We take it for granted that visual images will enhance our website. There are factors that will make this statement untrue. However, many of the people who visit your website will be visually oriented and will react positively to your graphics -- that is, if they are used properly.

We have to worry about the file sizes of our graphics. Large files add to the download time of a web page, and this is the most common complaint voiced by those who surf the web. If a page is taking too long to open because of graphics sizes, your visitor will just go somewhere else in a hurry.

To avoid large graphic files that result in long download times:

• Prepare images that are reasonably sized (I try to never go beyond 300 pixels in width or height). What if you have a group of stunning photographs from a recent trip, and know that friends and family would like to see the larger photo? Make thumbnails of each, and then post each large, separate photo on its own page, so that if someone wants to view it, they can click on the thumbnail.
• Size and compress your graphics before placing them on the website. Many of the web authoring programs (and even HTML) will allow you to resize an image once it is placed on the web page. It will appear in the browser to be the smaller size, but when it is downloaded, it is still the original, large size and then is resized by the code (thus slowing down the download).
• Specify the actual dimensions of the HEIGHT and WIDTH parameters. Do this for all graphics on the website (even if they are the navigation buttons).
• Avoid background images. Adding a background image can also slow the downloading, and, in most cases (my opinion), detracts from the overall look of the site, making the type difficult to read.
• Use the same graphics over again. Once a graphic is downloaded, it is stored in the visitors cache. The next time the image is used it will be pulled from the cache and therefore will load more quickly than the first time. Repeating images (for example, the logo, navigation button, or the same banner) throughout the website, will also add an element of consistency throughout the site.

Just remember size when choosing and using graphics.