background question

hi, another noob question

how can i make my background in photoshop for my website so it will take up the whole browser? (I did 800x600 and 1024x768 but i realized it's only for "layouts" and it gave me blank space which is what i DONT want)

thanks:D

I'm thinking you want to make something quite small, like 15x15 or 25x25. Then make it so that it repeats. Test that out by

1. CTRL-A
2. Edit >Define Pattern...
3. Then open a bigger canvas.
4. Use the fill bucket to fill the canvas with your previously created pattern.

There used to be something called the DitherBox in Photoshop but I don't know what happened to it. I never used it - just read about it - but it seemed cool. Anyone else know anything about it?

tom

DitherBox is great in theory, but BAD in actual use.

The GIFs it creates are, by design, not able to render quickly.

Avoid it for creating background or table cell tiles.

no no no....what im trying to say is i would like my layout to take up the whole screen rather than part of it. this is the problem im having(i found this somewhere on this forum..i forget where though)-- http://www.designex.net/tppbeta/layout_fixed.gif -- the white space is the part i DONT want so i want it to take up the whole internet browser screen, i just dont know how to do it because an 800x600 and 1024x768 is too small for it to take up the whole screen.
thanks for the replies though and any more answers

You can't make background images conform to user browser size; dimensions on an image are static.

Your only option is to either frame it in the center so the cut off isn't that apparent, edit the main image so that you can make parts repeat, or put it in a pop-up window, which I advise you NOT to do. Pop-up windows should be a last resort.

jsrny I think what you're asking is how you make your website reach both ends of the screen regardless of what size a user is using. If that's the case, then you'll need to set your tables in percentages (if you're using tables, given it's not all in CSS). So set your tables to 100% and bam, it will reach the margins of the screens.

You're creating your web layout in "pixel" size, so it doesn't stretch out when you plug it in. You're looking to make it a "liquid" design. What you would then have to do is fill your cells with a background of about 1 pixel, and whatever size in height. Save it as a .gif and when you insert this little graphic, what will happen is it will automaticaly tile accross your screen making an image look solid.

So try this, it's kind of a long way, but it will help you in the long run to understand it and then you can be more efficient. Take an image from your layout (most likely the header) after you've exported it. Look for an area that is repetitive, like horizontal lines running from left to right. Take that image into photoshop.

Then make sure it's in RGB and not "index" if you need to change it just go under "image" menu and make the change to RGB. Then go to "image" and canvas size and in width, punch in a number 1 and hit "OK". Your image will go to a 1 pixel width image. Then go to "save for web" and make any changes. If it's not in the right color then it's not in RGB.

Now go to your cell and (be sure tables are set to 100%) and plug that baby in and look at how it runs across the screen from edge to edge.

I hope this helps you out a bit.

Cheers!

it doesn't look like it's working for me--it doesn't stretch out when i preview it through dreamweaver. i have a link of a layout i got from this site that im using as an example, i screen captured it. http://www.angelfire.com/blog/enigmatix/layoutexample_copy.jpg --i just want my layout to take up the whole page, so basically my layout is my background,u know?
thanks

Based on that link you sent, what you would have to do is make the entire page black with a background color, then put your background in the center and have it centered. You may want to fade the edges of your background so it works with the color fo the page.

Make sure you don't have your margins on "0" in Dreamweaver because it will continue to pull your image to the left.

Other than that, I don't know what else to tell you...anyone else have an opinion?

Cheers

Originally posted by !mo0chan!
You can't make background images conform to user browser size; dimensions on an image are static.

Your only option is to either frame it in the center so the cut off isn't that apparent, edit the main image so that you can make parts repeat, or put it in a pop-up window, which I advise you NOT to do. Pop-up windows should be a last resort.

The fact that my post was completely ignored astonishes me.

ignored by me??......no...the fact that i got another answer from zerimar made think it could still be possible to do...so i tried it...