Graphics and Photographs

GIF and JPEG are the most common formats for Web graphics. Their file size should be 20 Kb or less to load quickly and their width size should be set to no larger than 300 pixels.

GIF

a. Better for solid colors
b. Render with a transparent background to avoid dithering
c. Icons

JPEG


a. Better for images with subtle variations of color (photographs for example)
b. Higher compression tends to degrade quality; adjust compression to avoid large file size and bad image quality

Icons should be used to identify documents/files on the Web site

Logos and colors

Auburn University has developed graphic standards to assure proper usage of Auburn logo, marks, and other elements. These guidelines can be found at: http://www.ocm.auburn.edu/graphicservices/

Animation and Interactive Elements


No objects moving, blinking, flashing or interactive features will be used Engineering Office of Communications and Marketing.

Sounds should not be embedded on the college Web pages.

Use special effects with caution and only with good reason. Examples include but not limited to: JavaScript dropdowns, Flash, Shockwave and animated GIFs. Potential difficulties include:

  • May not work or work unpredictably on different systems
  • Harder to implement and maintain
  • Take longer to download
  • Require users to install plug-ins
  • Text readers and search functions don't support JavaScript and are not ADA compliant

If approved effects are used, it is important that the material be monitored and updated often.

Frames will not be allowed on any college Web page. The content of frames may not be searchable by search engines.  Tables are only allowed for tabular data.