All web pages require some graphic elements to function. Many of these graphic elements, either solely or in combine effort with others, serve to make the site run or allow users to navigate or perform something productive, such as view or edit a file, or refresh the page when it doesn’t open fully. Other graphic elements, such as filigree graphic elements, are for show and bring color, motion, and depth to a particular site. These graphic elements do have individual functions as well, but those functions are different nature. For example, a graphic element, say, a waving hand in the top banner of the page, attracts the attention of surfers and draws them in. This function doesn’t help the site run, but it does help to keep it running; that is, it serves to advertise the site’s mission in some way. Many graphic elements provide a convenience to the surfer, such as to help them navigate easily through the site. An active link, lit up or blinking, does this. Whatever the particular purpose, graphic elements bring the site or page to live and make it unique.
The definition of a graphic element can be seen in looking at it, so the graphic element is self-explanatory: A graphic element is an illustration, picture, or some other binary object that produces some form of visual and is kept as an external file connected through a link or a shared code. This is what integrates all graphic elements. Definition and function are basically one and the same here; whatever graphic a surfer sees is what it is.
For those who wish to desktop publish, graphic elements are, of course, essential. As a matter of fact, the more interesting and significant the graphic elements are the better, for the purpose of reflecting innovative creation. Flash® technology, which is relatively current and still developing itself, has become a dominant graphics force in desktop publishing. The various capabilities of this technology have brought a new sense of life and dimension to desktop publishing and web presentation. One dynamic identifying distinction of Flash® is the integration of 3D animation, motion, and images sometimes actively performing outside of the Windows® frame. Graphic element capabilities will not likely stop there.
Some specific and recognizable graphic elements include: a blinking pointing finger to direct surfers, a twirling face, swirling colors, moving cartoons, a panorama of a landscape, a horse rider galloping across the screen, flashing links, an “email me” link that moves with the frame as a surfer scrolls downward, a banner which flips through multiple pictures, the lid on a jar popping off to release rainbow colors, a celled table featuring a series of icons, a highlighted square to denote a function being used, flickering candles, and many, many other things. The possibilities are endless!
Graphic elements are the heart and soul of a web page or site. Every site a surfer sees has some graphic element never seen before anywhere. This is a great sign, because it reminds everyone that web technology has even more imaginable, and even unimaginable, places to go.