What are the steps to creating a 2D graphic for a website slider?

2 Define your dimensions and resolution

The second step is to define the dimensions and resolution of your 2D graphic. The dimensions are the width and height of your graphic in pixels, and the resolution is the number of pixels per inch (ppi) or dots per inch (dpi) of your graphic. The dimensions and resolution depend on the size and quality of your website slider, as well as the device and screen that your audience will use to view it. A general rule of thumb is to use a width of at least 960 pixels and a height of 300 to 600 pixels for your graphic, and a resolution of 72 ppi or dpi for web use.

3 Sketch your layout and design

The third step is to sketch your layout and design for your 2D graphic. You can use paper and pencil, or a digital sketching tool, to draw a rough outline of your graphic. You should consider the following elements: the background color or image, the main focal point or message, the supporting text or icons, the call to action or link, and the transition or animation effects. You should also think about the alignment, balance, contrast, and hierarchy of your elements, and how they will fit with your website slider theme and style.

4 Create your vector and raster graphics

The fourth step is to create your vector and raster graphics using your chosen software. You can use vector graphics to create shapes, paths, text, logos, icons, or any other element that needs to be scalable and editable. You can use raster graphics to create images, photos, textures, gradients, shadows, or any other element that needs to be realistic and detailed. You can also combine vector and raster graphics by importing or exporting them between different software, or by using layers and masks. You should save your graphics in a suitable format, such as PNG, JPEG, GIF, or SVG, depending on the quality and transparency that you need.

5 Optimize your graphics for web

The fifth step is to optimize your graphics for web use. This means reducing the file size and loading time of your graphics without compromising the quality and appearance. You can use various tools and techniques to optimize your graphics, such as cropping, resizing, compressing, converting, or using sprites. You should also use descriptive and relevant file names, alt text, and captions for your graphics, to improve the accessibility and SEO of your website slider.

6 Test and upload your graphics to your website slider

The final step is to test and upload your graphics to your website slider. You should test your graphics on different browsers, devices, and screen sizes, to ensure that they look good and work well. You should also test the functionality and usability of your website slider, such as the navigation, speed, responsiveness, and interactivity. You can use various plugins, widgets, or frameworks to create and customize your website slider, such as jQuery, Bootstrap, or WordPress. You should upload your graphics to your web server or hosting service, and link them to your website slider code.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?