Comments on: How Do You Lay Out The Layout? http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/ thoughts on | comments about | examples of } web design trends. Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:46:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: J Phill http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-19624 J Phill Sat, 30 Dec 2006 16:04:04 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-19624 I've mostly only done fixed width layout, however I have done liquid and elastic, and I enjoyed designing a liquid site. Elastic has been the most challenging but I'm still not used to using ems for layout. I’ve mostly only done fixed width layout, however I have done liquid and elastic, and I enjoyed designing a liquid site.

Elastic has been the most challenging but I’m still not used to using ems for layout.

]]> By: David http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-19687 David Sat, 30 Dec 2006 19:48:25 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-19687 I agree, that it depends on the site. I design with all three layouts when it is appropriate. You have to know your audience and what type of screen/system they are using. If my users are in the 1280x1024 and 1024x768 range then I would feel good about a fixed 920px or a fluid margin based layout. If I had to design for +1280px screens (like advanced corporate or total design geeks that have 22inch widescreens) then I would go with a large fixed layout so that the users eye didn't have to wonder across a 20inch paragraph. However, I like to stick with fluid if I have everyone from a cell phone to a dual-LCD setup visiting my site. Let them choose how big or small they want it. Make the site fit their screen. I agree, that it depends on the site. I design with all three layouts when it is appropriate. You have to know your audience and what type of screen/system they are using.

If my users are in the 1280×1024 and 1024×768 range then I would feel good about a fixed 920px or a fluid margin based layout. If I had to design for +1280px screens (like advanced corporate or total design geeks that have 22inch widescreens) then I would go with a large fixed layout so that the users eye didn’t have to wonder across a 20inch paragraph.

However, I like to stick with fluid if I have everyone from a cell phone to a dual-LCD setup visiting my site. Let them choose how big or small they want it. Make the site fit their screen.

]]> By: Johan http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-19701 Johan Sat, 30 Dec 2006 21:20:01 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-19701 <blockquote>There are usability standards for length of readable text line.</blockquote> what do you use as a standard?

There are usability standards for length of readable text line.

what do you use as a standard?

]]> By: kabari http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-19960 kabari Sun, 31 Dec 2006 14:56:31 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-19960 <blockquote>what do you use as a standard?</blockquote> Usually 45-75 characters per line. the lower end of this is for multiple columns of text, you'll want to keep around that 45-55 range.

what do you use as a standard?

Usually 45-75 characters per line. the lower end of this is for multiple columns of text, you’ll want to keep around that 45-55 range.

]]> By: Hugy http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-20171 Hugy Mon, 01 Jan 2007 06:50:36 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-20171 I always design both fixed and liquid layouts, but I think fixed layouts are more official - Corporate Identity issue, see because companies require most of the time to have a fixed style, but when designing a personal or a Flash based site I think it's always fixed, that's what I think because you can used the option of scrolling and/or scenes styles, but usually it's up to the design it self. Most of my designs are fixed to 775x600px, it's a perfect size for those who use the 800x600px, put if going wide screen I prefer th 920px. I always design both fixed and liquid layouts, but I think fixed layouts are more official - Corporate Identity issue, see because companies require most of the time to have a fixed style, but when designing a personal or a Flash based site I think it’s always fixed, that’s what I think because you can used the option of scrolling and/or scenes styles, but usually it’s up to the design it self.

Most of my designs are fixed to 775×600px, it’s a perfect size for those who use the 800×600px, put if going wide screen I prefer th 920px.

]]> By: Andrew Faulkner http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-20516 Andrew Faulkner Tue, 02 Jan 2007 19:29:03 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-20516 I tend to go for the liquid approach. But one cannot assume that a particular type of layout is right across many designs. When I build a site I imagine what type of layout would work best for the content. I tend to go for the liquid approach. But one cannot assume that a particular type of layout is right across many designs. When I build a site I imagine what type of layout would work best for the content.

