Proper Use of Images in Web Design

Web images and graphics are used to draw visitors in so that they will continue to explore your website. However if the images on your website are not used and placed properly, they can have the opposite effect.

Images on websites should be used primarily to add meaning to either the company’s brand or to the content of the website. Images should be used in such a way as to ensure more meaning from fewer graphics. Imagery with meaning, or primary imagery, should be the focus of any web page design.

Primary imagery should include the company’s logo, primary content and primary navigation. If other graphics are to be used, they should support the primary imagery by helping the eye move over lower-priority elements. You will want to avoid the following design errors at all costs:

• Heavy use of obscure icons
• Excessive use of contrasting shapes
• Less contrast in the content area than in the interface
• Content text that is unnecessarily small

It should be noted that clarity is more important than attractiveness for navigation and other functional controls. Controls should always be easy to identify and their purpose should be obvious.

Alter Impact has over thirteen years of experience creating professional websites for a wide variety of businesses. We strive to create effective websites and provide quality web content, search engine optimization and blogs. For more information, please contact us today.