initially frontpage 98 produced all the basic html leaving everything to be checked over in notepad to remove the inevitable nonsense left behind by frontpage or to tinker around with the css or javascript.  however, I have now been won over by the joys of a newly acquired copy of dreamweaver. the days of frontpage's reign are definitely numbered.

long term plans involve converting everything to active server pages and dynamically producing some of the content. don't hold your breath, though. it could be a while coming.

the ever reliable paint shop pro 7 provides the visuals, animation shop adds some movement. however, newly acquired copies of fireworks and photoshop are giving paint shop pro a run for its money.

all scanning by agfa snapscan 1212p with occasional webcam courtesy of a philips pca635vc.   these feed a gracefully ageing dan 200mmx, 64mb pc running windows 98.

a happy new addition to the family is a groovy bondi blue iMac (350MHz, 128mb) which appears to be pushing its older, slightly decrepit cousin into the shadows.

everything is then up-loaded to 200mb of web space supplied by easyspace.

web-based assistance comes primarily from

• the remarkably helpful webmonkey where a beginner's guide to everything web-related can be found

• .net - the home of the magazine of the same name.

for those who like dead trees, I'd recommend these helpful tomes:

• designing web usability: the practice of simplicity, jakob nielsen, new riders 2000

• web by design - the complete guide, molly e holzschlag, sybex 1998

• html - programmer's reference, thomas a powell and dan whitworth, osborne 1998

I cannot claim to have followed these books' every instruction to the letter but I have found them to be useful guides.