Web Page Design Suggestions

Overall Design

1. Put something worthwhile on every page:

-each time visitors download a page, you want them to be glad they did

-there should be content there -- something that makes the page worthwhile

2. Don't overload pages

3. Offer a text only option

4. Check your design in multiple ways:

-view your page in more than one browser and different screen sizes

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Layout

1. Be consistent:

-user a consistent format from one page to the next

2. Bigger is better:

-make sure you eliminate negative space in photographs and make text large enough to read easily

3. Various sizes of texture:

-a page with one large dominant image and other images of various shape and size is more visually interesting than a bunch of images that are the same size.

4. Use tables for structure:

-HTML tables let you gained control of your layout from the chaos of the Internet

-they let you specify the line of text column, but margins around your page, and the align elements

5. Be careful using frames:

-frames can make a WebSite look quite sophisticated, however, they can also reak havoc on some users

-I suggest not using them and offering more complex navigation bars

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Graphics

1. Keep graphics file sizes less than 50KB -- usually

2. Don't use interlaced graphics for background images:

-interlaced graphics are those pictures that pop-up quickly but fuzzily, and sharpen bit by bit as you see them

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Color

1. You can't go wrong with black, white, and red

2. Check your contrast:

-if you opt for a colored background or colored type, be sure there is enough contrast to keep your page easy to read

3. Use a color wheel:

-Color wheels help you decide which colors work well together

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Text

1. Write tight:

-keep your writing concise

2. Keep topography simple:

-web topography control is still very limited and largely dependent upon the fonts available on the viewers computer

-if you want to designate typefaces, keep in mind that not everyone will see what you do

3. No blinking text:

-blinking text seems like fun, but is distracting an annoying to many viewers, it's best to avoid it

4. Use upper case and lower case type.

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General Tips

1. Use plug-in's and Java applets sparingly -- if it all:

-animation, music, and all that other cool stuff is fun, but it all takes time to download and can be distracting

-use them as tools, not as toys

2. Let users choose.

-give your users the chance to select things like sound files and large graphics

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3. Other users have different needs:

-look for ways to make your information available and accessible to as many people as possible

GIF Animation Programs

Alchemy Mindworks Inc.
GIF Construction Set http://www.mindworkshop.com
$20

Andover Advanced Technologies Inc.
VideoCraft GIF Animator http://www.andatech.com
$30

Group 42 Inc.
WebImage 2.11 http://www.group42.com
$40

Microsoft Corp.
Microsoft GIF Animator http://www.microsoft.com
free

Right to Left Software Inc.
Animagic GIF Animator 1.02 http://www.rtlsoft.com
$29

Ulead Systems Inc.
PhotoImpact GIF Animator 1.5 http://www.ulead.com
$30

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Much of the above content was found in a recent issue of PC Novice magazine.



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