Starting from the beginning

[Megatron9]

Hi!
I've been struggling with figuring out what to do about web design.
to be more specific I've been trying to learn html because I want to make this into a career.
but I dont know what I should learn and how to find a job afterwards.
since this site has some experienced people, I want you to answer me a few questions.
what coding languages do I absolutley have to know (other then html)?
which programs do I need(I have dreamweaver)?
How do I learn design and become good at it?
How do I move on from there and make this into a job?
how did you start out and wind up where you are now?

some help would be appreciated

[netridge]

learn html, css, php... and anything else you can

dreamweaver is a great start, I would try to learn all I can there are some good books at lynda.com that could really help you. As far as job, just learn on your own, make websites for people you know. Those are real good resume builders.

[Horus]

I would recommend to take a look at a template that has been developed by someone else. If you can grab ahold of a standards-compliant HTML template, open it up in Dreamweaver and take a look at it. Try to understand what everything on that page is, and the repercussions of hypothetically removing / deleting it.

It's difficult to begin, but with PHP, once you grasp the logic of it, it becomes a rather simple language. You must have a great knowledge of the things that make it work (know about a compatible backend language, and about variables / arrays, etc) and a knowledge of how to implement the two together. HTML is purely a markup, not a coding language; however, they need to complement each other.

[shaun]

I recommend learn the bare bone basics.. they are HTML and CSS, after you are comfortable with HTML & CSS, you might want to learn a little bit of scripting with JavaScript (or perhaps not, up to you).. Any good web designer is good with the basics! (HTML & CSS) Just google "HTML Tutorial" and "CSS tutorial" etc. or head on over to wc3schools

As for graphics, and layouts, etc. You should learn how to use graphics programs like Photoshop, The GIMP (free), Paint.Net (free), etc.

Once you understand a little HTML/CSS, you can download free website templates (google) and go through the code and you will pick up certain habbits for site designs..

If you want to make a job (or career) out of it. I definitely recommend you get your own website and put up some of your designs, what you know, etc.

Start of small, adding a few designs, improve, add some more designs, advertise, etc.

Hope that helps

Shaun.