Page, tools. The language was initially developed by Rasmas Lerdorf.

PHP is an open-source, server-side scripting language. The language can be used to write programs routines that output code. When a web page using PHP is accessed, routines generate the markup to be downloaded to the browser.

PHP can also be used to connect to a database; to retrieve, add or update content. This makes PHP an ideal language for creating large scale websites.

PICture ELement ( pixel ).

A pixel is the smallest unit of display used on a screen. Digital images are made up of a grid of individually coloured pixels.

Portable network graphics (PNG).

A PNG is a bitmap image file format.The PNG format was developed as a patent free replacement to the GIF format created by CompuServe in 1989 ( as in the GIF 89A export function in early versions of Photoshop.

The new standard supports a range of features not available in the GIF format: Alpha transparency, allowing clean matting against colour backgrounds and image wide opacity. Gamma and chromaticity correction, information about the originating platform is stored in the image file allowing it to compensate for a range of displays.
Metadata, the file can contain text information on the image title, author, description and copyright. Smaller file size PNG files average 30% smaller than their index colour GIF counterparts, and 30-40% than the equivalent RGB TIFF. Quicker display due to an advanced interlacing scheme a preview of a PNG image is available after downloading on 1/64th of the image data compared with 1/8th for GIF files

Standards compliant mode, quirks mode, compatibility mode.

The design of a web page, or at least how it looks, is determined by a number of factors, How the page has been designed, layout, typefaces and media types used; The language used to author the page, HTML, XML or XHTML. The software used to view the web page, web browser. The language the web browser thinks has been used to author the web page. The final point is where the concept of modes come in.

Changing the web browser’s rendering mode is referred to as doctype switching.

Contemporary web browsers (circa 2000+), have been built to render web pages with reference to World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) recommendations. However, the same web browsers are still used to view pages authored to historical and / or proprietary standards.

To enable backward-compatibility old web pages working in new web browsers, contemporary web browsers can be directed to render web pages in different modes.

robots.txt

As a website indexing is automated, the program used is often referred to as a robot or ‘bot. A robots.txt is a permissions file that can be used to control which web pages of a website a search engine indexes. The file must be located in the root directory of the website for a search engine website indexing program spider to reference, if the website address is www..CO.UK then the robots.txt file must be located at www..CO.UK/robots.txt

Respecting robots.txt directives is a courtesy spiders are not prevented from indexing content even if a robots.txt ban is in place.

Robots.txt directives.

The robots.txt file contains instructions ( directives ) that are read by spiders. Directives can be written to apply to all spiders or only target spiders from a specific search engine.

If a website has no robots.txt file, then a spider will follow links from the web page that has been registered with its parent search engine to index the website content.

Search engine marketing ( SEM ).

Search engine marketing involves a strategic approach to driving / attracting users to a website.

Search engine optimisation ( SEO ).

Search engine optimisation is a process or strategy for creating web page content to improve a website’s relevance ranking on a search engine results page ( SERP ).

Shockwave, Flash.

Shockwave is a plug-in that allows your browser to display content generated by Adobe applications.

Shopping cart, shopping basket, ecommerce.

A shopping cart or basket is an ecommerce application that allows a user to collect items while browsing an online catalogue. When finished searching the user is then able to move to a check out where the cost of purchases is totaled and payment details taken.

Sitemap.xml

A site map provides an overview of website content in a manner similar to the contents page of a book. Sections and pages are typically listed according to narrative flow, if the author intends for pages to be read in a specific order or alphabetically or by chronology if content pages are essentially unrelated. The later is the case in news websites, where articles are often archived by topic, and then by title or publication date.

Splash page.

On the web, a splash page is an introduction to a website, placed before the homepage. These pages are often animated and introduce the products, services or mission of the organisation. The term is borrowed from computer program loading or start up screens containing company and author credits along with copyright and patent notices.

Unicode, Unicode transformation format ( UTF 8 )

Apart from the occasional flourish, the English language has benefited from the lack of diacritics when it comes to computer use. Non English and particularly non Roman languages use characters not found on the standard qwerty keyboard layout.

Uniform resource locator ( URL ).

A uniform resource locator ( URL ) identifies the location of a website on the internet. This is simultaneously a text string, url address and a number.

