Operation Manual

Working with Graphics, Animation, and Multimedia 43
By the way, the WebPlus 8.0 Resource CD-ROM includes a bonus
collection of 20,000 WebArt images, including arrows, bullets/buttons,
icons, lines, and animations as well as pictorial Web graphics. You can
peruse the collection using your Web browser, then drag and drop
images directly into WebPlus. To choose animations, use Insert/Web
Object/Animated GIF.... For details, search for “WebArt” in the
online help index.
Note that the time it takes a visitor to load one of your Web pages is
directly related to the size of the page’s HTML file plus any
accompanying graphic files. Graphics require larger file sizes, and
hence slow down loading time. And even in compressed form, bitmap
files like the photo we’ve just imported tend to be much larger than
simple line or shape graphics (see below)—so use them sparingly!
Keep picture dimensions to the minimum needed to convey your point.
It’s always wise to plan your layouts so as to avoid large graphic areas.
Drawing lines and shapes
WebPlus provides several easy-to-use drawing tools. The three line-
drawing tools are located on a Tools toolbar flyout:
Straight Line Freehand Line Curved Line
With them, you can add both functional and decorative layout
elements—for example, clickable buttons or page dividers. To draw a
straight or freehand line, select the appropriate tool, then click and
drag. To extend an existing line, begin drawing from one of the line’s
end nodes. To close the line, creating a shape with a fillable interior
region, simply connect the line back to its starting point.
Curved lines allow you to adjust the curvature of each line segment
with precision. To use the Curved Line tool, click where you want the
line to start, then either click again (for a straight line segment) or click
and drag to create a control handle for the initial point. These handles
act like magnets, pulling the curve into shape! Click again where you
want the segment to end. As with the other line tools, you can extend
the line repeatedly. To end a curved line without closing the shape,
press Esc or double-click (or simply choose another tool).