|
/pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> |
How To Create A Stunning Drop Capital Effect On Your Web Pages
Drop Capitals are frequently used in many newspapers, books and magazines in the offline world.� You will frequently see the large capital letter sinking down into the first paragraph of articles, stories and chapters in the majority of publications you come across.
The drop capital gives the page a nice finishing touch, and certainly adds a more professional looking feel.
Online, the drop capital looks just as good on web pages as it does in print. The only drawback is that you can easily get the whole effect wrong, and end up with a less than appealing result.
The wrong way...
When most people attempt to create a drop capital effect on a web page, they usually just enlarge the first letter by a few font sizes and make it bold.
If you do this on your own web page, you will notice that instead of a 'drop' capital effect, you end up with an odd looking letter which sticks up above the rest of the paragraph, and just looks out of place.
The right way...
There are essentially, two parts to creating the drop capital effect.
Step #1 -
You need to create a drop capital image using some graphic software.
You can use any standard piece of graphic software like Paint Shop Pro, Fireworks, or Photoshop.
The drop capital image should ideally be big enough to drop down between 2-4 lines of text, depending on your preference.
You should ensure that the top of your drop capital image is level with the top of the text next to it. The bottom of the image should also be level with the bottom of the lowest text next to it.
This is really the hardest part of creating a drop capital effect.� It can be very easy to make the image just a bit too big, or a bit too small. You may find that it will take a bit of trial and error to make it look just right. However, the extra effort will pay off, as the end result will be worth waiting for.
One thing to note: As with any image, a drop capital image can slow a web page if the file size is too big.� To help reduce the file size you should save it as a '.gif' image.� For even better results you should try to optimize the '.gif' image as well by reducing the amount of colors being used.
Step #2
This step is the easiest bit?
Once you have created the drop capital image, all you have to do now is to insert it into your web page.� You just add the image to the web page in the same way that you would with any other image on your page.
When you place it at the beginning of the paragraph, make sure you remember to delete the first letter of the normal text.� Otherwise you will end up starting the paragraph with two of the same letter.
Align the image to the left
Initially, you will notice that the drop capital image just sits on top of the first line, instead of dropping down into it.� Not for long!
All you have to do now, is align the image to the left, and you will see it drop down instantly into the paragraph.
If you are using a web page editor to create your web pages like Microsoft FrontPage or Macromedias Dreamweaver, aligning the image to the left is pretty easy.
In FrontPage:
Select the drop capital image by left clicking it once. Then click on the align to the left short cut icon in the top menu bar.� Alternatively, you can select Format, then Position from the top menu. In the pop up window, select Align Left under Wrapping Style.
In Dreamweaver:
Select the drop capital image by left clicking it once. Then in the properties window, click on the arrow in the drop down menu next to Align, then select Left
If you are using a different web page editor, you should have a similar align option in the menu area.� Alternatively, you edit the HTML code directly yourself.� Just add the following command in between the brackets of the image tag:
align="left"
Thats literally all there is to it!
If you have multiple pages on your website, youll probably going to need to create a number of different drop capital images for each letter of the alphabet.� The extra effort will be worthwhile as you will end up with a much more professional looking website.
Copyright � 2004 Jason Lewis
About the Author:
Jason Lewis provides ready-made professionally designed drop capital images, as an instant solution for the busy website owner.� Each design is available for immediate download and can be added to a website within a few minutes.� To find out more: http://www.dropcapitals.com/cmd.asp?ad=93481
Put Up A Website And Start Promoting In About An Hour
I can't figure out people who have products or information to sell who do not have a website. With some people, it's fear of technology; others just haven't realized that we've entered the electronic age. If you are not in the latter category, and you are reading this article, put up your website today -- it will take you about an hour!
Is Your Site Too Slow? Why Image Optimization Is Critical
Graphics are fun, but if you put in too many bells and whistles when you create your web site, you may lose a potential audience whose Internet connection can't handle lots of graphics, and that means you'll be losing potential customers.
Design With Purpose
If your website is falling through the cracks, the chances are that the site has no message, no central core to build traffic or a core readership. Websites that try to do everything usually fail.
