HTML/CSS - Background Image vs. Color?

[OnePostWonder]

When a very similar color is available, what is the purpose of having a single color background image?

For example, a reputable site using a background image as a default, and a color that is only a few RGB values different as a backup:

WebPlatform

Isn't it faster for the browser to parse the HTML rather than loading the image? I know on a modern PC it makes little difference, but for people who are using older hardware it would seem to matter more.

Thanks in advance.

 

[W1zzard]

the background image has a pattern, not a solid color

 

[OnePostWonder]

the background image has a pattern, not a solid color

bg-pattern.png

Wow, I knew they had called the file bg-pattern, but it looked like only one color to me. I actually stared at that for a bit before I saw it wasn't uniform.

Zooming in in Paint showed more. Is it some kind of effect to have such small variations in the image?

Also, how were you able to tell? Good monitor?

 

[W1zzard]

good monitor, good eyes, can read filenames

it is a subtle effect but even on sub-optimal monitors it has a visual effect

 

[Frick]

I have bad eyes and a bad monitor and even I could see that it was a pattern. It's just a picture that repeats endlessly.

 

[OnePostWonder]

good monitor, good eyes, can read filenames

it is a subtle effect but even on sub-optimal monitors it has a visual effect

Tough day at work?

I have bad eyes and a bad monitor and even I could see that it was a pattern. It's just a picture that repeats endlessly.

Implying what?

I have no way of controlling it, but I would say that without zooming in on the file, a large percentage of people wouldn't be able to see the difference.

Well, now I know it's an image.

 

[GSquadron]

Difference between an image and a color is that the image will have an alt keyword, which can be indexed by the search engines.
The image is not optimized for CSS, but the color on the other hand is.

 

[Frick]

Implying what?

Nothing. Just saying.

OR AM I?

 

[OnePostWonder]

Nothing. Just saying.

OR AM I?

:shadedshu

 

[Frick]

Another site, this slightly more noticable and almost headache-inducing:

http://coe.berkeley.edu/engnews/fall02/3S/polarbear.html

 

[OnePostWonder]

Another site, this slightly more noticable and almost headache-inducing:

http://coe.berkeley.edu/engnews/fall02/3S/polarbear.html

SLIGHTLY?

That background is indeed headache-inducing.

 

[W1zzard]

that page is from 2003 .. back then people were proud of such designs

 

[Frick]

Slightly related:

http://www.dokimos.org/ajff/

I don't think it's malicious, just ... yeah.

 

[OnePostWonder]

Slightly related:

http://www.dokimos.org/ajff/

I don't think it's malicious, just ... yeah.

1. Do I even want to know how you find these sites?

2. At least they're progressive and accept a (color)spectrum of different sexualities.

 

[GSquadron]

I don't know what you are searching for exactly, but here is what I call very good website design:
http://combadi.com
http://82nd-and-fifth.metmuseum.org/

And this is what I call exceptional website design:
http://secure.thameswater.co.uk/waterwisely/index.htm?waterwiselysurl
http://www.puma.com/

I know a lot more, but those are maybe the best

 

[OnePostWonder]

I don't know what you are searching for exactly, but here is what I call very good website design:
http://combadi.com
http://82nd-and-fifth.metmuseum.org/

And this is what I call exceptional website design:
http://secure.thameswater.co.uk/waterwisely/index.htm?waterwiselysurl
http://www.puma.com/

I know a lot more, but those are maybe the best

Those websites implement the latest standards very well.