Have you ever wondered why cameras are now installed in most mobile phones? The reason is pretty simple. While verbal communication through a mobile phone proves most convenient, images taken through it tells the full story. Moreover, technology has so simplified the use of a camera  that anyone can take excellent shots of moving or stationary object through a camera phone. In any case,  the age old dictum that proclaims ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ could not be truer even today.

However, the same principle applies to websites that become livelier when accompanied by appropriate images, although the perspectives are a little different. We are now living in a world where website visitors are more interested in socializing as also gaining information on a personal level. Website designers and developers, being aware of this trend have chosen the most effective method of satisfying this desire by taking the help of website imagery. Regardless of whether categorizing content, or promoting a product, images help convey a website’s message like nothing else.

Visual content plays the biggest role

Studies reveal that as much as 65% of the general population learns and remembers things through viewing. In other words, most people can retain and retrieve information through visual cues. It also boils down to the fact that much of our sensory cortex is dedicated to vision. As a matter of fact, our gray matters are capable of identify images seen for as short as 13 milliseconds.

Website designers and developers, knowing fully about this phenomenon endeavor to impress visitors by way of devising visuals that arrest the eye momentarily in a dramatic manner. Others meanwhile, adopt a wide range of digital media to augment their online presence. These, collectively contributes to the fact that today 63% of average web page comprises images in various forms and figures. This trend seems to continue for sometime till another concept takes over the rein.

Stock photos wouldn’t cut much ice

Photographs, no doubt, enhance the attraction of text only websites to a great extent but it does not mean insertion of hackneyed professional photographs (stock photos) that are bought and sold on a royalty-free basis. These are usually generic in nature and so seldom compliment specialized topics. For instance, the use of a stock photo of a golf umbrella for a website that sells designer umbrellas such as Samurai Sword-handle umbrellas will create distaste instead of attracting interest among viewers.  Discerning website designers and developers, therefore, become quite selective in choosing appropriate graphics when giving finishing touches to their product.

However, one may use creative talent when choosing photographs for website. A website that specializes in online remote computer repairing reportedly used photographs of one of their techies whose expertise in fixing damaged or corrupted computer software was phenomenal. But the biggest surprise was its caption that read” This man put life back to your laptop”.

Incidentally, the trend of large photographic backgrounds has become quite popular these days. The technical development of Internet (connection) has made it simpler for more data transfer per second. This means that bigger images can also load quicker in real-time, while the effect is indeed awesome. There are also quite a few open source scripts for generating cross-browser support, using fixed photo backgrounds.

Stay away from using decorative images

Studies have shown that purposeless decorative images are detested and ignored by our gray cells as a matter of routine. More so, when these are used as fillers to occupy the space.  The study concluded that pictures and images of real people or real products are always considered as important and are to be studied in detail by the human brain. If you have a personal blog, people would rather see your face than a drawing or a caricature. They want to see the face of the person communicating with them since it is a matter of trust and bonding.

Tailpiece:

“Right images can help designers guide user’s eyes. If models are used, make them look towards the product image, the logo (brand) or the text. This will increase the product awareness and have the desired effect”