Hopefully I got your attention!
... so here's the scoop:
The problem:
In short if I sit down slicing pages and writing CSS by hand for ONE MORE SITE I will scream....
Typically I create a few page comps in Photoshop, open the PSD in Fireworks (because I like Firework's PNG support and slicing tools),
and export the puppy out as an HTML file.
THEN... there's the whole song and dance in Dreamweaver with setting images as cell and table backgrounds, inserting Joomla/Mambo tags ( or tags for WHATEVER I might be using at the time ) and so on.
I've been using TopStyle to help me visually build my CSS files but that can still take quite a long time.
For simple sites this is fine and I can get a template thrown together in a few hours, but for more complex sites this can get rather old and lengthy.
I know there is an Xtension for Dreamweaver out there but this goes beyond that, and can work along side that tool.
So the idea:
Create a plugin for Photoshop/Imageready and Fireworks (an XTRA if you will ) that works like so:
After slicing up your image, rename important text layers to conform to the plugin's recognizable layer syntax (ie; "My text layer 1 *TXT)(or, "My Table Background 1 *BG")1.
From the plugin app window; select a slice and "insert" your Joomla/Mambo/PHP-Shop/Nuke/OS-Commerce/WHATEVER tags (the tag set can be user definable and customizable so it could theoritically work in for IBM Websphere.
When you go to export the page through the plugin, it extracts all of the text layers that have the *TXT syntax ( or just ALL all the text layers ) and creates a CSS file with the coincinding font color, style, spacing, ect. (example: a layer called "Contentheading *TXT" becomes your contentheading class in the CSS file)
Likewise the HTML page that is exported out has the coinciding tags already inserted into the slices / cells.
Taking it a step further.............. wait for it ..... wait for it......
If we create "template formats" to export the document as.... you could easily select "export as.. Joomla 1.0.1 Template, or Mambo 4.5.2 Template, etc and *boom* it creates the folders, CSS files, index.php, etc, etc, etc and you just have to copy it to your template folder and then tweak it in your editor of choice.....
So ummmmmmmmmmmm am I crazy HuhHuh
I have a developer support request in over at Adobe but still no response ( IF anybody over there is reading this PM me!!!!)
I originally thought .. ya know... I could write this plugin and charge about $75 for it and be happy.... but then I started thinking... open source has given me so much.... this is how I can give back.
I have experience writing plugins for internal non-public purposes so I figure I can handle it solo... but help would be nice..
The source code would be GPL'd as much as possible.. but I'd have to check with how certain things work with the Adobe & Macromedia SDKs because you're dealing with intellectual property.
so ... thoughts... comments... ummm mental institution recommendations???
1This concept of layer syntaxing is borrowed from a plugin on the market that seems to pre-date the slicing tool. But it exports a CSS file as well.
The tool is called SiteGrinder by MediaLab.