Most images are saved in either GIF (Graphic Interchange Format) or JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group). By choosing the optimal file format, you can create a Web graphic that will download faster and look better. 

The GIF format works best for graphics with solid areas of color, such as logos.

The GIF file format uses a relatively basic form of file compression that squeezes out inefficiencies in the data storage without losing data or distorting the image. It is less efficient at compressing complicated pictures with many colors and complex textures. 

The GIF file format also allows images to be saved with transparent backgrounds. This option is useful if the image is going to be placed on a colored background. The GIF file format also offers an interlacing feature.

The JPEG format works best for photographs. Adjust the size of the image in a photo editing program before adding to webpage. Save for web or save at 72 dpi.
Image Parameters
When using images in Web pages, always use the ALT parameter. The ALT parameter allows you to add a text description to an image that can be seen by users who are browsing with images turned off and also by handicapped Web surfers who are using a voice reader. 

To add the ALT tag to an image in HTML, your code should look something like this: 

<IMG SRC="USILOGO.gif" ALT="USI Logo graphic">

Content developers should also include the WIDTH and HEIGHT attributes of an image in their HTML because it speeds the download of a page. To add WIDTH and HEIGHT attributes in HTML (with an example image of 90 pixels wide by 90 pixels high), your code should look something like: 

<IMG SRC="orrcenter.jpg" WIDTH="90" HEIGHT="90" ALT="photo of the Orr Center">

Fonts 
To invoke a font(s) in HTML, write your code like this:

<p style="font-family:helvetica;">

You can also add other parameters to the <FONT> style such as color and size.
<p style="font-family:helvetica;font-size:12px;color:blue;font-weight:bold;">

Font Recommendations
Just because HTML makes it possible to invoke specific font types into Web pages doesn't mean that any font can be used. If the visitor doesn't have the font specified in the HTML, then the text will appear as the browser's default font.

It is wise for content developers who use the FONT style in their pages to use fonts commonly installed on the majority of computers. These fonts include: Arial (Windows), Helvetica (Macintosh), Geneva (Macintosh), Monaco (Macintosh) and Times (both Windows and Macintosh), or content developers can add HTML parameters which will invoke a computer system's font default such as SANS-SERIF or SERIF.
So the HTML code could look like this:

<p style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, times, sans-serif, serif">Content</p>

When using the font style it is good to invoke multiple fonts (as shown in the example above) because different users may have different fonts installed on their computers. The FONT style will look for the fonts in the order you include them in your HTML. If none of the fonts exist, then the page will use the browser's default font.

Colors