Creating/collecting the elements for your page.
Once you have decided on the basic theme and look of your page, you need to come up with the
different elements you will need to build it. Either find or create your own background pattern
(or pick out a solid color and find out the HTML code for it) and any graphics you want for your
page. If you decide to make your own background in PhotoShop, it needs to be saved in either a
.JPG or .GIF format, and it is best to make it no larger than 100x100 pixels so that the file
size will stay small. If you decide to have a background that has a color or graphic bar running
down the side margin, then you need to make a strip of it that will be long enough in width to
cover the page without repeating, but with just enough height to accommodate the first
verticle representation of the pattern. All background images are tiled in web browsers, so
making a full page graphic for your background is unnecessary and will result in a very long
download time for the viewers. The only time you would need to create a full sized background
is if you had an actual image that you wanted to cover the entire background instead of using
just a pattern for your background. It is advised that you do not use a full page background for
your webpage, not only because of the long download time, but also because you do not have
any control over how a viewer's monitor is set for resolution. Most monitors are set for a
screen resolution of 640x480, but a lot of graphic artists and other technical people who
maximise the use of their desktop, like to have their monitors set at 800x600 or higher. If
you plan to use a full page size graphic for your background, you run the risk of it not being
viewed correctly on different monitors. On a monitor that is set for a screen resolution of
640x480, the image might be too large and consequently be being cut off on its right side. If
the viewer has their monitor set for a resolution of 800x600 or higher, your image might be
too small and end up being repeated on the screen, instead of it being centered on the screen.
Choosing/creating the right background for your page is important for the readability of your
text and could also be a consideration in the creation of your other graphics. It is best to
have a background that has low contrast and is either light enough in color to easily read dark
colored text on, or dark enough to easily read light colored text. If you are going to be making
graphic headings or elements for your page, and there are parts of the graphic that will need
to be transparent or you have shadows from, then you will need to have a bottom layer in
PhotoShop with part of your background on it. This is so that when you flatten the image and
save it as either a .jpg, or a .gif file, your shadows will be against your actual page
background and won't look strange when you view your webpage.
