Lecture 4 – Overview
Exercise 2
Meaning
– Web Design Recap and Handout
– Writing for the Web
– Redesign Examples
Mechanics
– Questions: Typography & Web Graphics Recap
– Dreamweaver
– Recap
– Table Games
© Anselm Spoerri
Exercises 2
Create a draft of "Why be a Librarian in the 21st Century?"
in outline form.
Describe your Vision of "Librarian in the 21st Century"
(value / skills etc.)
Provide an outline of your relevant Interests and
Passions.
Break down your site into categories.
Create organization and associated file hierarchy.
Each web page contains primary navigation structure.
© Anselm Spoerri
Exercises 2
(cont.)
Each web page has a clear layout and visual hierarchy
and reflecting what have learned so far (margins, typography etc.)
Each page has a brief sentence describing its goal
and an outline of ideas to be covered or linked to.
–
If possible create hyperlinks to other pages that expand an idea.
Create page that contains links to site whose layout / design
you would like to emulate.
Create at least one web page that contains a table,
where at least three cells contain an image
Suggestions:
Create folder = “project_draft” or …  different folder than folder for “Final Project”
Submit exercise URL with “http://scils.rutgers.edu/~abcde” etc.
© Anselm Spoerri
Recap – Web Guiding Principles
Diversity of Users & Rapid Change
– Diverse users, diverse computers, diverse skills, diverse …
– Rapid evolution of technology and expectations
– Short attention span
Common Sense
– No right way to design
Make it short
– More likely to be used and remembered
– Cut in ½ and cut in ½ again
Don't make me think
– Get rid of question marks - each item has clear purpose
Make it work at a glance
– People have little time
Support intented task - manage expectations
© Anselm Spoerri
User Behavior  Design Implications  Design Specifics
Scan pages - don't read them
• Design for Scanning
Make text short - cut words
• Make page work at a glance
Sufficient left margin,
640x480 = main message
• Create Visual Hierarchy
Look for anything = Search Interest
Decide quickly
Choose first “reasonable item”
• Make obvious what you can do
• Make obvious what is clickable
Muddle through
Don't figure out how things work
Resist forming models
• Don't make users think
Get rid of question marks
Each item = clear purpose
1 Use Grid System
• Maintain Consistency
Helps you decide: location of primary & secondary
navigation; location and sizes of images;
location of headlines, main text, annotations etc.
• Create Visual Hierarchy & Rhythm
• Present Information Clearly & Logically
Users can read info more quickly.
Facilitates understanding and recall.
• Invisible Hand guiding users and creating
sense of place
Stick to what works
• Repetition & Consistency
Grid Layout, Easy Navigation,
Graphics, Color Coding, Typography
© Anselm Spoerri
User Behavior  Design Implications  Design Specifics
Scan pages - don't read them
• Design for Scanning
Make text short - cut words
• Make page work at a glance
Sufficient left margin,
640x480 = main message
• Create Visual Hierarchy
Look for anything = Search Interest
Decide quickly
Choose first “reasonable item”
• Make obvious what you can do
• Make obvious what is clickable
Muddle through
Don't figure out how things work
Resist forming models
• Don't make users think
Get rid of question marks
Each item = clear purpose
Stick to what works
• Repetition & Consistency
Grid Layout, Easy Navigation,
Graphics, Color Coding, Typography
2 Create Visual Hierarchy & Guide Eye
• Important Things = Visually Prominent
(More Important = Larger / Sharp Contrast)
Use headlines to guide the eye
• Visual Contrast
Use sharp changes in size (headline), light intensity
(bold), color, texture, motion to create contrast.
• Proximity: related things spatially close
Spatial separation = conceptual separation.
Don't mix alignment styles.
• Use Grouping & Nesting to Increase
Information Density
(Short-term Memory = 3-7)
Use bounding shapes.
© Anselm Spoerri
User Behavior  Design Implications  Design Specifics
Scan pages - don't read them
• Design for Scanning
Make text short - cut words
• Make page work at a glance
Sufficient left margin,
640x480 = main message
• Create Visual Hierarchy
Look for anything = Search Interest
Decide quickly
Choose first “reasonable item”
• Make obvious what you can do
• Make obvious what is clickable
Muddle through
Don't figure out how things work
Resist forming models
• Don't make users think
Get rid of question marks
Each item = clear purpose
Stick to what works
• Repetition & Consistency
Grid Layout, Easy Navigation,
Graphics, Color Coding, Typography
3 Typography Heuristics
• Sans Serif type is easier to read on screen
• Type size 10 -14 points
• 7 - 10 words per line
• Column width proportional to type size
• Bold and italic for small blocks of text
• Enough contrast between type & background
© Anselm Spoerri
User Behavior  Design Implications  Design Specifics
Scan pages - don't read them
• Design for Scanning
1
Use Grid System
• Make page work at a glance
• Create Visual Hierarchy
Choose first “reasonable item”
• Make obvious what you can do
Muddle through
2
Create Visual Hierarchy
and Guide Eye
• Don't make users think
Stick to what works
• Repetition & Consistency
3
Typography Heuristics
© Anselm Spoerri
Recap – Requirements for Web Pages
Web Page needs to easily answer
• What can I do here?
