Step-by-step guide for online PSD to HTML5/CSS3 conversion
Photoshop to HTML/CSS conversion requires almost no effort when using automated PSD to HTML service. Nearly everything will be done by the service's software in an automatic way. We do our best to fully automate the PSD to CSS conversion process, but it is a hard task to entirely automate such a creative activity. You can significantly improve the quality of generated HTML/CSS markup by following some simple rules.
- Do not prevent generation of CSS3 styles for layers. When creating the PSD file use ‘Shapes’, 'Layer masks' and 'Clipping masks', 'Blending options'. However, use only those layer styles which can be converted into CSS3 (all the styles, except: ‘Satin’, ‘Bevel & Emboss’). Do not rasterize layers!
- Mark certain layers with tags (hints) according to the PSD to HTML service documentation. To convert Photoshop layer into link, input form, list, table, etc you should mark it with corresponding PSD to HTML tag.
- Group layers logically. Some inexperienced web designers do not maintain precise layers structure in PSD template. Professional web designers tend to unite layers logically into layer groups and thus maintain a strict structure in Photoshop template. We recommend uniting all the layers into logical groups (like header, content, footer, columns, etc.). It will help the service to create an expected HTML document structure from your PSD design.
- One logical image - one layer / Smart Object / layer group with #merge tag. Quite often, designers use several layers to represent one image (for example, logo or background may easily consist of 5-10 layers). Remember, that each visible Photoshop layer will be converted into a distinct HTML element. Usually, you don’t want to have 5-10 images to represent one logical image in HTML markup. To avoid that, put such layers into a separate layer group and add #merge tag to group's name. Another way to achieve the same result is to convert several layers into a single Smart Object.
Also, do not hesitate to help developers to improve algorithms of automated PSD to HTML/CSS conversion. If you uploaded Photoshop design and got back an unexpected result, feel free to report it at support@psd2htmlconverter.com.
