Topic: Do you comp your websites?

*this thread has a little bit o' Photoshop and web design in general - moderators please move it if you feel necessary*

I was wondering how many web people composite their clients' websites in Photoshop before signing/coding/etc with a client. I have found this to be an excellent way to satisfy some of the problems of freelance and business transacting. For example:

1. The client "sees" what he is getting before he buys the website.
- I only composite the home page, but in doing so gives the client an idea of color, layout scheme, style, etc.
- I charge for this composite. Given the investment of a website, this charge is typically small beans. A serious client will appreciate the leverage of previewing the work. If the client doesn't like something, it usually only requires some tweaking. In any scenario, we both leave with something.

2. I am able to get immediate feedback before diving into a commitment that I may perhaps regret because I am spending tireless hours revising things.
- I only commence work after a "composite" has been accepted. It's nice to be able to change things on well-organized Photoshop layers. Much less time consuming than revising something YOU thought was good enough.

3. It's competitive practice.
- Many small firms in my area do not offer this feature of previewing a site's design without the processing of HTML coding, and without signing. I have found this out from many clients that actually research the companies before buying.
- I can jump back into procuring prospects with the time I have saved if a client is not ready to buy.

4. Recycle/Reuse/Re-evaluate
- If a composite was not up to par with a client, I have gotten paid for it - and no financial disappointment from the client. From there, I am able to evaluate my mishaps for the next chance.
- Basing new designs off older, rejected ones can really bring surprising results.
- I have not been rejected for work from a prospective client in almost a year now.

5. Add some ImageReady, and the process becomes very modular
- Through slicing images in ImageReady, I am able to accomodate a client's last-minute decision in colors/styles (even on sites going into the pre-launch phase) with a mere layer style and "Save Optimized As..."
- Clients seem to enjoy the fact that I can tweak existing graphical elements in seconds - instead of hours.

6. Ability to offer multiple styles
- Some quick rearranging in Photoshop can give clients more decision in how their site will look. Many clients love this fact, and feel as though they are taking a large part in the development process.
- Some just like the fact that I am delivering more than one layout scheme for them to pick. No skin off my back, and saved time when a client mentions "That one is definitely closer to what I had in mind."

After compositing, I will take the "page" into ImageReady and output the majority of the HTML for positioning in my fav HTML editor. Even though I have to weed out some unnecessary code, I am still ahead of the game. Finally, running some simple server-side scripting reduces the formatting of multiple pages down to a few hours of work.

Does anyone else develop from composites? How does it work for you?

i have read through all you points and i really have to agree you in all ways.
i'm doing it completely like you, except i don't charge for the preview...good one thumper.

oh and that other companies don't do the preview in PS....yup thats right man. A point for us.

elysiumart

I always make em in photoshop first too.

[quick reply mode on]Indeed, that's what we've always done at work. In fact, I don't imagine to work differently[quick reply mode off]

Mathieu "POÏ" HENRI

I do the same thing, only I create the comps in Illustrator (easier to move things around, and my graphical style fits better with Illustrator anyway). I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a good designer who doesn't work with the client to find a design that makes everyone happy before wading into the mess of actual site coding and production.

Cell 1250 :: alanmacdougall.com :: Illustrator tips

moving this over to the outpatient-forum.

Look there to find this thread.

Always. Wouldn't know how to do this any other way. Not only for client approval but that's what I'll use to build the site in the end anyway.

Generally though initial design tends to be 1-3 comps. Showing 3 seperate designs and layouts tends to ease the process actually in the long run because the client can mix and match different parts making the review process easier. Usually in terms of charging I charge 1/3 up front for the design process, 1/3 before developemnt and the last 1/3 on delivery. The client can back out before any of these charges.

Sometimes I'd do the home page first to get a general design approval and then after a design is chosen I'd do comps of the other types of pages.

Generally this is the process I've used of been involved in I'm more over a developer than designer.



.:[ Never resist a perfect moment ]:.

I actually have a 4 step process:

Architecture Document- How the site is organized: file structure, content and features.

Wireframes- these are placement of content and functionality, no design or graphical elements. I use these to to determine user interaction and useability. They also allow me to nail-down what exactly a client wants on the page and what their priorities are. Its easier to move boxes around than finished graphics. Usually done with rectangles in illustrator.

Photoshop Comp- Design work...show client the look and feel of the site.

Coding

Wireframing has become indespinsible for clients who have very specific needs or are fuzzy about what they want.

--tiki