Utilizing Graphic Images On Web Pages

1. Perhaps one of the greatest mistakes web page designers make is to abuse or overuse graphic images on web pages. Designers end up being so enthusiastic about using new innovation that they tend to concentrate on "look what we can produce you" instead of a web page's performance. Websites graphics should serve a function. If a graphic image's only function is "to look cool," you are needlessly increasing the download time of your web pages. "Looking cool" can eventually cost you more money and make you lose possible customers. The following list is a summary of the types of graphic images that are acceptable on a websites: Navigation buttons - Used to assist visitors browse your website. If created well, these buttons can be a lot easier to check out and discover than text links. Image maps - Likewise utilized to assist visitors navigate your web site. If developed well, image maps greatly add to the visual appeal of a websites but can considerably increase the page's download time. Logo design - Utilized for your business or service identity. Logo designs increase brand recognition and include visual appeal to any document or websites. Bullet points - Utilized to draw your visitors' eyes to the main points of your file. Likewise used to separate a websites full of paragraphs. Mastheads - Also called a title graphic. Main function is to let your visitors understand which web page they are on. Adding clip art or an illustration to a masthead includes more visual appeal. Divider lines or horizontal rules - Typically used to separate footers, categories within a single web page, and FAQ questions and responses. Background images - Used to improve the visual appeal of a websites and make a web site easier to browse. One of the most typical background images is a sidebar which generally consists of the links to the other pages in your site. Headings (text graphic) - Typically utilized to protect a typeface that lots of people do not have on their computers. Pictures - Commonly utilized to make your websites seem more personal and more inviting. Visitors' eyes are naturally drawn to images of people. An absolute requirement to display items on particular e-commerce sites. All graphic images on your web site ought to match in colour, typeface, and special results. For instance, the text in all of your navigation buttons should utilize the very same typeface and have the exact same unique effects on them (such as a drop shadow). Your navigation buttons, mastheads, bullet points, and divider lines look finest if they are designed using among the colours in your logo design.

2. For a really professional-looking web site, the minimum set of graphics on websites need to be a set of navigational graphics, a logo, bullet points, and set of mastheads. If this set of graphics does not substantially increase a page's download time, then you can include other graphic images to improve your website. The general rule is to keep web page size between 40-60K. If you are a graphic designer, photographer, designer, or developer, a 75K web page will still provide a relatively fast download time on a 28.8 Kbps modem. Any extra graphic images on your websites must serve a function that is directly related to your service. For example, on a web site, you can have illustrations serve multiple functions: If a style firm has professional illustrators in its personnel, they ought to showcase this talent in some type throughout the web site. Illustrations can likewise serve a navigational function. In some web sites, you can tell which more information area of a website you remain in based upon the illustration shown. A gifted web graphic designer can create graphic images which download quickly and look good. Graphic images ought to be sized down without losing the stability of the graphic image. Remember, graphic images are mostly utilized to improve a websites work. If graphic images significantly increase your web pages' download time, you will need to either size down the graphic images, replace them with smaller images, or replace them with the HTML default bullets, horizontal guidelines, or coloured heading text.