Re: basic backgrounds

Susan:

Here are some answers but only in the broadest terms. Remember, I use
FrontPage so the validation experts may find it necessary to correct my
errant ways:


>
> I'm trying to understand how page backgrounds work.
>
> I understand that there are some tricks.. like making the background long
> enough so it only tiles in the horizontal direction.

Careful on this one. Such an image may end up controling the length of the
page. (At least if someone should print the page) It is often more
convenient to make horizontal images or just let them tile both ways.

>
> But what is a good size for a backgound image?  If it tiles 3 times is it
> like downloading 3 times this file size?  Maybe it is cached once and that
> makes the other 2 tiles faster?

The image is only downloaded once. No matter how many additional times the
image needs to tile, it happens in an eye blink. Basically, a background
image, (like any other), should be as small as possible.
>
> Can a table have transparent cells so the background shows through?

Yes they can. In fact, in older Netscapes ALL tables were transparent. (Did
not support <bgcolor>. One had to carefully choose the background so the
text could still be read.) In more cooperative browsers, each cell can have
a different color or image.
>
> By the way - can a table have an html document as its contents or is it
only
> for text or images?

A cell in a table can hold almost any "object". Even an HTML file can be
"called" via an <include> tag.
>
> Do you define the image size when you use a background?
>
No -- After all, it is going to tile anyway. You could however, resize the
image to vary the pattern effect. The more artistic can greate animated
GIF's to ring bells for winter holidays, make waves ripple, etc.

> Thanks!
>

Your welcome and best wishes:
Ted Temer
Temercraft Designs Redding, CA
temer(at)c-zone.net
www.temercraft.com/
www.newsredding.com/

HTML: hwg-basics mailing list archives, maintained by Webmasters @ IWA