Designing for the Web.

How to eliminate discrepancies between your design and the final product.

1. File Format. Designs should be provided in photoshop files. If the design was created in Adobe Illustrator please go to File > Export > Photoshop and make sure layers are included upon export.

2. Layers. Design files should use as many layers as possible (in Illustrator or Photoshop). The programmer has to cut up different elements due to modern programming methods. They will often have to get behind certain layers and turn others off to get a certain element to look correct. The layers should be grouped properly in folders from the background all the way to the front i.e. "Background" "Body" "Content" "Header" "Navigation" etc.

3. Resolution. The files should be provided 72 dpi and either 1024 x 768 or 800 x 600. The size should not go any larger as the current web standard is 1024 x 768. Most monitors won't be able to view the entire site if it's over 1024 x 768 and you definitely want the site to be viewable on smaller monitors and laptops.

4. Color. The site should be designed in RGB color mode. Monitors use RGB color and not CMYK. If your site is designed in CMYK color mode, your website's colors will display differently when programmed.

5. Fonts. Ensure that the fonts you've chosen are web safe fonts. It is best to have navigation, headers and body font web safe but if you must have a specific font for headers or navigation please inform your project manager and Dynamic Text Replacement (a system used to on the web to automatically implement custom fonts without need to create images) can be set up on your site (additional programming services are necessary). Body fonts should always be web safe. Here is a list of web safe fonts.

6. Discrepancies. Please check over your design and ensure there are no 1 pixel off type mistakes. The programmer will program your website as accurately as possible meaning if there is an element that is sticking out 1 pixel, he will assume that this was done intentionally and program it as such.

If you have any questions or are unsure of any aspects of your design please contact your project manager at (408) 246-9500.