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Images and Graphics

Images and graphics can be powerful tools to enhance the design of your site.  They also can slow down the load time of your page and frustrate your audience.  Basic information about using images and graphics can help your site look interesting and load quickly at the same time.

  • Use compressed files like .JPG or .GIF to increase load times.

  • Use thumbnail images with links to larger images to save screen space and increase times.

  • Flash uses vector-based images instead of bitmap-based.  These images will load much faster and can be much more dynamic.

  • Use a simple animated GIF or other graphics.  Make sure it doesn't distract the audience and take their attention away from the content of your page.

This bitmap version (.BMP) takes 57 seconds to load over 28K Modem

This (.JPG) version of the same image takes 9 seconds to load over 28K Modem