Deciding on Web Site Content:
Graphics

Graphics are a very effective way to break up text and create "white space" -- an open area that gives the eye a break from reading.

Used properly, graphics can be an extremely valuable and indispensable tool to hold interest and generate enthusiasm for your web site, your products, your services, and your business.

Used improperly, graphics can distract from your message, slow page loading to an intolerable level, or actually turn people off of your product or what you have to say.

Below are some guidelines for putting together the graphics content to be used in your web site. (Caveat: If you are going to use graphics in your web site, you MUST either own all rights/licenses to use the images, or you must have written permission from the copyright owner/s to use the images in your web site. You must also have written permission from all identifyable people in your photos to publish their likenesses online.)

Digital Images:

• Digital graphics on disk are preferred only IF they are of exceptional quality with sharp focus, good detail, and 72 to 96 pixels per inch resolution.
  
  
• Preferred digital formats: EPS, PNG, BMP, TIFF or TIF, and GIF.  JPG's or JPEG's are ok if not overly compressed or blurry. Try not to "tweak" or re-save your jpg's. Every time a jpg is saved, it is further compressed, which removes pixels from the image and results in a blurry, low-quality image.
  
  
• Resolution of digital images: We use 72 to 75 pixels per inch for web images and we speak of images in pixel height by pixel width. This means if you provide a 3" x 5" digital image that has a resolution of 300 pixels per inch, it will be 900 pixels by 1500 pixels. However, when that same image is converted to 72 pixels per inch to make it web-ready, it will end up only 216 pixels by 360 pixels. To give you an idea of what size that is, the image at the top right corner of this page is 159 x 110 pixels.
  
  
• We can make any digital image smaller with very minimal loss of quality.
  
  
• We cannot make any digital image larger without significant loss of quality, because the enlargement process results in a "spreading out" of the pixels and a dithering type of effect to create "filler" pixels.
  
  
• If images need to be enlarged, OR if they are already at proper dimensions but are higher than 100 resolution (instead of 72-75), please provide print photos or graphics. Our professional 45-bit-color scanning equipment can quickly scan a photo or image to nearly any size and resolution with much better results.

Print Photos or Images:

We can do some "tweaking" of photos and images to improve lighting, colors, and contrast; repair red-eye; crop, disguise, or eliminate undesirable elements; repair cracks, spots, etc. However, there's not much we can do for a blurry or badly-focused photo or image.

• Content and quality matter
  
  
• Product photos should be clear, close-up, with good lighting, and well-focused. If you can afford it, hire a professional photographer.
  
  
• Consider including a few good-quality "people shots" -- photos of people enjoying your product or service. This is like a built-in testimonial. Be sure you have written permission of all subjects to use their photo/s online. If you can, also get your subjects' permission to use their names with their photos on your web site.
  
  
• If you offer gift packages, include good-quality close-up photos showing what they look like with what items are included etc. People like to see what exactly they're sending especially if they order items to be sent as gifts.
  
  
• Print Photos: We can scan these quickly and easily with our professional scanning equipment. Results are usually far superior than images scanned by customers with home scanning equipment.
  
  
• For Logos: Provide letterheads, business cards, brochures, or whatever has your logo on it or displays your current business "look".

Custom Graphics:

• If you need a custom graphic such as a logo, then just draw or doodle what you have in mind on a piece of paper. You don't have to be an artist. You can add a written description with labels etc. to tell us what you have in mind. We'll create a new logo for you based upon your concept and ideas. You will, of course, have final approval.

next  >> Planning Your Web Site, Section 5c: The Colors and Style of Your Web Site