Web Crimes: how to avoid common website design mistakes
Thinking about designing your own website? Think again about adding any of these "features"?
Keep It Simple, Stupid: The Beauty of a Clean Cut Website
Don't knock it; "Keep It Simple, Stupid" is a great rule to live by. Nobody likes a website to "yell" at them, with blaring colors and flashing lights. Too many buttons will turn customers off. I had this problem with my homepage at http://www.antion.com. A colleague of mine, who makes a lot of money, pointed out the cluttered look of my site. I had worked so closely on every detail of the page; that I couldn't see it for what it was anymore.
Technology vs. Usability
When JV Media Design was formed, the year was 1995 and the Internet was a very different place than it is today.
The Ultimate Web Site Marketing Strategies That You Should Know
Most of us know that we need to advertise our products and our services, some of us still believe we are too small to invest in a advertising campaign. Now while a full-fledged marketing effort may be too much for your operation, it is however crucial to your success that you are involved in some kind of marketing activities. While putting a few strategies into action will make a big difference to your business and will certainly help in reaching your intended audience. However, if you do not spread the word about your business, no one will know you are there.
How To Attract People To Your Web Site and Leave Their Contact
If you have a website, you want your visitors to stay longer on your website and get more sales. Here are 10 ways you can do to improve it.
You Had Me At the Search Engine
You've likely heard of the movie, Jerry Maguire, with its famous line, "You had me at hello." Jerry Maguire was luckier than web sites we find in search engines. Many web sites don't attract user devotion at the first word, let alone after scanning the home page.
The Technology May Change, But Human Nature Remains The Same
Let me repeat that..
9 Ways to Gain Your Visitors Respect
The internet is filled with sites and they are good and bad. Some have been known for a long time and some still struggle to get the respect and fame they think they deserve.
Offshore Web Design and Development - Use Great Opportunities
Sooner or later every small or medium business owner realizes that he needs a web site for his business. And almost everybody wants to have great web site for affordable price because usually web site design budget is quite limited.
Fast Web Design For The Skint Webmaster
About two years ago, I had a go at commercial web site design. I put a medium-sized ad in a London classified ad paper. Nothing fancy: "Web designer seeks work ..." etc. This was expensive, about �500 for a month's run.
Why You Want to Include an FAQ In Your Site
Congratulations! You've got a brand new site and it's doing pretty well. You check your statistics every day and the hits and page views keep climbing, your links are all in order and everything looks very good. On top of that, your guestbook is filling with great comments and you're getting a few emails now and then with praise and perhaps a question or two.
Build It And Build It Cheap! Part II
If you are familiar with my work, then you have probably taken a look at the first part of this article, and may well be on your way to having your website up and running. Congratulations!!! It's hard work, but having pride in the accomplishment is worth it! Now you have to find the people who want to see it, AKA--site traffic.
How Your Business Can Win Online
There are lots of websites out there that do little to encourage their customers to stick around or buy their products from them. In this article i'm going to show you a typical example of where a small company has gone wrong with its website.
Re-Use The Links You Have When Revising Your Site!
Many times I've seen a web site undergo a revision and everything is brand new, even brand new links!
Creating A Quality Web Site Design!
In this article, I will attempt to cover the basics of creating a great quality web design template for your site. Now it's a known fact that the layout or "eye candy" as I put it will determine whether your visitors will stay more than 15 seconds or they will just become another statistic.
Choosing A Web Designer : A Plan to Guide You Through The Minefield
Choosing a web designer can seem like a daunting task. They come in all shapes and sizes ? from freelancers working at home to glossy new media agencies, and there is as much variation in prices and service as there is in size.
Concentrate On Web Content Instead Of Search Engine Optimization
For many webmasters the title of my article may seem like bad advice and contradict what most search engine experts say and advocate. However the proof is in the pudding. As a webmaster with 4 websites trust me when I tell you that I haven't got a clue how to optimize my web pages in order to be on the first page for a particular search phrase. Instead I work on adding new content to my web sites. This technique has allowed me to consistently earn 4 figures a month in additional income and usually I start making money within 3 weeks of making my websites.