Part 3: Adding Graphics to Your Site

by Karin Allen

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Designing Your Site
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In the previous hot sheet, I suggested that you try to include photos on your website: of yourself and your staff, your clientele, special events, etc. Don't worry if you don't have a scanner or digital camera. Just take pictures with an ordinary 35mm camera and, when you're sending them off for development, check the "save photos to diskette" option on the envelope. Or, if you already have photos you'd like to use, take them to your local copy shop. The clerks there will be happy to scan the photos and save them to a disk -- or to let you do the work yourself, if they have scanners available for public use. NOTE: If you do scan your own photos, save them in JPG format.

GIF's and JPG's

You will want to use other kinds of graphics on your website, as well: backgrounds, "rulers" (horizontal bars that divide sections), balls and/or buttons, etc. These come in two formats: GIF's, low-resolution, cartoon-like images; or JPG's, photo-quality images.

You may either purchase a graphic design program - not as expensive as you think - or pick up free images from the web. There are literally thousands of websites devoted to freeware graphics, but these are two of the best:

• The Icon Bazaar: large collection of graphics, categorized by type; 6x6x6 HTML "color cube"; large directory of other freeware graphic sites
• Media Builder: large collection of graphics, categorized by type; collection of downloadable fonts; links to sites which let you create and manipulate graphics online

1. To copy and save freeware graphics:
   • if you are using a PC, right-click on the image and select the "Save As" option.
   • If you are using a MacIntosh, click and hold on the image, then select "Save As."
2. Never "steal" an image; only copy from sites, or sections of sites, that invite you to do so.
3. Some freeware sites request credit for use of their graphics: either a text link or a banner. Some may offer you a selection of ways to acknowledge them. Always be careful to honor such requests.

More Hot Sheets....

• Getting a Web Address
• Designing Your Site
• Promoting Your Site
• Glossary of Terms

• Hot Sheets Main Menu

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