One of the main reasons why today's Internet is so diverse is the rise of applications that allow you to build web sites with little or no knowledge of scripting languages. Gone are the days when an elite few code-crunching eggheads ruled the web, thanks to the evolution of WYSIWYG editing packages. Actual Drawing is a stalwart of this industry and is designed to provide a very visual approach to creating pages.
In terms of functionality, Actual Drawing behaves more like a desktop publishing app than a traditional web editor. Text, images and other elements are inserted via drag-and-drop, and there are dozens of preset templates, along with an assortment of ready-made buttons, tables and JavaScript effects, all of which are available with a single click. Designs can be tweaked using the impressive array of image-editing tools (drop shadows, rollover effects, sharpen, blur, rotate etc.) The app will also auto-convert any image you insert to web-ready JPEG or GIF format.
All these easy-access graphic tools amount to an excellent solution for those who don't know their way around Photoshop. However, if it's more than just a layout editor you want then Actual Drawing sorely disappoints. For starters, all pages you create in the program are saved in its own ADF format rather than native HTML, giving you precious little control over the code. What's more, opening existing HTML files will cause you no end of torment. The displays page elements in the shape of a series of separate layers, making a complete mess of your original page design that renders it impossible to work with.
Although the program would probably induce a violent reaction from most hardened web developers, those who are new to the game should find Actual Drawing very useful. With built-in functions such as an FTP-client, spell checker and search-engine submission it represents an idiot-proof way of putting up attractive pages without the need for technical nose. It's also loaded with wizards, tips and help to guide you through the program. That said, you will learn little about how HTML and other web languages work because of the fact that all the code is generated behind the scenes, making this a tool strictly for those without aspirations of becoming a serious web designer.
