Images, tables, illustrations, charts, graphs, photographs, and clip art are all examples of graphics used to illustrate concepts or help visualize information. They should be very familiar to all instructors since they serve the same purpose as their counterparts in textbooks.

Original graphics need to be processed in order to look clean and professional on web pages. This usually involves cropping, resizing, highlighting colours and compression. When scanning original graphic for online use, be aware of the file size (bytes) and resolution (size on the screen) which affects the download time and quality for your students. Experts at vuDAT and various campus and departmental support groups can help produce suitable scans, custom illustrations, digitize photos and put them online in the best format.

As with all visual elements, use them when they are the best option to convey the message. Keep them in balanced proportion with your content, and do not fall into the trap of using cliche clip art just because it is easily available.

It is very easy and tempting to use graphics directly from textbooks or from the Web. Be cognizant of the copyright of those images and ask for permission if necessary.