Usability, accessibility.

Usability is a measure of the quality of a person’s experience in interacting with content or services. Initially a discipline focused on computer software development, usability also relates to website design and is evaluated in terms of, ease of learning.

Vector, vector-based image files.

Vectors are a method of describing graphic elements using a mathematical relationship, magnitude and direction between points. Programs such as Freehand and Illustrator allow the user to create graphic elements by this method. Flash takes advantage vector encoding to reduce animation file size.

Web 2.0

‘Web 2.0 encapsulates a rethinking and reinvention of how the web is used, and might be used. The phraseology is that of software engineering, where the release of a new version is denoted by appending a number to the software title.

Taken at face value, the term has proven problematic. Key criticisms of the term are that the web is not a piece of software, and that many of the ideas collected under the Web 2.0 moniker are not new in a either a programmatic or technological sense.

Beyond its initial use to describe an approach to software development, the term has also entered popular usage as a synonym for new ness leading to comparisons with pre dot com bust buzzwords such as killer app, bleeding / leading edge.

Web accessibility.

Web accessibility is about enabling equal access to online content and services for all people, including those with visual and mobility impairment.

Structuring content using code that indicates information types and hierarchies semantic markup, semantic markup enables a screen reader to emulate the process of scanning a web page using headings and link text and read web page content aloud. Marking up content with hooks that enable content to be effectively accessed with assistive technologies such as screen readers. Creating an interface that is device neutral, keyboard alternatives to mouse-based interaction.

Web standards.

Authoring web content to the specifications recommended by the World Wide Web Consortium ( W3C ) is often referred to as a web standards approach.

As the W3C specifications are created independent ( although not exclusive ) of corporate interests, they provide a standard reference point for web browser developers and content authors. If both developers and authors refer to the same set of specifications, then a web page should look and function consistently, across all browsers.

What you see is what you get ( WYSIWYG ).

Pronounced wiz-e-wig, a wysiwyg is a graphical user interface ( GUI ) where the user appears to interact with an accurate, screen based representation of an end product. This form of software interface was pioneered by computer programs used for creating print documents, specifically newspapers.

In early desktop publishing systems, before the introduction of a wysiwyg, an author would format text by assigning a content type to copy. They would specify whether text were a headline, caption, quotation. The onscreen representation would indicate which content type had been assigned, but not emulate how the text would look when printed.

OS X (Eastings) 346398 OS Y (Northings) 750742 Nearest Post Code DD8 2JH Lat (WGS84) N56:38:43 (56.645407) Long (WGS84) W2:52:32 (-2.875670) LR NO463507 mX -320118 mY 7652265 = Yeaman Street Forfar Angus in Tayside.

Hudghton family history tree by Fred Hudghton in Tayside Scotland UK.

Website designer in Angus for web design of the highest professional quality.

Qindex formed in 2002, and are based near Dundee, Qindex a Dundee web designer agency offers a complete affordable web design and web development service. We provide the expertise and know how to deliver web solutions to clients across a wide range of sectors. From corporate branding, website development, eCommerce, content management systems and internet web marketing, to search engine optimisation and email marketing.

Based in the developing digital new media sector of Dundee, Scotland Qindex are a multimedia web design and creative designer agency near Dundee providing illustration, graphic design, web development and graphics to clients in Tayside, Angus Scotland.

Qindex is a new media design agency practice offering expertise in the areas of website design, design for print, interactive media, commercial photography. Qindex are based in Dundee area, Scotland.

Web Design Dundee UK is a complete affordable web design solution, Web page design, email addresses,, search engine optimisation, search engine submission, domain name and hosting for only £300. Qindex Web Design Dundee offer affordable £300 web design packages consisting of a complete web design and choice of any .co.uk domain name and one years free web hosting. Your web site will be designed to be search engine friendly.

Web site design and graphic design Tayside near Dundee provide high quality web design services and solutions for small, medium and corporate class businesses in Scotland. We are situated in the Tayside region, Angus, Perthshire and Fife in Scotland. We have a large and diverse range of Scottish businesses, individual and organisation clients around the Dundee area.

We offer a high level of web design and graphic design that will enhance the image of your business to appeal to your target market in Dundee Tayside and Angus in Scotland.

Designers