G is for Graphics

You don't have to use computer graphics on your website. But why wouldn't you want to? Some sites are wholly text-based, black and white, and are perfectly suited to their content. It's a matter of choice and judgement.

But you do have the options of millions of colours, background images, imported images, roll-over buttons, flash animations, image swapping, hidden layers...

And you don't have to restrict yourself to so-called 'web safe' colours these days. The vast majority of those on the web today have 32 bit hardware. That means their computer screens can represent 32 million plus colours! Once again the vast majority have 1024 X 768 screen resolutions or higher. The growth of broadband access to the internet also means that webpage file size is less of a problem than it was.

Graphic image software abounds. From the expensive and first-rate (Photoshop) to the free and first-rate (Gimp). Beware: each of these programmes has its own way of doing things, its own idiosyncracies. Be prepared for a steep learning curve, frustration and but also satisfaction.

Flash animations are not to everyone's taste. That why a 'skip' option is usually available. Flash animations which carry little content while taking up time should be avoided.