Re: Recommended Graphic Packages: Need opinions on use of co

[Arlen P Walker <Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- COM>]

     At one point, I needed to know a recommended graphics editor. It
     seemed  to me that Paint Shop Pro was the most commonly recommended
     package, but I would like to know some others to research and
     compare.

I still swear by Photoshop. I've never used a package that did so much
with so little effort. Look around till you find a deal involving a
scanner, you'll get it cheaper.

     The technician I'm working with is recommending that we use one of
     the basic 16 colors for those people with monitors that only support
     the 16 colors. Apparently, on one of these monitors we get a
     textured patch work affect. Is it generally recommended to only use
     the basic 16 colors on Web sites?

No. There's a "browser-safe" palette of colors (I think it's 216, but I
haven't counted them) which is often recommended. You can venture beyond
those, as well, though, as long as you exercise some caution. The days of
16 color limits on video (BTW, it's the video interface, not the monitor,
that governs the number of colors) are rapidly fading. We don't have a
single machine here (out of over a thousand) that can't do at least 256
colors.

There are valid design reasons to limit the number of colors on your web
site, but there's no overriding technical reason to do so.

      Also, is it a guideline to design the pages for 600 by 800 pixels?

Know your audience. What are the capabilities of the machines which will
view the page? 640x480? 800x600? 1600x1280? Let that guide your page
design. When designing for general consumption, the rule is to keep the
page to about 600 pixels in width, in deference to all the 640x480
machines out there. But for company intranets, you have absolute data on
the audience's equipment. Use it, and design accordingly.


Have fun,
Arlen
Chief Managing Director In Charge, Department of Redundancy Department
DNRC 224

Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- Com
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