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Graphics, multimedia and writing for the Web (screen 4 of 7)
Graphics software
Unless you contract out the creation and modification of graphics for your site to a graphic designer, you will require software to do this yourself.
Graphics you might need include are those that become buttons or links on the Web screen, cartoons, photographs of exhibits or staff (or anything else), or full colour illustrations.
These graphics should be in one of the two Web formats which were introduced in an earlier Guide: GIF or JPEG(1). In that Guide was information about the special requirements for colour graphics(2)on Web screens.
The costs, not only of the purchase of this graphics' software, but also of the considerable time needed to become familiar with it, should not be forgotten.
Another useful purchase for graphics is a scanner. This will allow images to be taken from paper or other media into your computer where they can be modified for use on your website - assuming the copyright(3)issues are resolved.
Multimedia
If you want your website to sing and dance, you will probably want to use Java, JavaScript, Flash, Shockwave(4)or other software which expands the capabilities of a website created with just HTML.
Programming in these languages involves a much steeper learning curve than using HTML, although this expertise can be hired if it is needed.
If you want to create other interactive elements on a Web screen, software such as 
Macromedia's(5)Authorware or Director can help you do this, using Shockwave to make the package suitable for a Web screen.
Such a 'shocked' site with its interactivity can add a lot to its appeal. Balanced against this are the costs of having the media developed, the increased loading time in some instances, the requirement for the user to have the appropriate plug-in(6), and the problems which generally come with increased complexity.
Writing for the Web
Writing for a website is similar in many ways to writing for other media. The text should be pitched at the target audience, and be relevant to them. The style should be one that will be appreciated by that audience.
An important thing to remember in creating text for a website is that most people usually do not like to read too much on a computer screen. Therefore text should be restricted, where possible, to shorter segments. Look at an earlier Guide for more detail about this and about how to manage long documents(7).
This also allows a user to quickly find the particular section of text that they need. Keep in mind also some of the design principles for a website(8).
This set of Guides is one example of how a lot of text can be handled on a website. The text is broken up into relatively short segments.
Where you want to include a long document online, include additional navigation elements, and perhaps even consider an FTP download option(9).
Record information about the elements that make up your website
Whenever you put text or graphics onto your website, record as much as you can about them so that if you employ new staff the information is at hand. Ensure you have established a storage and retrieval system for your graphics and create templates for standard screen structures.
For text, record:
- Font.
- Size.
- Style.
- Colour.
For graphics, record:
- Format.
- Size.
- Colour depth.
- Copyright information and ownership, catalogue number or similar.
- Proof of permission to use the graphic.
- 'alt' text.
- The URL of the associated HTML or other file.
The more information you record about the development of your website, the more consistent in look and feel it will be.
Summary - other software
Depending on what you want to put on your website, you may require other specialist software or hardware. For example, if you want multimedia content or sounds on your site, each of these will require software other than that which is needed to create the appearance of your site.
It is usually better to hire this expertise rather than to develop it in-house unless you are a large organisation that will be creating large amounts of these materials and can therefore justify the staff training time and software costs.
Remember that if you use sound or video on your site the viewer may require plug-ins to see and hear them. And you may have to pay a licence fee for this.
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References
- Guide 7 screen 11 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g7/s11.htm#gif
- Guide 7 screen 11 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g7/s11.htm#colour
- Guide 7 screen 13 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g7/s13.htm
- Guide 7 screen 4 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g7/s4.htm#java
- Macromedia http://www.macromedia.com/
- Guide 7 screen 4 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g7/s4.htm#plugin
- Guide 5 screen 5 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g5/s5.htm
- Guide 7 screen 1 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g7/s1.htm
- Guide 3 screen 11 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g3/s11.htm
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