Fluid vs Fixed Width

chicgeek · 02-06-2007, 10:57 AM

Fixed or fluid width webpage layouts.

What is your preference for designing webpages?
What is your preference for visiting webpages?

Taltos · 02-06-2007, 03:36 PM

In design it depends on what I'm doing with the site. I do prefer fluid right now but part of that is just because it is a newer challenge.

I prefer reading a GOOD fluid layout. Unfortunately, there are quite a few that are not very good. Things don't flow and resize well, images start bouncing around the browser, text gets wrapped in funny ways, and in the worst, things start overlapping and can't be seen completely at all.

**watley** · 02-06-2007, 05:24 PM

I am old fashioned in many respects, but tend to prefer fixed width in sites I visit. All the sites I've designed are fixed width.

chicgeek · 02-06-2007, 05:56 PM

I also prefer fixed, for both browsing and designing. I've designed both, but it just irks me.

I'd like to know that each of my viewers see my sites in the same way, regardless of browser, resoulution, and window size. It's comforting.

**watley** · 02-06-2007, 07:03 PM

That's how I feel. I did "inherit" one fluid layout... never been quite happy with it despite giving it a substantial graphic overhaul. My favorite layout is my oldest site... the code is unbelievably clunky and it's so firmly fixed it positively creaks. But I like it.

Ferre · 02-07-2007, 04:04 PM

Fixed width. Centered. That's my preference for sites that I visit and how I design.

chicgeek · 02-07-2007, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferre

Fixed width. Centered. That's my preference for sites that I visit and how I design.

You're a good man, Ferre.

Taltos · 02-08-2007, 11:47 AM

I can see my work is cut out for me dragging you all into the year 2007!!

chicgeek · 02-08-2007, 12:09 PM

Actually, I quite think fluid is the dredges of the past, a throw back to tabular layouts and no standards.

Taltos · 02-08-2007, 04:17 PM

You have a point there chic. 15 years ago everything was fluid. But it was fluid in a different way because of the lack of standards. Now the challenge is to get a fluid layout that remains visually pleasing and usable. And that can be a heck of a challenge. One I like

IndigoBlack · 02-08-2007, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferre

Fixed width. Centered. That's my preference for sites that I visit and how I design.

Same here. However, I've been studying Joomla designs and they have a feature where the user can click a button and choose between fixed or fluid widths. I'm trying to figure out how they do that (if it seperate css sheets or javascript or what) and maybe try to implement that in my own designs.