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Below are some tips for web design. Keep in mind that these are only the opinions of myself and what I think makes a good web site. So don't freak out if you think otherwise.

Is it me, or do people really hate to credit their sources? What, do you feel stupid that you need help so you decide that you don't need to credit anyone? If you use scripts like Megabook, b2, MT, any other types of scripts, graphics programs like 3D Studio Max, Photoshop, PSP, or anything else, it's only fair that you credit them. For Pete's sake, you're USING their product. At least be courteous enough to give them a link back to their web site. And as for tutorial sites, when you learn a new effect or trick from a tutorial site, give credit. It doesn't mean that you're too stupid to come up with an effect on your own. Heck, go out and read through biographies, historical books, informational books, etc. They all have bibliographies, do they not? It's only human to need help. Knowledge can't just magically pop up in one's head. One must LEARN it first, right?

Please resist the use of too many brushes in your layouts unless the brushes you are using are yours to begin with. Why shouldn't you use too many brushes that aren't yours? Simple. If you take an image, and just place brushes all over it, what part of the layout is yours? None, really. The image isn't yours, the brushes aren't yours. The whole layout technically isn't yours either. Sure, YOU'RE the one who arranged where the brushes will go and how the layout will look like, but ANYONE can do that. A REAL layout would be one with other effects created by yourself, and not just a whole bunch of brushes.

Along with the tip above, it's also wise to resist the use of wallpapers in a layout unless the wallpaper was created by yourself. Cropping someone else's wallpaper and turning it into a layout for your site is similar to stealing. That's almost like stealing The Mona Lisa, changing a few features of it, and called it your own. Not a very smart thing to do, eh? Just make your own graphics. It's not really that hard, y'know.

An annoying habit of new web designers are that they continuously try to advertise their site. Especially in guestbooks, they usually say something to the effect of, "Hey! Nice site! Please also visit mine and sign the guestbook and tell me what you think! Thanks!" It's annoying. People will visit your site if they WANT to. A guestbook is for COMMENTS, NOT for advertising. If you want to advertise, advertise in your own guestbook, but not in someone else's.

Recently, the Opacity effect on text have become a trend. I'm not too fond of it myself, but it's tolerable. However, there are times when people abuse this effect. I've been to sites that have the text so transparent, that it's impossible to read! X__X The text almost blends into the background. Normally, I'd highlight, but since the text color is not the problem, highlighting won't help. Okay, so you think the Opacity text effect is cool and you want to use it. Go ahead. No one's stopping you. Just don't make your text TOO transparent. (Also, the opacity filter isn't valid HTML anyway.)

When writing the CSS for your web site, please be sure to keep your text line height at a fair number. If you make your line height too small, the text looks all clumped together and is extremely hard to read. Also, for the links, be sure that peole can tell the links different from the text.

No music on sites, please. They freeze my computer and every other slow computer out there. However, if you want to scare people away from your site, then feel free to place music on your site. But if you MUST put music on your site without scaring people away, then I suggest you set up a script has a "Play" and "Stop" option. It's more convenient that way, especially if someone dislikes the song on your page, they could turn it off.

If you actually want people to VISIT your site, make sure your layout are a little small than the resolution 800x600. That way, 640x480 users can visit, 800x600 users can visit, and every other screen resolutions users can visit without having to resize their resolutions.

In your web site, refrain from using too much emotions. I've seen some people place emotions after every sentence. It makes a web page look childish. It's okay to use emotions while chatting because I understand how some people use them to express emotions, but on web pages, it's just a bit weird to see emoticons all over the place. Maybe it's just me, but I like more professional-sounding sites. Take a look from the below examples:

Personalized: Hello, and welcome to Adamant, my personal site! ^_^ You are visitor numver 8325. :D You're currently viewing layout three~~!! *-* Sorry if the layout's too bright! @.@ Buuut, I really like the color, so there! XP Anyway, be sure to leave a comment in my guestbook before you leave, or else! XD Enjoy!

Professional: Greetings, and welcome to my personal site, Adamant. You are the 8325th person to grace "Adamant" with your presence. You're currently viewing version three, which features a scenery from a bright summer day. I apologize if it is too bright. However, I'm quite fond of the color, so bear with me. On the other hand, be sure to leave any comments in my guestbook before leaving. Thank you and enjoy your stay!