Dreamweaver CS6 Styling and Layout Using CSS

Practical CSS Styling and Layout in Dreamweaver CS6

This concise, task-focused overview explains what you’ll learn and how the guide helps you apply CSS inside Dreamweaver CS6. The emphasis is practical: using Live View and Inspect Mode for rapid visual debugging, mastering the CSS box model for predictable sizing and spacing, and building modular rules with tag, class and ID selectors so styles remain reusable and easy to update. Concepts are illustrated with short exercises and two applied mini-projects that encourage translating design goals into reliable HTML and CSS.

Key learning outcomes

• Use Inspect Mode and Live View to locate and resolve specificity, inheritance and conflicting CSS rules quickly.
• Apply box-model principles (margin, border, padding, content) to control layout flow and element size consistently.
• Organize styles with tag, class and ID selectors to keep code modular, maintainable and easy to reuse across pages.
• Preview, iterate and save changes efficiently to support cross-device testing and responsive adjustments.
• Implement simple responsive patterns and media-query breakpoints to adapt page layouts for different screen widths.

Teaching approach and learning style

The guide uses short, focused explanations paired with hands-on tasks so you apply each technique immediately. Inspect Mode demonstrations make specificity and inheritance visible; Live View provides realistic rendering feedback before you test on real devices. Explanations are concise and example-led, helping you see how small changes to padding, margin or selector structure affect layout and presentation.

Exercises and project work

Activities range from single-task exercises to two short projects that consolidate skills. Common tasks include creating a reusable highlight class, styling navigation and footer elements, and adjusting paragraph box attributes for consistent spacing. The mini-projects—a personal portfolio layout and a responsive blog template—focus on structure, reuse and cross-device testing, leaving you with adaptable patterns to apply in your own work.

Who this helps and prerequisites

Ideal for beginners seeking a structured, applied introduction to CSS within Dreamweaver and for intermediates wanting a compact refresher on Dreamweaver-specific workflows. Basic HTML familiarity helps but the lessons emphasize how CSS maps to page structure so newcomers can follow the exercises. In educational terms: category = Web Design/CSS; difficulty = Beginner to Intermediate; suited to students, self-learners and instructors who prefer practical, example-driven learning.

How to get the most from the guide

Follow the lessons in sequence to build a foundation, then complete the exercises to reinforce each concept. Regularly use Live View and Inspect Mode to shorten the feedback loop: seeing CSS changes render immediately improves understanding. Experiment by tweaking padding, margins and media-query breakpoints to observe layout effects. Prefer external stylesheets and class-based rules to keep projects modular and easier to maintain as they grow.

Practical benefits and outcomes

Working through the guide develops everyday web-design habits: fast visual debugging with Inspect Mode, predictable layout control via box-model mastery, and efficient reuse through modular selectors. The hands-on projects yield templates and patterns that help you move from isolated practice tasks to coherent page designs that behave well across different devices.

Bottom line

If you want focused, applicable instruction on debugging CSS, structuring styles for maintainability, and building responsive layouts inside Dreamweaver CS6, this guide delivers concise lessons, real-time preview workflows and short projects to build confidence and speed in practical web design.