7 Free Web Design Tools I Use Everyday
One might argue that these are the browser and plugins, I won't disagree, but the fact is these are incredible tools to help me get my job done as a web designer. Look around and I'm sure you are either using these web design tools or will be.
FireFox
The browser you should be using which is a Grade A standards compliant web browser. This is it, plus it has amazing Add Ons to help make your web design job much easier.
http://www.mozilla.com
Why You Need FireFox:
To preview web pages according to web standards AND as a base for essential web design tools.
FireBug
Firebug integrates with Firefox to put a wealth of web development tools at your fingertips while you browse. You can edit, debug, and monitor CSS, HTML, and JavaScript live in any web page.
http://www.getfirebug.com
Why You Need FireBug:
It allows you to test your CSS easily in real time from your web browser.
Web Developer Toolbar
The Web Developer extension adds a menu and a toolbar to the browser with various web developer tools.
http://chrispederick.com/work/web-developer/
Why You Need Web Developer Toolbar:
View images, disable CSS, and check validation are a few good reasons.
ColorZilla
Advanced Eyedropper, Color Picker, Palette Viewer and other colorful goodies for your Firefox.
http://www.colorzilla.com/firefox/
Why You Need ColorZilla:
It allows you to pick colors directly off of the web without having to use Photoshop.
FireShot
FireShot is a extension for Firefox and IE that captures, edits, annotates, organizes, exports and prints screenshots of your web pages. I use the free version which provides all of the functionality I need.
http://screenshot-program.com/fireshot/
Why You Need FireShot:
For fast screen captures that include the entire webpage WITHOUT the chrome. Also allows for quick edits.
GooglePreview
A Mozilla Firefox browser extension that inserts preview images (thumbnails) of web sites and popularity ranks into the Google and Yahoo search results pages. Thumbnails are created and provided by GooglePreview servers.
http://ackroyd.de/googlepreview/
Why You Need GooglePreview:
It speeds up your web search by seeing your options. Many times you can tell you don’t want to visit the page just by seeing it.
IETester
IETester is a free WebBrowser that allows you to have the rendering and javascript engines of IE8, IE7 IE 6 and IE5.5 on Vista and XP, as well as the installed IE in the same process.
http://www.my-debugbar.com/wiki/IETester/HomePage
Why You Need IETester:
Because IE sucks. The main reason I use this tool is to test my web pages in IE 6 and now IE 7 since I had to upgrade to IE8..