Tip #1873 - Web Design Workshop: Rollover
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Rollover
A rollover, also called a mouseover, is an element on a web page that changes
when you place your mouse over it. Rollovers are typically graphic or text
elements that indicate a link or some other type of active area on a site.
I like rollovers on a site. I think they can be cool and fun and they let
me know when part of the page ‘is alive'. For example, if it's a link to another
page or something like that. Our WorldStart site has rollovers on the links.
Check it out: www.worldstart.com .
Take your mouse pointer over the “Home”, “Software Store”, “Computer Tips”, “Newsletters”, “Message
Board”, or “Contact” links at the top of the WorldStart home page and you will
see that the words change from white to light blue.
Here are a couple of sites that have fun rollovers:
http://www.stink.com/ - this is a crazy
little site. The bug on the main page is set to do something different each
time you roll over it. This rollover is just for fun – it doesn't link to
other pages.
http://www.etch-a-sketch.com/ -
this site is a bit graphic heavy but has fun rollovers. The first page asks
you to enter your name and then hit “go”. If you enter in your name and hit “go” then
the next page appears and your name will be drawn out on a big etch-a-sketch –fun!
Anyhoo - there is a lot of spinning, flashing fun rollovers on that page. Put
your mouse cursor over them and check them out. These rollovers are also links
to the other sections of the site.
Javascript is used
to make the rollovers, um, well rollover. Simply put, the javascript instructs
the browser to load a specified graphic and then when a mouse pointer rolls
over it to then swap out that graphic with a different one. When the mouse
pointer rolls off of the graphic then the original graphic will return or something
else exciting may happen. It all depends on the how the site is designed.
If you understand the whole java-thing and are using a web site design program
that allows you to easily incorporate them then you are a smart cookie and
already ahead of the game J . However, one thing you need to watch out for
is the design of the rollovers.
A graphic rollover involves at least two different images
- an original image and one that appears when a mouse rolls over it. You can
also have an image for when you roll off and one for when you click it. It's
up to you J . These images need to be that exact same size otherwise they will ‘jump' when you rollover
them. Unless that ‘jump' is part of your design then it just comes across as
being poorly designed.
Here are the two images I'm using for my rollover. They are
the exact same size with just a slight difference in one of the images to make
it look like it's moving when put into the rollover. Notice that one image
has both ears up and the other has one up and one down.
Here is an example of the rollover created with the above two
images. You'll notice that the only thing that moves is Lily's ear. That's
the only thing that I want to move in this rollover - her ear.
The example below is what happens when the files are two different
sizes. Her ear still moves but the whole picture jumps. It's not what I intended
and looks a little weird also.
So, as long as your image files are the same size and your
rollovers will look great :-)
Kim
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