However, for most sites this is unnecsary and perhaps detrimental. All of these techniques take a long time to download to your visitors computer, and if they are on a slow connection, they'll go find one of your competitors. If not, you should try and find another way. At some point in the future we will all have lightning quick access to the internet, and then file size will no longer matter. Since using images is the most common way of spicing up a site on the web, here are some quick tips to shrink downloading time.
Small graphics load up faster than big ones.
However, as you surf the web, you will notice that many designers have forgotten this. Use GIF's and JPEGs appropriately. Both of these platforms are used to compress images over the internet, and both have pluses and minuses. GIF's are best used for simple images, such as buttons, small icons, company logos, etc. They can show up to 256 colors in a single image, but can be made smaller by reducing the number of colors.