 Layout Presents Info Clearly & Logically
Facilitates Understanding & Recall
• Where do I start?
 Visual Hierarchy Guides Eye to Important Things
Web Navigation needs to easily answer
• What site is this?
 Site ID – logo, image, text
• What page am I on?
 Page name
• Major sections of site?
 Primary Navigation
Top Row or Left Column
Simple text hyperlinks, icons, rollovers, image-maps, pull-downs
• Options at this level?
 Secondary Navigation
Below Top Line or Left Column
 Expanding / Nesting Hierarchies
Static or Dynamic Outlines
• Where I am?
Go higher or home?
 Color Coding, Breadcrumbs
Primary / Secondary Navigation
© Anselm Spoerri
Recap – Web Page Needs to Answer
What can I do here?
– Create
Layout to Present Info Clearly & Logically
– Use Grid System to Facilitate Understanding & Recall
Where do I start?
– Create
Visual Hierarchy to Guide Eye
How can I navigate?
– Create
Primary & Secondary Navigation
– Provide Site ID, Page Name
© Anselm Spoerri
Layout  Visual Hierarchy & Navigation
Site ID
Primary Navigation
Secondary Navigation
Page Name
Intro Text
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
bbbbbbbbbbb
bbbbbbbbbbb
Text or Thumbnails
© Anselm Spoerri
Layout  Visual Hierarchy & Navigation
Site ID
Primary Navigation
Secondary Navigation
Page Name
Intro Text
Text or Thumbnails
© Anselm Spoerri
Design Strategy  Tools
Create Layout Grid
– Create Master Table with Cells of varying sizes
– Cell can be a table with cells …
– Use Dreamweaver to create layout/grid tables
– Use Fireworks to crop images to desired size
Create Visual Hierarchy
– More Important = Larger / Sharp Contrast
– Use Fireworks to create and edit distinct imagery
Create Navigation Structure
– Designate specific areas for Primary / Secondary Navigation
– Use Fireworks to create visual navigations elements
– Use Dreamweaver to create interactive navigation
© Anselm Spoerri
Basic Design Principles
Alignment
– Don't Mix Alignment Styles - Simplicity
– Create Sufficient Left Margin
– Constrain Total Width of Page
Proximity
– Related Things Close Together
– Spatial Separation = Conceptual Separation
Repetition & Consistency
– Grid Layout, Navigation, Graphics Color Coding, Typeface
– Creates Ease of Use
Contrast
– Bigger, Bolder, Color, Spatial Distance
– Guide the Eye and Create Visual Hierarchy
© Anselm Spoerri
Writing for the Web
Concise, SCANABLE and Objective
By Jacob Nielsen
People scan page
– Study: 79% always scanned + only 16 % read word-by-word.
Make pages “scanable”
–
–
–
–
–
–
Start with conclusion
One idea per paragraph
Half the word count (or less) than conventional writing
Highlighted keywords
Meaningful sub-headings (not "clever" ones)
Bulleted lists
Credibility important and increased by:
– High-quality graphics
– Good writing
– Use of outbound hyperlinks
© Anselm Spoerri
Web Site – Trunk Test
© Anselm Spoerri
Redesign 1
Source – Steve Krug “Don’t Make Me Think”
© Anselm Spoerri
Redesign 2
© Anselm Spoerri
Redesign 3
© Anselm Spoerri
Which Web Graphics Format to Choose?
© Anselm Spoerri
Recap – Web Graphics
Bitmapped vs. Vector-based Graphics
Web Graphics File Formats
– GIF
–
–
–
–
–
Cross Platform & Lossless Compression
Indexed Colors
Transparency
Create Animations
Best for: Solid Color, Simple Illustrations Small Photos
– JPEG
–
–
–
–
Cross Platform & LOSSY Compression
No transparency
No Animation
Best for: Photos with Subtle Changes
Save Image for Web
–
–
–
–
–
RGB Mode
72 ppi
Indexed Color Mode
Reduced Color Palette (e.g. Adaptive Palette)
Interlaced
Good Form: Alt-labels for Images
© Anselm Spoerri
Which Web Graphics Format to Choose?
