Graphic designers work with images and photos predominantly to create a range of designs. With more graphic designers working online and in other text based forms of media it is becoming more important to learn how to get to grips with editing text. Plain text can be used for a range of informative and public information websites however for a site with a little more graphical flair text can be transformed into a more engaging form to attract viewer's interest.
The following guide includes some tips for arranging text for websites.
Visualisation of Text
Depending on who the website is intended for a range of visual styles can be used to improve text. As with many aspects of graphic design the degree of styling required will vary depending on the target audience.
Basic improvements such as emboldening text, using italics and underlining sections are tried and tested ways of drawing attention to important paragraphs and sections of text. These methods are acceptable for websites which are predominantly text based such as blogs, newspaper archives and information based sites such as tutorials and educational resources.
For a site which caters for people in the graphic design field a range of text styles and fonts can be implemented with more artistic flare. Type faces inspired by popular logos and alternative fonts such as forms of calligraphy and graffiti can be found and downloaded as font families.
Website Text Software
If you are new to designing websites there are a number of options to assist you with arranging and inputting text. Some of which are part of software packages and others are offered when you register with websites and other services online.
Programmes such as Adobe Dreamweaver feature a range of functions to assist with inputting text. Users who have a grasp of CSS codes or other html languages can use these to input text using traditional coding methods. In recent versions of the program there is also the added option of arranging text using the design view option. In design mode the graphic designer can input text which will appear typed on screen exactly the same as it will appear on the finished website.
Website Text Wizard Programmes
Many domain registries and hosting packages offer template creation packages and wizards to help you construct your own website. Many of these wizards will assist people through the stages you need to go through to upload and customise text.
For graphic designers who are unfamiliar with coding or who are lacking in IT skills in general these wizards can help to save a lot of time. Depending on which registry you choose to use there may be options to upload jpegs or scanned images of text that have been created from pen and ink.