Selecting Appropriate Graphics for Web Sites :: Websites Internet Computers Essays

Selecting Appropriate Graphics for Web Sites In giving recommendations concerning appropriate images for a splash page of a website to a beginning web developer, it is important for graphics to be relevant to a website, diverse in gender, age, and race, and appropriate in the use of color. Using Relevant Graphics I would first suggest that all graphics should be relevant to the subject of the website. If a graphic is not serving any purpose at all, I would suggest not using it because some users may become annoyed at the unneeded use of graphics. This leads me to the two fundamental purposes of graphics which Dr. Palmer discussed in class on Tuesday, February 17, 2004. Along with my course in technical editing, I have learned that graphics have either a motivational or functional purpose. I would explain to the web developer that a graphic should either draw the attention of the user (motivational) or aid in the explanation of the text (functional). After thinking of these two purposes, it would then be appropriate to address the type of graphic and context in which it will be used. For a splash page of a website, I would recommend using a photograph or clip art graphic that is both visually appealing and defining of the subject of the website. I chose these two types of graphics because of their appropriateness to a universal audience. These types of graphics are usually both visually appealing and interesting. As Susan Hilligoss and Tharon Howard state in Visual Communication: A Writer’s Guide, â€Å"Readers take in a document’s visual design and images immediately. We apply lasting memories of images across the documents we encounter. Thus the design affects readers’ first impressions of genre, interest, and importance† (8). The graphic chosen will form the first impression of the reader, therefore, graphics must be chosen with much thought. Using Diverse Graphics When choosing graphics consider that websites can be accessed by all ages and races. For this reason, a web developer should consider the appropriateness of graphics and be prepared to accept the consequences if pictures are not appropriate for younger viewers. As was discussed in class, graphics must be diverse in both ethnicity and gender. Graphics must have an even dispersal of both males and females and must not be one-sided to any race. The web designer has to remember that the world is very diverse and not everyone is just like him/herself.