Many colors
Few solid colors
Solid black / white
Few colors
© Anselm Spoerri
Please Answer these Questions
(answers provided at end of lecture)
1. What is the best way to create columns on a web page?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Draw guidelines across the page.
Create tables
Type the text in short lines, hitting the Spacebar between columns.
Use graphics to contain the text on either side.
2. The difference between a Paragraph and a Line Break is:
a) A Paragraph contains a complete thought; a Line Break doesn’t.
b) You must have more than one line in a Paragraph;
a Line Break can have only one line.
c) A Paragraph cannot change color.
d) A paragraph has space following it; a Line Break have no space following it.
3. How can you tell where a link is going before you click it?
a) You can’t.
b) Ask your mother.
c) Position the pointer over the link and read the status bar at the bottom of the
browser window.
d) Type “link=?” in the location box, then hit Return or Enter.
© Anselm Spoerri
Questions
(cont.)
4. Which one is not a “legal” file name, and why not:
a)
b)
c)
d)
designers.htm
tall_tales.html
honey bunny.gif
gargoyles.jpg
5. Why must you title your web page:
a)
b)
c)
d)
The title is what appears in the title bar in the browser.
The title is what spears in a visitor’s bookmark or favorite list.
The title is used by many search engines to add the site to their address.
All of above.
6. If you make graphics, what reason could there be for
saving the original, high-resolution files that won’t be
used in the web site?
a)
b)
c)
d)
You might need them for print media.
You might need to go back and make changes or corrections.
You might need to make more of the same, such as buttons.
All of the above.
© Anselm Spoerri
Questions (cont.)
7. If you added a new photo to an existing page on your site,
how many files would you have to upload?
a) One graphic file.
b) One web page file.
c) One graphic file and one web page.
8. If you remove 3 pages from your site, what else do you
have to do to the site?
a) Change your address.
b) Remove the links from remaining pages and upload those changes.
9. Which of the following is not an advantage of a GIF file?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Unlimited color
Lossless compression
Transparency
Interlacing
10. Which of the following is not an advantage of a JPEG file?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Millions of colors
Lossless compression
Variety of compression levels
Maintains subtle color changes
© Anselm Spoerri
Questions (cont.)
Never True or Sometimes?
a)
Choose any typeface on your hard disk and set headlines
(not graphic ones) with it.
b)
Let the text stretch the entire width of the web page.
c)
SET LOTS OF TEXT IN ALL CAPS SO PEOPLE WILL BE SURE TO SEE IT.
d)
Put red text on an orange background because the subtle yet
“dazzling” color combination looks good.
e)
Make some text very small, but set it in all caps
to compensate for the small size.
© Anselm Spoerri
Dreamweaver – Create Visual Hierarchy
You can use
1
Standard Table
 Standard Mode
 Regular Columns and Rows
2
Layout Tables and Layout Cells
 Layout View
 “Irregular” Columns and Rows
to create
Layout
and
Visual Hierarchy
© Anselm Spoerri
Dreamweaver – Standard Mode
View > Table Mode > select “Standard Mode”
Certain changes must be completed in Standard mode
Format & Edit Table
and its Cells
– Format Table and Cells
– Cut, Copy or Paste Table Cell
Specify Width = Pixels or % of Browser Width
– “Accordion Effect” if specified as % of Browser Width
– If Table “Width” unspecified, then column widths unconstrained!
Layers
(future lecture)
© Anselm Spoerri
Dreamweaver – Layout Mode
Layout Table
can contain
contains
Layout Table
Layout Cell
Text
Image
Media
© Anselm Spoerri
Format Table – in “Standard Mode”
W and H fields
– Specify width & height of table as pixels or % of browser window
– If “Width” unspecified, then column widths are unconstrained!
– Usually don't need to set table height
CellPad
– Amount of space between content of a cell and cell boundary
CellSpace
– Amount of space between each layout cell
Align
– Default = “Left”
Border
– Specify in pixels thickness of border
© Anselm Spoerri
Format Table – Layout Table in “Layout Mode”
1
2
3
1
Clear Row Heights
2
Make Widths Consistent
3
–
Resets widths of each cell to match the content within that cell.
–
If width set to 400 pixels, then add content with width of 450, top bar of
table in Layout view will display: “400" (450).
Clicking "Make Widths Consistent" removes the 400-pixel setting and
keeps 450.
