Introduction

Along with text, graphics comprise the bulk of your web site's content. Graphics can convey specific information (logos and charts)or set a tone for the site (photos and illustrations). Even though visitors may not linger over your site's visuals the way they do the written word, graphics have a subtle effect on the perceived quality of your web site. Graphics also make up the majority of a web page's overall file size. Although your HTML code itself may total just 15 or 20 KB, a half-dozen graphics files on the page at 5 or 10 KB each quickly add up to a weighty download. In this chapter, I'll cover a few of the most common issues surrounding the use of graphics on a web site, including how to choose the right ones and optimize them for fast download.