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PSD RENDERINGS. Most of the sites I build start with a PSD-Rendering. It's a "taken for granted " on my part, but often the question comes up, "What is a PSD, anyway?" I guess that once you've been doing something for awhile you tend to take some aspects of it as commonplace.

In very simple terms, a PSD is simply a rendered Photoshop image, a graphic "picture" of what a site may look like. I work with clients to get a feel for what they may want, or - in some cases - they simply let me take a free-hand at what I think they may be looking for. Will the site be whimsical or serious? Will it need to address a particular interest or visitor expectation? These are some of the elements which I try to take into consideration and incorporate into the PSD.

When you buy web site templates from the mega-companies/affiliate sites (templatemonster.com, buytemplates.net, dreamtemplate.com, etc.) they usually include the original PSD [Photoshop] file with your purchase. There are sites that even offer free site templates (freewebsitetemplates.com, freetemplatesonline.com, etc.) which include the standard PSD files as well. Most of these are really decent deals. To be totally honest, I even send clients to "roam the hallways" of these sites from time-to-time to see if they can find some ideas on what they would like their site to look like.

However, the problem with standardized (affiliate-type) PSD files is usually two-fold. The first hurtle for most people comes if they have no (or inadequate) experience using Adobe Photoshop - which pretty much makes the file useless to them. It's sort of like having the wall that needs to be painted in front of you, the gallon of paint by your side and then realizing you have no paint brush or roller.

The second hurtle is that when you purchase a template, there can be anywhere from a handful to a few hundred others that have purchased the exact same template. That pretty much sends originality and personality out the door. Don't get me wrong, for some folks and some sites, that might not be an issue. However, I've yet to design and implement a site that is not totally unique. And - most of my html-sliced PSD-renderings actually cost only a small amount more than most purchased generic templates. Compared to affiliate "exclusive" prices (what you'd pay for exclusive rights to a template) - which normally average anywhere from $600-$1,200 - I can rest fairly comfortable on my claim of being affordable.

Basic New Milford Web Design PSD-renderings start in the neighborhood of $45 [USD]. The renderings offer a very visual representation of what your site can or will look like. It also offers an opportunity to "hit some ideas around" - including just about everything from which type of navigation you might be interested in (text, graphic, rollovers, etc.) to what type of character or "look" the site will present. As a matter of practicality, I only begin the actual structure and content of a site after the PSD has been approved.

The entire PSD-process is quite simple. We talk or email some ideas back and forth. Then, I ponder, wander and meander the thoughts and ideas into a visual rendering. I usually publish the rendering on the web so you can see it, and depending on your response to it, it's either a "go" or a "back to the drawing board." From that point, we can get serious about the actual content and scope of a site.

Unfortunately, because of the time involved, I can no longer offer refunds if renderings do not ultimately meet your requirements or needs. But, at the price, it is still a bargain. In fact, I have some "clients" which simply hire me to build a particular PSD and they remarket it. Many larger and more impressive webStudios than New Milford Web Design actually contract for my PSDs simply to keep their site development costs down.

You can get an idea of what actually becomes of PSD-renderings by visiting the gallery of recent web sites. All of the sites there began in PSD-form. Any questions you may have regarding the process are always welcomed and encouraged.

A PSD-file simplifies the puzzle of putting your web site together. Knowing what your site will look like ahead of time, having some input in how it will view and navigate, and - ultimately - taking your site above the "generic" are all reasons for investing in a custom PSD.

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