Exercise Five

Exercise Goals

Exercise five introduces images to your web pages. Here are some goals for the exercise.

  • Learn how to obtain and/or make web images.
  • Learn the strengths and weaknesses of .jpeg, .gif, and .png image file types.
  • Learn how to use the img tag to place an image on your web page.
  • Learn the reasons for using the height, width, and alt attributes.

In short, create a web page and place an image on it using the image tag. Link to and from your index.html or "home" page. Upload the HTML and image files, reproof and validate the pages. Fill out the exercise feedback form and you are done.

Remember to take Quiz 5 on Blackboard Learn+ as well.

Details

  1. Create another HTML page. Make sure it includes all the tags in the HTML skeleton; the bits of code to make the validator and your instructor happy; name the file as you wish and save it with your other HTML files on your hard drive.
  2. Obtain or make (depending on your skills) an image you would like to place on your page. There are plenty of web sites that offer free images; please use those rather than stealing an image. Here are some ideas for finding free images and a couple of sites that will make free custom images. Make sure the image file type is either .jpg, .gif, or .png.

    You may have more than one image for this page. However, your total aggregate file size for all images on the page must be less than 80K. This will give me a download time of not more than 30 seconds for your page using my slow connection. More than that, I might not stick around.
  3. Using a relative path and the image tag, place the image on your page. Be sure to use all the required (by your instructor) image tag attributes: src, alt, height, and width.
  4. Write a paragraph describing how/where you obtained your image and add it to your page. If you found a particularly fun free image site, include a link to it and a brief description.
  5. Add a link on your page back to your "home" or index.html page.
  6. Add a link to this exercise from your index.html page.
  7. Upload the files, both HTML and image, up to the server. Your image files must be uploaded as "raw data" rather than as text. Most (s)ftp clients will have an "automatic" checkbox to choose for uploading; it will usually upload the images correctly. Keep the same relative locations between the files so your links still work.
  8. Retest all your pages; make sure the images view correctly and that your links work correctly.
  9. Validate with no errors your new page, make sure your index.html page still validates.
  10. Fill out the exercise feedback form and you are done.

Conclusion

Images can add a wonderful touch to your pages. They can set the visual tone of a site; from button down corporate to garage band grunge.

As with most things, moderation is the key to images. The challenge is to maximize the beauty of your artistic vision while keeping your image file sizes to a minimum. This keeps your viewer fulfilled rather than drumming their fingers waiting for your page to download.

Exercise Grading

Exercise Five is worth six points. Here is the grading breakdown.

15 Points
The exercise is complete and validates with no errors. The exercise feedback form is completed on time.
12 Points
The exercise is complete but has some validation errors. The exercise feedback form is completed on time.
9 Points
The exercise is uploaded but does not work (i.e. image doesn't show or link doesn't work). Or the exercise feedback form is not filled out.
3 Points
The exercise is uploaded but does not work (i.e. image doesn't show or link doesn't work). And the exercise feedback form is not filled out.
0 Points
Exercise not done at all.

Exercise Five Feedback Form

Will appear on February 28

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