How do I create professional banners for websites?

ukonlineshopping

Hi,

I run a website and have done most of my own banners/promos on the site, but only very basic plain designs. Looking to step it up.

I was wondering what software/techniques/images the top UK ecommerce retailers use for banners.

Here is the type of banners I am looking to do
http://www.sportsdirect.com/

Could these be created in Photoshop Elements or is Photoshop needed?
What techniques steps are needed to do these?
Where do they get the images from, fotolia etc??

Thanks in advance

4Fingus

Dont laugh, give the GIMP a go! http://www.gimp.org/

It's free and has good tutorials. Easy to create basic banners.

Images can be obtained on a few free sites but I suggest paying for the rights using a site like http://www.istockphoto.com

ukonlineshopping

What features on the menus do I need to use to create the likes of those on the link?

RealGem

I use Photoshop so I don't know which exact features you'd need to do that in Gimp, but I know that Gimp still has a bit of a learning curve. There are many Gimp tutorials on YouTube, but it could take some time to learn the specifics of what you need to do.

Try putting "banner maker" or "banner generator" into Google. There are lots of online tools that will do it. Some are free and the premium versions are paid, but not very expensive, and a lot quicker to learn, as they just make banners so they don't have lots of other features you don't need.

One free one you can try is called Bannersnack. Look at some examples here: http://www.bannersnack.com

A paid one that you can use right away is:
http://bannermakersite.com/
I just made a free text only one that looks ok, and the most you pay is $4.90 about £3.

neilwoods

Are you looking to do static banner or flash based. Most of them will be using photoshop and Illustrator. Some will use dreamweaver or other flash based program to make the flash based banners.

Creating professional looking banners is not as easy as it looks.

As for branded images, logos and the fonts used, royalties will have to be paid. That is assuming they let you, especially if your sites are profit making.

richt71

I'd cheat and get someone to create them for you on fiverr.com - everything on there costs $5 (£3) to get done. You can check ratings and how many orders are pending.

Notmyrealname

ukonlineshopping wrote: »

What features on the menus do I need to use to create the likes of those on the link?

Working out what features to use is the least of your problems as you can do what you want in MS Paint.

The first and most important thing you need is imagination, creativity and and a good idea for a design. Without those its not even worth firing up the application.

tombruton87

you say you have created a website have you just used an editor to make it or have you written it in html and css?

those types of banners are made using javascript. Most ppl use the query library just like the one in the sports direct site.

there are some jquery banner making tutorials just follow one of those. you just need some standard images to go with it. If you find it too hard pay some1 else to do it. Or invest time learn a bit of html and css 1st