Remove All Spacers
–
4
Remove spacer images inserted when “autostretch” is selected
(see next slide)
Remove Nesting
–
e.g. tables within tables
Layout cells will become part of parent table
© Anselm Spoerri
4
Format Table – Layout Cell in “Layout Mode”
Fixed Width
– Specify width in pixels,
where cell width is constrained by table width
page display
Autostretch
– Resizes width automatically to fill browser window
– Displayed as wavy line in page display
– With Autostretch, transparent spacer images are inserted in fixed width
columns to control the layout.
Without spacer images, columns will change size or even visually
disappear completely if they do not contain content.
– Only one column in a layout can be Autostretch.
© Anselm Spoerri
Format Table – Layout Cell in “Layout Mode”
(cont.)
Bg
– Set Background Color of layout cell
Horz and Vert Alignment
– Specify width in pixels,
where cell width is constrained by table width
No Wrap
– If checked, then Text is not allowed to wrap
© Anselm Spoerri
Table Management
Tag Bar
(bottom border of selected file)
Use it to select specific layout elements
Clicking on <table> selects table
Clicking on <tr> selects row
Clicking on <td> selects cell
Expanded Mode
Temporarily adds cell padding and spacing to tables
and increases the tables’ borders to make editing easier.
Select View > Table Mode > Expanded Tables Mode
or
In Layout category of the Insert bar, click Expanded Tables button
© Anselm Spoerri
Editing Table – in “Standard Mode”
Cut / Copy / Paste
preserving the cells’ formatting
Single table cell
Multiple cells at once
–
Contents of the Clipboard must be compatible with structure
of table or selection in the table in which the cells will be pasted.
Insert Row / Column
–
Modify > Table > “Insert Row” or “Insert Column” or “Insert Row or Column”
(latter gives you most control)
Merge Cells
–
Modify > Table > Merge Cells
Remove cell content but leave cells intact:
–
Select one or more cells.
(Make sure the selection does not consist entirely of complete rows or columns.)
–
Choose “Edit > Clear” or press Delete.
Delete rows or columns that contain merged cells:
–
–
Select the row or column to be deleted.
Modify > Table > Delete Row / Column
© Anselm Spoerri
Formatting Precedence – “Table Rules”
Cell Format
overwrites
Column / Row Format
overwrites
Table Format
BUT
Table Width / Height
Column
or
Row
or
constrains
Cell Width / Height
If Table “Width” unspecified, then column widths unconstrained!
© Anselm Spoerri
Dreamweaver – Table Troubleshooting
Make sure Table Width in Layout and Standard Mode Agree
– Layout Mode: Table Width = 500 pixels
– Standard Mode: Table Width = %
 Dreamweaver can “suddenly” change widths specified in “pixels” to “%”
 Good practice to double check
(especially when layout behaves strange)
© Anselm Spoerri
Text + Misc
Format Text
– Select Text
– “Properties” Window changes to “Format”
– Style, Font, Size, Color etc.
– More Control of Appearance of Text
 Remember to use Sans Serif Typeface
– Preferably set Page Font using Modify > Page Properties
Useful Features
– Visual Grid
– View > Grid > select “Show Grid” and “Snap-to-grid”
– View > Grid > Edit Grid (to edit grid)
– Tracing Image
– Modify > Page Properties: “Tracing Image” category
© Anselm Spoerri
Dreamweaver “Table Games” Demo – Standard Mode
See Video Capture File
New File
Select “Standard Mode”
– View > Table Mode > select “Standard Mode”
or Select “Layout” in Insert bar and click “Standard” icon
Insert Table
– Insert > Table: in dialog box specify number of columns and rows
Format Columns / Rows / Cells
–
–
Select columns / rows / cells using dragging
Edit entries in Property Inspector for selected items
Table: CellPad, CellSpace, Align, Border (which will apply for all cells)
Merge Cells
–
–
Select cells to be merged
Modify > Table > Merge Cells
Insert Row / Column
–
Modify > Table > “Insert Row or Column”
© Anselm Spoerri
Dreamweaver “Table Games” Demo – Layout Mode
See Video Capture File
Create New File
Select “Layout Mode”
– View > Table Mode > select “Layout Mode”
or Select “Layout” in Insert window and click “Layout” icon
Create Layout Table with Layout Cells
– Create Layout Table and inside two “columns” with two Layout Cells each
Format Layout Table and Cells
– Select Layout Table or Cells
– Edit entries in Property Inspector for selected items
Group Layout Cells using Layout Table
– Select Layout Table icon
– Trace outline of “right column” of layout cells
– Specify CellPad = 10 and Bg color = light gray for just created Layout Table
© Anselm Spoerri
Download files and Initialize
Create folder “mplec4” in “My Documents” folder
Download Files and Images
http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~aspoerri/Teaching/MPOnline/Lectures/Lecture4/stepbystep/
– Select ZIP file = “stepbystep.zip”
– File Download Dialog: select “Open”
– Extract into “My Documents/mplec4”
and make sure to extract all files
(Being able to use WinZip is prerequisite for this course)
© Anselm Spoerri
“Cell Management” – Cut, Copy, Paste Cells
You can cut, copy, or paste a single table cell or multiple cells at once,
preserving the cells’ formatting.
