Web Graphics Gallery 1
Back in 2000, I became very interested in web design. Part of that interest was also in making graphics for websites, or web graphics. In 2000 to 2001, I completed a web design certification (CIW-Master Certified Internet Webmaster). I read books, did tutorials online, took online classes, joined web design forums, and did everything I could to learn more about website and graphics creation. I started and maintained a linkware graphics site called Hart Web Graphics in 2000. The site was hosted on Homestead.com and featured Beatles midi music. The site design was, shall we say, very, very, retro (read 1990s klunky, slow-loading, and horrible). Even so I worked hard on that site and was proud of it. Linkware graphics were graphics that people could download for personal use for free if they would give you a link back to your site. They got the free graphics, and you received some free advertising. I created several sets of graphics based on different themes. Each set included a title graphic, background graphic, buttons, and a linkware logo for linking back to my site. These kinds of websites were popular back then. I belonged to an online graphics group and several group members had similar sites. Initially I got the idea for doing these graphics from Miz Kitty (Kitty Mead) of Full Moon Graphics. I became almost obsessed with Miz Kitty’s graphics. I wondered how she could obtain that metallic look or that cool texture. If she mentioned some software program or plugin on her “resources” page, I bought it. I didn’t copy her but definitely tried to model my work after hers. What was kind of surprising to me is that one day I found that Hart Web Graphics was mentioned on About.com, which was a big website with articles on many different topics. Evidently About.com’s web graphics curator had discovered my website and decided to include it in her listing of sites. Like Hart Web Graphics, About.com is no longer active. However, About.com was popular in the day.
Below please find a few of my web graphics. In some of these I use techniques that I learned while doing tutorials (usually JASC Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop). For example, the Valentine’s Day cookie platter and the gingerbread bread house use techniques from Rose of Textuts.com and Envato Tuts+. The “Stars” graphic follows techniques learned from photographer, author, and Photoshop guru Scott Kelby.
Some of these graphics are quite old. The “Merry Christmas” banner goes back to when people were using 800 by 600 screen resolutions on their computers. Likewise, the “Snow Cat” and “Santa Claus List from the Cat” are also older.
Please click or tap on the images below to bring up the lightbox viewer. You may scroll through all the gallery images by using the arrows on each side of the lightbox.
