15 January 2009
This question depends on what we are dealing with but I will guess that it is one image that many in the business call a header. I think what you are looking for is something like you see on this site: http://gecdfdoralevent.com/ one that we did a while back.

If that is the case, if you would like you can send me the image and I will make the edits for you (at no charge) and I will send the rounded corner image back to you. This is really a simple change for anyone in the business and to put you in the situation of fixing it yourself is just not right.

Just so you know, I will send you back the image but you will need to replace the old image with this new one on your site.

I hope that helps.

15 January 2009
Hi Sharyl,

I have to say that your question is a little confusing. If you have hired a company, I'll assume it's a web design company, why are they telling you to do the work for yourself? If you are their client, why will they not make the adjustments for you?

I hope all works out for you, on this site there are many reputable companies that would be willing to speak with you regarding your web development needs and as witnessed from the previous response, many will help you out at no charge.

There are many companies that give web developers a bad name.

Have a great day,
Mark

21 January 2009
This is the first time I've heard of a design company doing this, whether they're later going to slap you with a huge quote to make the minor change for you, I don' t know.

Normally your design company will be more than happy to make the change for you, but you should expect additional charges as this is a change to what was original specified when you asked them to design your website, and then build it based on the design.

It's essential that you look at these charges closely afterwards, some companies charge per an hourly rate and go by the meter (as it were), whilst others have a pricing structure, ie. change to content x, change to graphic y, and some others just make it up as they go along, these should seriously be avoided.

Other things you should look out for when selecting a designer, include what level of aftersales service you can get, with your current designer you're pretty much getting none, whereas (I hope) most designers on WWDC care about their customers and therefore you'd get a reasonable level.

Finally, you should always read the terms and conditions... what 'can' you do to 'your' site. Some designers write into the T&Cs that only they are allowed to make changes, that it can only be hosted with them, and even that the site is not actually your intellectual property.

I don't get where these guys get their morals from, they're trying to take innocent businesses for a ride for all they can, it's essential that your designer is honest and open about their pricing and what you can and can't do with your website now.

What you can do now? I would consider using a different designer. Someone that will help you out short term, and will build a relationship with you and your business long-term.

Good luck!

Kurt Farrar
Small Business IT Consultant
MyDigitalMedia

22 January 2009
Don't download anything and call us. We have a policy of 100% pixel perfection before we sign off on a job and consider it completed.

8 February 2009
Hi Sharyl,
Any decent web design agency will make everything perfect before the site is live, I would have no hesitation in asking for your money back.

If your successful, why not get in touch with us - we can provide a 5 page website, which you can update yourself at any time, for only

18 February 2009
I'm really suprised a web design company would allow a web site to be published before the client has fully signed it off.

Personally I'd make them complete the revision to the top aera of your web site. Failing that most of the software packages used to create such effects aren't free.

I would do it for free for you as you seem to be in a mess and no one deserves to be stood up by a company they've employe'd/comission for a job.

2 April 2009
Hi Sharyl

A couple of questions first -

Did you sign off on the design before the website was built and uploaded to the web (went live)?

If you did, have you asked them how much it will cost to make the changes required?

If you signed off or okayed the design before it went live then I think the designers are within their rights to ask for an additional fee to change it. If these people were building your house and after they had finished you asked them to make some alterations then you'd expect to pay for their time.

I don't quite understand why they would ask YOU to make the change when they could presumably do it themselves and upload the changes within an hour (if they say it will take them take them longer than that - go somewhere else).
Downloading software, learning how to use it and uploading the results to the right place is going to take hours of your time to learn and probably not go well. Get a local professional to do it (and a price before hand) it will be cheaper in the long run.

If it is just changing an image then it's really not a big deal and they know it.

hope that helps
david@achroma.co.uk

5 September 2009
I hope you have this sorted by now. Web designers - they are meant to design web sites. Simple ?

So they should do the graphics. If you are a busy person then it surely is worth paying someone else to do this in a fraction of the time it takes you to source the software, buy it, learn and expect to get great results... realistically that is crazy.

Unless your design brief is very unusual this type of task is very easy for a web designer with professional software. So go elsewhere.