You can paste cells at insertion point or in place of a selection in an existing table.
Pasting Multiple Table Cells
–
Clipboard content must be compatible with structure of table
or the selection in table in which the cells will be pasted.
 example
1 Open files “CopyPasteSource” and “CopyPasteDestination”
Select “CopyPasteDestination”
2 Layout Mode: create similar cell structure in interior Layout Table
as in “Source”
Select “CopyPasteSource”
3 Standard Mode: copy cells with images and paste in interior Layout Table
in “Destination”
Delete Layout Table or Cell
–
Select Layout Table or Cell
–
Press “Backspace” or “Delete” Key
or select “Edit > Clear”
© Anselm Spoerri
Tracing Image
Tracing Image Example
– Open new file in Dreamweaver
– Modify > Page Properties : select sans serif typeface
– Modify > Page Properties : select “Tracing Image” category
– Browse for tracing image = “i-R_Opening_Page”
and set transparency = 50%
– Layout Mode:
– Create Layout Table (covering the tracing image)
– Create four Layout Cells (along earth contour)
– Enter text in each cell
– Experiment with type size and bolding to create “visual flow”
Step-by-Step files: tracingimage1, tracingimage2, tracingimage3
© Anselm Spoerri
Answers to Questions
1. What is the best way to create columns on a web page?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Draw guidelines across the page.
Create tables
Type the text in short lines, hitting the Spacebar between columns.
Use graphics to contain the text on either side.
2. The difference between a Paragraph and a Line Break is:
a) A Paragraph contains a complete thought; a Line Break doesn’t.
b) You must have more than one line in a Paragraph;
a Line Break can have only one line.
c) A Paragraph cannot change color.
d) A paragraph has space following it; a Line Break have no space following it.
3. How can you tell where a link is going before you click it?
a) You can’t.
b) Ask your mother.
c) Position the pointer over the link and read the status bar at the bottom of the
browser window.
d) Type “link=?” in the location box, then hit Return or Enter.
© Anselm Spoerri
Questions
(cont.)
4. Which one is not a “legal” file name, and why not:
a)
b)
c)
d)
designers.htm
tall_tales.html
honey bunny.gif
gargoyles.jpg
5. Why must you title your web page:
a)
b)
c)
d)
The title is what appears in the title bar in the browser.
The title is what spears in a visitor’s bookmark or favorite list.
The title is used by many search engines to add the site to their address.
All of above.
6. If you make graphics, what reason could there be for
saving the original, high-resolution files that won’t be
used in the web site?
a)
b)
c)
d)
You might need them for print media.
You might need to go back and make changes or corrections.
You might need to make more of the same, such as buttons.
All of the above.
© Anselm Spoerri
Questions (cont.)
7. If you added a new photo to an existing page on your site,
how many files would you have to upload?
a) One graphic file.
b) One web page file.
c) One graphic file and one web page.
8. If you remove 3 pages from your site, what else do you
have to do to the site?
a) Change your address.
b) Remove the links from remaining pages and upload those changes.
9. Which of the following is not an advantage of a GIF file?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Unlimited color
Lossless compression
Transparency
Interlacing
10. Which of the following is not an advantage of a JPEG file?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Millions of colors
Lossless compression
Variety of compression levels
Maintains subtle color changes
© Anselm Spoerri
Questions (cont.)
Never True or Sometimes?
Never a)
Choose any typeface on your hard disk and set headlines
(not graphic ones) with it.
Never b)
Let the text stretch the entire width of the web page.
Never c)
SET LOTS OF TEXT IN ALL CAPS SO PEOPLE WILL BE SURE TO SEE IT.
Never d)
Put red text on an orange background because the subtle yet
“dazzling” color combination looks good.
Never e)
Make some text very small, but set it in all caps
to compensate for the small size.
© Anselm Spoerri