| We all want to have the most attractive website | | | | duplicate it in your code. This is a very common |
| that leaves a visitor wide-eyed and completely | | | | mistake that webmasters/programmers make when |
| dazzled. Usually an extremely attractive website | | | | dealing with gradient color background. |
| design involves lots of graphical elements, increasing | | | | Do not use JPEG file format all the time. In some |
| the overall page size which causes the page to | | | | cases a GIF format will be much smaller in size. A rule |
| download slowly to the browser. This article will | | | | of thumb - a slice with high number of colors will be |
| provide some useful tips on how to keep your | | | | smaller in size using the JPEG format rather than the |
| website design attractive but still downloads | | | | GIF format, and the opposite is also true. Check each |
| quickly.As the average internet bandwidth rate per | | | | option separately. Every 1KB that you reduce from |
| computer is raising, more and more webmasters | | | | the image file size will eventually add up to a |
| allow themselves to develop complex websites laden | | | | significant reduction in page size. |
| with heavy graphic elements. In extreme cases you | | | | If you have text on a solid color background, do not |
| can find websites that take as much as a few | | | | slice it at all. Use code to create the background |
| minutes to load their content in your browser. Of | | | | instead. Remember that you can define both the |
| course the user will never wait that long for a | | | | font style and background color of the area using |
| website to load, and will move on to the next | | | | CSS. |
| website in his search results.So why are webmasters | | | | Advanced TechniquesGraphically optimizing a website |
| still developing slow loading bloated websites? | | | | is more than just knowing how to do image |
| Primarily due to a lack of knowledge of simple graphic | | | | optimizations. There are some advanced techniques |
| optimization techniques that will allow them to | | | | that required a high level of programming. CSS2 has |
| maintain an attractive website while keeping the page | | | | much more to offer then CSS does. Although not all |
| size smaller.How many of you are aware of the fact | | | | browsers have adopted this standard yet you should |
| that a box with rounded corners can be achieved | | | | be ready for when they do. JavaScript also gives you |
| using CSS code only, without the need for any | | | | a set of options to create some cool effects without |
| graphic image. Well it is possible! Before those of you | | | | needing to overload the page with Flash. Using limited |
| familiar with CSS say that it cannot be done for | | | | tools like JavaScript compared to an advanced |
| every type of browser and a relatively high level of | | | | application like Flash to create the desired effects can |
| programming is required, I say that dealing with the | | | | be difficult. However think about the outcome. For a |
| most common mistakes web designers make | | | | onetime effort you can differentiate your website |
| regarding optimization can have simple solutions.Never | | | | from others. You will have an attractive professional |
| limit the web designer by placing any restrictions that | | | | looking website that loads quickly.Back to the |
| impact the final outcome. You might make the claim | | | | FutureAs PDAs, smart mobile phones and mini laptops |
| that what a web designer can do with graphic | | | | are used with wireless internet connections for |
| software is impossible to implement by code. I | | | | internet browsing, publishing fast loading web pages |
| disagree. When the design is finished and you are | | | | will enhance the browsing experience not only for |
| ready to slice it into small images to be used in the | | | | those using wide bandwidth connections but also will |
| html code, your creativity is been tested. Everything | | | | make the browsing experience user friendly (or may |
| you do at this stage will affect the total page size. If | | | | I say, bandwidth friendly) to the wireless clients.For |
| your design contains rounded shapes that overlap | | | | those who insist that web design optimization is not |
| each other or areas with color gradients, then you | | | | necessary because everyone will have high |
| must slice it carefully so the outcome is a small file | | | | bandwidth connections eventually, I agree up to a |
| size.Let's look at what efficient slicing means: | | | | point. However, the software companies are creating |
| Do not make large slices that contain lots of | | | | applications that use more bandwidth because they |
| different colors. Use a small number of slices where | | | | know it is available for them to use. Get used to |
| each slice contains a limited number of colors. | | | | writing well optimized web pages because this cat |
| Do not make a large slice that contains the same | | | | and mouse game will never end, and it is better to |
| graphic structure. Slice a small portion of it and | | | | learn the rules of the game then it is to be bitten. |