By Lee Sykes
October 2005
The often quoted saying for using images within a website is “a picture is worth a thousand words.”
Why use images?
Images add interest to a page, they can quickly convey a statement to the users of your website and they also help you to create a professional looking website.
It’s important to choose the correct images for your website. A well taken professional looking photograph will add the appeal of quality to your website, whereas a poorly taken amateur photograph will present the image of an amateur website.
Click here for
resources to photographs on the internet
How can we use Images in DotNetNuke?
There are several options available within DotNetNuke for presenting images:
- Static image
- Random image (the image changes each time the page re-loads)
- Photo album / photo gallery / portfolio (for presenting a collection of images)
- Slideshow (the image changes while viewing the page)
- Rollover (when hovering over an image, the image is swapped for another image)
There are many DotNetNuke modules available that present images in different ways.
Where would you use these image modules?
Static Images
You can use static images throughout your website using the standard core Text / HTML and Image modules that come with DotNetNuke. Static Images are useful for quickly conveying information to your website users within your articles for instance.
Random Image
This is a useful tool. It gives the impression that the content of your website is constantly being updated because the images on your page are constantly changing. For instance, if you place a random image module on your home page and configure it to display a collection of images within the same topic, each time a user visits your home page, the image is different, but still related to the content on the page.
Photo album / Photo gallery / Portfolio
If you have a collection of images that you wish to display, these are the best type of modules to use. Usually they have automated systems, where you simply upload all of your images in a zip file and the module automatically provides a thumbnail view and compresses the image so that it is suitable for viewing on the web. These modules are massive time saving devices for organising collections of images.
Slideshow
This is useful for displaying a set of images in a section of a page that changes as you are reading the page. You could use this for instance to provide several views of a product, or different views of a hotel etc.
Rollover
This again could be useful for displaying different views of a product, but in this case you are limited to two views. One image when the mouse is not hovering over the image and another image when the mouse is hovering over the image. This type of module can also be used to create a menu system where you create button rollover images that link to a page within your website.
Further Information
Whenever you are using images on your website, you need to ensure that the images are properly optimized before uploading them. Click here for a tutorial on
How to optimize an image before uploading it to your website
Click here to view
Reviews and tutorials of image modules for DotNetNuke
Click here for a full list of the current
DotNetNuke modules available that present images