Mastering CSS with Dreamweaver CS3

Chapter 2. Using the Fixed, Centered Starter Pages

PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON layouts on the web, especially with blog-type sites becoming more popular, are fixed-width layouts. These layouts have an overall pixel width, side columns with specific pixel widths, and are usually displayed in the center of the browser window, though that’s not required.

One reason this layout style is used so often is that when you have static sizes for most elements, interactions are more predictable. That makes the layout easier to design and code, because there are fewer unknowns.

For this chapter, we’ll use a fictitious client, a horticulture site. We’ll look at how to center your layout, create full-length columns, use and position background images, style and size ...