RECOMMENDED SOFTWARE

The software we use most for creating websites:
Arachnophilia (free, and a clean html coder)
Dreamweaver MX (useful especially for dhtml)
Paint Shop Pro (inexpensive and very powerful - best image optimizer)
Photoshop (primarily for turning text into images, resizing images)
Master Series CGI Software (website software for forms, members-only areas, shopping carts, and much, much more)
Flash (useful for short movies and embedding MP3 music files)
TopStyle
(a great Cascading Style Sheet editor)

Software for Making Websites:

Macromedia Contribute

A low-cost, easy-to-use program for updating your website without having to know HTML. Great tool for website owners who want to be able to update text and pictures on their sites without having to pay for it, worry about "breaking" the site, or wait for webmasters or web designers to do it. This is not software for building websites, or for doing major revisions, but for basic content updates. It will pay for itself very quickly.

Macromedia Dreamweaver MX

Tools to create a professional Web site. New code view. JavaScript debugger. Integrated O'Reilly code reference. New layout view—design complex pages easily. Code view.

Best Buy

Macromedia Studio MX

Macromedia Studio MX is an integrated suite of software tools for creating rich Internet applications delivered across major platforms and devices. The collection includes Macromedia Flash MX, Dreamweaver MX, Fireworks MX, FreeHand, a developer edition of ColdFusion MX Server, and Flash Player 6.

FREE!!

Arachnophilia 5.4 from Paul Lutus

"Instant View" mode shows your HTML changes as you make them—on each keystroke! Interactive spell checker with 120,000-word dictionary. Accepts fully formatted text, tables, outlines from any Windows 95-compliant application, automatically creates HTML pages. Supports up to 6 Web browsers, switches between them in a flash. Supports development of HTML, frames, CGI, Perl, C++, Java and Javascript with many intelligent tools and functions. Built-in intelligent FTP client automatically uploads changed files, for complete Internet access in one program. Powerful keyboard macros can include system commands, even other macros, for maximum flexibility. User-defined toolbars provide any tags or content you need for any of the supported languages and support system commands as well. User-defined file templates -- allows you to specify default document format and contents. Global search & replace across all open documents, no limit to number of open documents except system resources. Built-in step-by-step tutorials on HTML development, JavaScript, frames, the Internet.

Note: Arachnophila 5.4 is a java-based version this software, which is great if you want to use it on a non-Windows platform.

Download this FREE
software from Arachnoid.com

FREE!!

1st Page 2000 by Evrsoft

1st Page is a powerful html/script editor that suits everyone. From beginners, intermediate to professional web builders, 1st Page is the web editing tool you should use when it comes to creating web sites/authoring scripts. It lets you
access local and remote files, insert and convert files, easily select tags. Supports proportional fonts and full-color customization. Features both design view and code view. Free features include15 dhtml scripts, 17 Perl scripts, 6 HTML scripts, 2 CGI scripts (text clock, text counter), Complete Web Builder Reference, 450 Javascripts/VBScripts (iScripts).

Download this FREE
software from Evrsoft.com

Software for Creating Graphics

Adobe Photoshop Upgrade

Image editing software with an extensive toolset and powerful features. Use for graphic and website design, photography and collage, pre-press, and more. Easily combine crisp, resolution-independent type with pixel-based images. Output sharp type edges with your image to produce high-quality results. Includes extensive new type formatting controls to produce the best-looking text.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0

State-of-the-art image-editing tools. Flexible image-capture options. Prepare images for print, e-mail, andthe Web. Color correction and enhancement.

Jasc Paint Shop Pro 8.0

The complete graphics and photo editor for business. Lets you edit photos, create Web graphics, draw, paint, and animate -- all in one program. Easy to use for beginners, yet powerful enough for the most demanding advanced user. Create cool animations with new Animation Shop 3, included free. (We use this program extensively for creating graphics. It is the best image optimizer available -- better than ImageReady or PhotoShop.

Utilities & Miscellaneous Useful Software

Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Standard

Convert documents from a wide variety of applications to Adobe PDF files. Capture research information from the Web and combine it with reports. Enhanced integration with Adobe Illustrator 10 and Photoshop 7.0. Extra security options. Batch process PDF files with settings for adding security; cropping, rotating, and inserting pages.

Norton AntiVirus 2004 Symantec

Industry-leading virus protection. Maximum Internet virus defense. Expert assistance with new viruses. Automatic updating over the Internet.