SiteGrinder

How do I decide whether to output type layers as text or graphics?

Photoshop type layers contain two versions of the layer, the editable text (sometimes we call it "live text") such as a word processor does, and the "picture" of the text. Photoshop is mainly concerned with the rendered graphic version of the text and provides the editable version in case you wish to later change the text in a layer.

But web pages deal with text or a graphic for each element on a page, not both at the same time. When designing your page you must decide for each text layer whether to include it as a graphic or as text data.

Click here to learn how to tell SiteGrinder to build text or graphics from a type layer

Here are some things to consider as you compare one to the other:

Text as Text Data Pros & Cons
Text as Graphic Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Live text is searchable and selectable by the user
  • You can edit text directly in any HTML or text editor
  • You can place links on words or phrases within text
  • Text can be displayed in large type or read by
    voice software for sight-impaired web users
  • Search engines like Google rely on live text to find out about your site

Cons:

  • Not many fonts are standard in browsers limiting your design
  • Many browsers don't anti-alias live text
  • Fonts may change from browser to browser
  • Text size may change from browser to browser
  • You have less control over how the text is displayed in the browser
  • Impossible to always precisely position text browser to browser

Pros:

  • Always looks exactly as you designed it - any font you like
  • Graphic rollovers can be more visually dramatic

Cons:

  • Need to go back to Photoshop to change text
  • Download size will usually increase, sometimes dramatically