Sometimes they'll even see them in the order which you intended. I push putting them at the top and bottom due to my aversion to having to scroll the page to find them. If you have them in both places then folks are less likely to use the BACK button and go where you intended for them to go instead. Use graphics to illustrate a point or provide a link to a more detailed picture, but don't throw in useless clutter just because you can. Remember, there are lot of people out there who cruise with images off because they have to pay for the time they use and can't afford to download garbage.
Backgrounds can destroy a site.
A background on your computer might look great but on someone else's it completely hides the text. I've tried a lot of backgrounds on my pages because I like the color and effects as much as the next person. But almost without exception, I've had to go back to a solid color, fade the background, or look for some really neutral ones to provide the best results for my pages. Put some kind of identification on your pages. You don't have to get as anal retentive as I have about the information at the bottom.