setrthat.blogg.se

1. #Balsamiq mockups mac full
2. #Balsamiq mockups mac software
3. #Balsamiq mockups mac download
4. #Balsamiq mockups mac free

Personally, I can think of different clients where either of these two scenarios could easily apply. Of course, the counter-argument is that Balsamiq’s sketchy quality becomes a dominant style of its own that attracts the client’s attention away from the task at hand - the exact opposite of its intention. The sketchiness communicates this isn’t final. There’s a good argument that presenting loose, sketchy wireframes is helpful to allow your clients to focus on the structures and general layout goals, rather than being caught up in more transient design detail. To some this will be its great charm to others, its major drawback.

Now, if you’ve looked at any of the screenshots so far, you’ll have no doubt noticed that Balsamiq Mockups has a certain look about it - a loose, hand drawn, sketchy feel. This ability to effectively create and load your own widgets means you’re able to wireframe virtually any layout with this tool. In fact, there’s even an option to automatically convert your image to grayscale.

#Balsamiq mockups mac free

By default, the image widget gives you a square placeholder graphic (as above) but you’re free to load any third-party image into these placeholders - as the SitePoint logo above shows. Happily, the built-in image widget gives us an option. Okay, but you’re thinking: what if I need some non-standard/weird element/widget that’s NOT in the library? Adding new menu items is as simple as adding a new value to a CSV list. This is easy to imagine with simple text fields but is more impressive with greater complex widgets such as tabs, menus, and tables. Once dropped onto your layout, clicking on any UI widget automatically launches its own floating edit panel (shown above) that allows you to change the properties of that element (bold, italics, sizing, alignment, and so on).ĭouble-clicking on the element allows you to edit its content directly. I found this covered the vast majority of day-to-day needs although sometimes I did find myself wishing for a simple pen tool to add basic lines and shapes. The UI Gallery contains 70+ prebuilt widgets, including all the standards you would expect: Each element remains permanently movable, editable, and resizable. Mockup Canvas: This is your working space.īuilding a wireframe with Balsamiq Mockup is as simple as dragging UI widgets from the gallery onto your canvas.UI (User Interface) Library: This is a drag and drop collection of common interface widgets.Application Bar: This give you the standard range of cut, paste, and copy controls.The Balsamiq interface is very easy to comprehend. By extension, this also makes Balsamiq automatically cross-platform.

#Balsamiq mockups mac download

The nice part about this is it means the live demo you play with on the site is virtually the same as the application you download and run on your desktop.

Today I’m going to look at a specialized yet relatively simple and inexpensive wireframing tool: Balsamiq Mockups.įirstly, let’s deal with some of the basic need-to-knows.īalsamiq Mockups is another in the burgeoning category of Adobe Air applications. While they’re unquestionably powerful and rich working environments, they come with a learning curve and a price tag that will deter some.

#Balsamiq mockups mac full

These tools generally set loftier goals, aiming to produce full working prototypes rather than just static, linked graphics.

If you’re a dab hand with pen and paper, this is a nice way to impress both clients and that special someone.įinally, there are the information architects and UX designers, who often prefer specialized wireframing tools like iRise and Axure. Then there are those who hand draw their beautiful wireframes, often referred to in the industry as show-offs.

#Balsamiq mockups mac software

No argument that these are good options as they’re cheap and draw on the software skills you’ve taken years to hone. Many of us stick with the tools we already know best - Fireworks, Illustrator, and Photoshop. Talking to other front-end people, there seems to be three basic schools of thought. Wireframing is an essential part of the web design process in 2009, but it’s an area where no one tool has yet come to dominate.