| Web page backgrounds are to web sites what | | | | Most beginning web masters will head for free clip art |
| wallpaper is to your computer's desktop: a great way | | | | sites when they first decide to use a background on |
| to add a background image, texture or pattern to your | | | | their web page. That's exactly what I did for my first |
| virtual presence on the Web. Regardless of whether | | | | web site and the results were, well, somewhat uneven. |
| you use a PC or a Mac, adding or changing your | | | | What they frequently lack is a truly first class image |
| desktop's wallpaper is a simple point-and-click exercise. | | | | that doesn't show any seams as the image tiles |
| But adding a background to a web site requires a little | | | | across the browser window. You may also discover |
| more than basic point-and-click skills. Luckily, changing a | | | | that the web page backgrounds on clip art sites are |
| web page's basic white background into something | | | | often just too garish or even worse, too tacky. |
| more appealing doesn't have to qualify as rocket | | | | While researching this article, I found it fascinating that |
| science. | | | | a fairly large percentage of people trolling the search |
| The most demanding of these is to create your own | | | | engines for "web page backgrounds" are actually |
| backgrounds. To do this, you'll need to have a basic | | | | looking for a professionally designed web page |
| knowledge of some kind of graphic design software, | | | | template. |
| so you can create the good-looking GIF or JPEG | | | | The third way to ensure that your web page will have |
| images your backgrounds will need. Although you don't | | | | a great-looking background is to start with one of |
| need an expensive program like Photoshop, if you're a | | | | these professional-grade templates. These |
| quick study you can download a free 30-day trial copy | | | | ready-to-use web templates are not only easy to use |
| of Photoshop from Adobe and dive right into the | | | | and customize, they also look fabulous and include |
| process of creating your own web page backgrounds. | | | | beautiful pictures and backgrounds that will absolutely |
| Remember, too, that you'll also need a basic | | | | put your site head and shoulders above the |
| understanding of HTML to add the HTML tags to your | | | | competition. If you start with a template, all that's left is |
| website that will make your background images | | | | to add relevant content that gives your site its own |
| appear. | | | | unique voice. |
| If you don't feel you should have to learn the basics of | | | | That's why, in the long run, choosing a template is the |
| graphic design to give your web page a background, | | | | fastest and easiest way to get your web site up and |
| another approach is to find web page backgrounds on | | | | running while also giving it the professional look you |
| the web. | | | | want. |