Mastering the Art of Web Design: The Power of Background Images and Tables

Jan 2
07:24

2024

Candice Pardue

Candice Pardue

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Have you ever been intrigued by the multi-layered design of some websites? While some web designers use frames and other complex techniques to achieve this look, there's a simpler way to create a similar effect without the hassle. This article will guide you on how to use two simple tools - background images and tables - to create a dimensional look for your website.

The Power of Background Images

Before you start designing your webpage,Mastering the Art of Web Design: The Power of Background Images and Tables Articles it's advisable to insert your background image first. This sets the foundation for your webpage and helps avoid confusion later on. Inserting a background image is as straightforward as adding any other graphic image.

For instance, in Netscape Composer, you would open a blank webpage, click on "Insert" and then "Image". On your image screen, there's a section near the top labeled "Choose File". Here, you select the background image from your hard drive that you want to use. It's likely to be a ".gif" file such as bg001.gif or bg002.gif. After selecting your image, check the box where it says "Use as Background". This will set the selected image as the background for your entire webpage. Click "Apply" or "Okay", and your page's background should now be the image you've selected.

Where to Find Background Images

There are numerous sources of free background images online. For instance, the background image on this sample page was obtained for free from Free Backgrounds. You can visit their website for a vast selection of free backgrounds that you can use on your website.

To save a background image to your hard drive, simply hover your mouse over the image you want to use, right-click your mouse, and click on "Save Background As". A screen will pop up for you to save the image to your hard drive. You can name the image whatever you want, with .gif being the suffix.

The Magic of Tables

Once your background image is in place, you can start designing with tables. On the sample webpage mentioned earlier, a table that was 730 Pixels in width was inserted first. A color that complemented the background was chosen for the table, and then the content was added.

Next, a second table was created within the first table, and it was divided into two columns or "cells". The column or "cell" on the right was resized to be only 20% of the entire table width, creating a sidebar navigation section on the right. This table was colored white to distinguish it from the rest of the webpage.

Remember to insert your background image before you start designing with tables. Some designers place a background image and then start writing without tables. However, using tables is recommended as it helps organize your webpages and ensures everything stays in its rightful place when others are viewing it.

With these simple tips, you should be able to create many new looks for your website.