Best way to learn CSS?
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- canuck0
Pick up the book "CSS mastery" by andy budd it's about 3 years old now, but it is a good starting point to learn the fundamentals.
Dreamweaver is fine, just use code view. Only use design view to get visual overview of how it starting to come together.
- Milan0
The most important things to learn with CSS:
- box model
- difference between block and inline elements
- difference between relative and absolute positioningOnce you learn this, everything else is a piece of cake.
- + float/clearing
Mojo - that too!Milan
- thanks I'll make sure i get those nailed before carrying onProjectile
- + float/clearing
- Milan0
What moth said earlier, use a reset. I find this to be enough for most projects:
* {
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
- ETM0
I find the biggest problem when designers want to switch to CSS is that they immediately want to create large complex layouts like they did previously with tables etc.
The best way is just to start really basic and build on it once you get comfortable. Start by getting the most basic, header, left nav and right content layout working. Play around with it.
When you're good with that, start positioning elements (divs, images etc.) with floats. Play with the values and see (understand) the results. You have to start with the basics or you will always be overwhelmed. You don't build a house without learning how to even frame a wall.
Also, while learning, add a unique background color to every div while you are laying things out. It will help you identify what is messing things up when things go wonky. Pretty soon when the foundation is solid, and you can create these basics without referencing anything, you'll have the understanding to start wrapping your head around bigger concepts.
- everything after ETM is subjectively questionable in this post.version3
- version30
dive in head first with your feet planted firmly on the ground and your head in the clouds
- monNom0
Make up a project and just get started. If you don't know the first thing about it, start small and adapt someone else's code so you're at least working on something that's not completely eff'd. When you run into a problem, look it up and figure it out.
That's what I did/do anyways.
- pillhead0
Lynda.com, then just get on with putting a test page together. Thats what I did, the best tip I can give you is learn how to layout DIV properly, and do not go onto any other steps until you fully understand what's going on with the layout of the web page and the conflict you will encounter with DIV tags, it will save you a lot of pain in the long run.
- ETM0
And absolutely understand the concept of hierarchy and inherited values. It will help you trace phantom issues as well as write cleaner CSS by not repeating unneeded values.
- hilchev0
there is no way to
- forcetwelve0
i taught myself basic stuff by opening free templates off the web in cssedit and looking through and changing the styles. it's really simple when you get the hang of it (basic stuff anyway).
- this is what i did as well. Then use online stuff for learning further. am still learning though ;)theredmasque
- clearThoughts0
I find it hard to believe that somebody doesn't know HTML or CSS.
I'm sure 99.7% of the worlds population doesn't, but I just been pretty much working with HTML for the past 9 years and it just became such a natural thing to me...- Some people are still making the CSS change. Nothing to knock the guy for.ETM
- *hangs head in shame*Projectile
- clearThoughts0
What's difficult to understand on a <p> tag or <h1> tag....
or something like 'margin-left: 20px' ??- type styling is the easy part, layout is the unpredictable part....vaxorcist
- OSFA0
Overcharge your projects and hire one of those web guys to do it... ;)
- yeah that's what I've been doing, but then I thought.. the web guy must be overcharging me!!Projectile
- pablito0
Find tutorials like this one : http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorial…
- sixdeuce0
http://store.lynda.com/ProductIn…
this book was a HUGE help to me. i definitely recommend it.
- zenmasterfoo0
Jeffery Zeldman's book: Designing with Web Standards.
It's an essential. Trust me.