Graphic Design for your Website

Your website graphics shouldn't be too large because they will make your site open real slow and most folks won't wait around; specially of their using a 56k dial-up modem. When planning your website design, do your best to use only the images you absolutely must to get your point across.

Should you do your own graphics?
 
Graphic design is one of the things you could spend much money on. There are a number of demonstration "paint" applications you can download and use for a limited time, such as Jasc PaintShop Pro.
Of course, depending on what you like best, you could give the Photoshop CS demo a try.  Just remember the learning curve is steep and it could easily take you a couple of weeks just to learn the basics of the graphics application.

Photoshop Tutorials  Visit Nathan Segal's website for quality PhotoShop tutorials. An excellent computer graphics resource from A to Z. Click on the link and go there; you'll love all the high quality information from a graphics expert.

Graphics and image manipulation is a specialty that demands a lot of time from the new aspiring webmaster and a very important item! Design establishes the professional quality of your website more than anything else.

It has been proven that digital products with an attractive "virtual box" sell better! Take a look at the car on the "Success Secrets" eBook in the keywords section and you'll notice it's a very well crafted virtual eBook cover.

Update: Read our article "Creating GIF and Jpeg Images for Your Website" located in the Articles section

Given the extraordinary importance of good graphics and design, it's a point worth serious consideration. As they say: You never get a second chance to make first impression!

If you're not comfortable creating your own graphics and doing your own design, it's best to have Pro do it for you. There are many providers of talent on the Internet. Go to Elance and post your project up for bid. You'll get all the expert help to suit your taste!

Graphics Copyright and You
  
Another point to consider when using graphics is the legal right to use them. The images you use should belong to you or be publicly available and free to use in a commercial endeavor. You have to read the fine print; many times, the images will only be free if used for personal use.

Also to consider is the acquisition of Web images. Most folks either download a complete web site, or right click and save the image. The problem with that is you might be stealing somebody's artwork!

How to Get Images from the Net

If you do need to get an image from the Web, it's best if you do
it with the native Windows graphics application, Windows Paint.
In this manner, you won't be stealing bandwidth from anybody. This is the way to do it: When you have the image you want visible on your monitor, press the "Print Screen" key and open the above graphics application and paste into it. Edit to your hearts desire!

Related Items in the Newbie Business Guide Articles Section:

Fonts For Your Website - Just a Matter of Style?
Colors For Your Website: What's The Big Deal?
Images For Your Website...what is OK to use?
Creating GIF and Jpeg Images for Your Website


Graphics Design Resources

Virtual Station: The Complete Cover Design And Marketing
Resource. Discover the new generation marketing system to get maximum response, increase sales and skyrocket your profits with our impressive cover and internet marketing resources.

Putertutor.com, Super tutorial site all things graphic.
MacCannas, Very well written instruction for graphics applications
WebTips/grapics, Excellent gateway site to all the good graphic design tutorials and learning resources.

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(C)2004 Francisco Aloy