]]> By: Abhijit Nadgouda http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-20662 Abhijit Nadgouda Wed, 03 Jan 2007 16:27:27 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-20662 Thanks for the replies. The number of characters for screen are different from that for paper. http://www.456bereastreet.com/archive/200509/line_length_and_readability/ has links to good information. I try to maintain a range of 55-85 characters, depending on the context and other elements of the page. I agree with Hugy that fixed layouts appear more corporate, but that is probably because the fixed layout is more controlled and liquid layout has more flow. Thanks for the replies.

The number of characters for screen are different from that for paper. http://www.456bereastreet.com/archive/200509/line_length_and_readability/ has links to good information. I try to maintain a range of 55-85 characters, depending on the context and other elements of the page.

I agree with Hugy that fixed layouts appear more corporate, but that is probably because the fixed layout is more controlled and liquid layout has more flow.

]]> By: David http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-20855 David Thu, 04 Jan 2007 11:36:23 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-20855 There is a great article on <a href="http://www.alistapart.com" rel="nofollow">A List Apart</a> by Marc van den Dobbelsteen about <a href="http://www.alistapart.com/articles/switchymclayout" rel="nofollow">using javascript and css for variable layouts</a>. I have had a bit of a play around with it and it is really good fun to work with. I'm definitely thinking of using it in the next website I build. There is a great article on A List Apart by Marc van den Dobbelsteen about using javascript and css for variable layouts.

I have had a bit of a play around with it and it is really good fun to work with. I’m definitely thinking of using it in the next website I build.

]]> By: Andrew Faulkner http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-20867 Andrew Faulkner Thu, 04 Jan 2007 12:22:13 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-20867 Interesting find, David. Thanks. This may come in useful. Interesting find, David. Thanks. This may come in useful.

]]> By: Richard http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-21043 Richard Fri, 05 Jan 2007 11:50:00 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-21043 I often am highly illustrative when I design, and sometimes a liquid, elastic or any layout that especially uses ems so it can be resized can make maintaining this illustrative quality hard to maintain when the user inevitably moves items of the layout around. Graphics break, backgrounds aren't the correct width anymore... until we have a web browser image format that supports resizable vector (and not flash) I'm going to find designing in these styles very hard indeed. Richard I often am highly illustrative when I design, and sometimes a liquid, elastic or any layout that especially uses ems so it can be resized can make maintaining this illustrative quality hard to maintain when the user inevitably moves items of the layout around.

Graphics break, backgrounds aren’t the correct width anymore… until we have a web browser image format that supports resizable vector (and not flash) I’m going to find designing in these styles very hard indeed.

Richard

]]> By: Oceanwatcher http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-21652 Oceanwatcher Mon, 08 Jan 2007 11:53:06 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-21652 I am working on different computers with different resolutions and different browsers. But websites look more or less the same to me. Why? Because I never maximise the browser window. I hardly ever maximise any application. It is a weird habit to force something that is designed for a narrower screen to fill the entire screen. So maybe a little education in how to view in a window would take away some of this discussion? If you have a 1600x1200 screen, it will look the same as on a 1024x768 screen as long as you do not maximise... I am working on different computers with different resolutions and different browsers. But websites look more or less the same to me. Why? Because I never maximise the browser window. I hardly ever maximise any application. It is a weird habit to force something that is designed for a narrower screen to fill the entire screen.

So maybe a little education in how to view in a window would take away some of this discussion? If you have a 1600×1200 screen, it will look the same as on a 1024×768 screen as long as you do not maximise…

]]> By: Mark http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-21736 Mark Mon, 08 Jan 2007 18:06:05 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/30/how-do-you-lay-out-the-layout/#comment-21736 I do mostly portal design for work and that is pretty much all liquid (or fluid) layout. When I do a brochure site or something similar, I usually go to fixed width for the sake of readability. I will have to try the elastic approach in the future. Interesting read. I do mostly portal design for work and that is pretty much all liquid (or fluid) layout. When I do a brochure site or something similar, I usually go to fixed width for the sake of readability. I will have to try the elastic approach in the future. Interesting read.

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