Screen Resolution
Screen resolution, or desktop area, is the number of horizontal and vertical pixels, or dots, displayed on your computer display, or monitor. This is a user definable setting (for details, refer to "display settings" in your operating system manual). The smaller the resolution, the larger the objects on your monitor will be. The larger the resolution, the more you can display on your monitor at the same time. Generally, the screen resolution you choose depends on the size of the monitor. If you have a larger monitor, the larger screen resolutions may be useful to you. Now apply this to Web pages. Since each viewer may have a different screen resolution, it's not an easy task to ensure that your viewers will see what you want them to see where you want them to see it.
If you design your Web site for a monitor using a 1024x768 screen resolution, it's not going to fit on a monitor using a 640x480 screen resolution. If you do the opposite...design for 640x480, it may look awfully small on 1024x768. How do you approach this problem? You cannot put the burden on the viewer by suggesting a screen resolution to them. They will probably leave your Web site before they modify their settings to conform with your Web site. The best thing to do is pick the most commonly used screen resolution. Currently over 66% of Internet users have display settings of 1024x768 or above, so start there. However, you can't just stop there. You also should test it at other screen resolutions, especially at 800x600, which accounts for 29% of users alone. This will cover the majority of your users and ensure they have a pleasurable experience at your Web site.
See the examples of the Web Central Web site, which assume a fixed width for the content, at different resolutions below:
640x480 Web Central is virtually unbrowsable at this resolution, as almost no users operate at this resolution anymore. However, it is still possible to view the site and navigate. |
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800x600 Web Central will seem a little crowded at this resolution. However, as this once was the native resolution for the site, and a significant number of users still browse at this resolution, it is still a fully functional and pleasing site. |
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1024x768 In the past few years, Web Central (as well as the rest of the OIT Web pages) was optimized for this resolution. This provides the best browsing experience in Web Central. |
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1152x864 At this resolution Web Central begins to become smaller. However, even at this resolution you will notice how the site remains visually balanced on the screen, and the fonts and images are still a comfortable size. |
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1280x1024 Here Web Central begins to become airy. Empty space begins to overtake the right side of the page. However, a cleaver designer did their math, and at this resolution the content section is centered on the page, preventing the page from becoming uncomfortably off balance. |
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