The Internet is a graphic entity. While content may be king, most users are not going to spend long on a site that does not have great graphics. Buttons, toolbars, sidebars, images, headers, and footers all lend themselves to great images. If you are designing a site, you do not have to spend much money on your graphics. Many websites offer free graphics you can download, or you can create your own with just a little computer know how.
Creating your own graphics requires a basic understanding of the computer and a good program. However, if you do not have a graphics program, you can use the programs already installed on the computer. In fact, you can actually make your own graphics using PowerPoint. To make your own icons, try this tool. Banners and banner ads are another popular style of graphic used online, and you can use AdDesigner to create your own for free.
To streamline your website and make it both attractive and easy to navigate, you need to use dividers and borders. This tutorial gives excellent advice about ways to create simple dividers for your site. To design your own custom border, read this tutorial.
Of course, no website is complete without a great background. This discussion shows you how to make your own seamless tile background for a website. Buttons are also important, as they give a graphic inviting them to "click now" and continue reading your website. This tool allows you to create custom buttons for your website.
For many people, designing graphics seems daunting, even with these tools and tutorials. The good news is that there are many sites offering free graphics, so you do not have to worry about creating their own.
Free clipart:
Free Vector Clipart
#1 Free Clip Art Images
Clipart Castle
Free Buttons, Bars, Borders, and Dividers:
Free Buttons
Dividers and Border Lines
Free Lines for Borders and Dividers
Free Backgrounds:
Free Backgrounds and Borders
Free Backgrounds
Background City
Free Banners:
Free Flash Banners
Banner Sketch
Everything You Need:
Free Clip Art
Celine's Original Graphics
Absolute Web Graphics