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As time goes on, I realize that there are some more questions that you guys ask more than others... so I'll try to remember them all and answer them here for you, k?
 "How do you make that stuff? Did you go to school for it?"
Nope, never went to school for art. But if you want to learn how to do things correctly, and get a good job, you need a degree. Graphic design is not just about learning how to make shaded buttons in a paint program. There's art theory and history and color, as well as typography and form and function. I wish I had majored in art, but when I was younger, I chose a different career, and that's ok. Besides, if I really wanted to, I could go back to school. :)
How I do what I do? It's taken years of practice and reading and practicing, over and over and over... and it never ends! I have always been on the artistic side of things, so it was very easy for me to get into it. Takes a lot of time indeed, so you really have to want to do it.
"What do you use to create your images in a lot of your sets?"
The software that I use is listed on my resource pages. A little summary of everything (links are on the other page) - I use Adobe Photoshop® and Illustrator® for everything I create. I experiment with different effects and I use plugins. I'm also very fond of using dingbat fonts for quickie images - they're quick and simple!
I use many photographic images in my work. I distort, color, add to and take away from these images. There are many, many "rules" as to what you can and cannot do with images that you purchase from a stock art company. There's "Royalty Free" collections, and "Rights Protected" collections. An excellent explanation of the two can be found on Comstock's website. *bummer - I just discovered that they don't have that section up there any longer... pooh. But you can do a search on Google to find out more info.
I have also used "Poser" for some of the human forms in the sets (haven't in a long time though). It takes a lot of manipulation to make a Poser figure *not* look like a Poser figure! Generally, I do not like them. They tend to all look like mannequins, and that's not a good thing. (unless, of course, you want a mannequin figure :) I've created most of the ethereal women that are in my sets with this program.
"I don't have much money, I'm a __ (kid, business, broke).
Could you please make me a set?"
As much as I would love to make a special set just for you, I can't. I do this for a living. I have a business of my own that keeps me quite busy. I also still work a couple of days at the hospital for the benefits (and a regular paycheck :) . So you see, not much time left I'm afraid.
I have been making free web sets for you guys for about 7 years now. Started out to be every week, and recently I had to go every other week. (yup, the time issue again!) That's about all I can do for free anymore. I don't mean to be rude or unkind. I get many, many requests every week for stuff, and I couldn't possibly choose to do it for one and not another, ya know? I hope you guys understand.
"How did you set up the graphics like that, and could you give me the html
code with the set?"
As you probably know by now, I use NetObjects Fusion for this site. I love it. It's easy, and the newest version, NOF v. 8.0 is better than ever. This html editor allows me to put anything, anywhere. It uses tables, and when something doesn't fit perfectly, NOF will add a little "clear pixel gif" (which you may notice in the code) to make things fit the way I placed them. Very intuitive.
As far as including the html file with the sets, it would just be that much more stuff for me to do, and truthfully, I really don't care to start that now. Remember, you can always look at the code of my sets (up at the tool bar on the top of your browser -> view -> source, and copy and paste into your html editor or text editor to play with)
"I don't know how to make a web page, make graphics... etc. Could you please help me?"
I suck at tutorials. Plain and simple, I have a hard time explaining things to others. It's easier for me to show you, and since you're not here, that's highly unlikely that I'll be able to show you, ya know? SOooo, I have a few excellent links for you to check out on my resource pages. The #1 place where I send people who ask me those types of questions, is "Lissa Explains." Check her site out!
"I'd like to link to you - do you have a button I could use?"
But of course! Grab one here!
I think that's about it for now. I hope this helped you a little bit. If worse comes to worse and you can't find an answer anywhere on my site, feel free to contact me... I won't bite. really ;)
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