Free Web Frames

What is a Web Frame?

A web frame allows you to display multiple HTML documents within a single browser window. Each individual HTML document is referred to as a frame. These documents remain independent of each other even though they are displayed in the same site.

When you use frames in website design, you're able to divide your web pages into several different areas, each of which is scrollable. Many web developers use frames for positioning banner advertisements and button bars. They are also frequently used to place a static table of contents on a screen alongside text that scrolls. You can nest up to four different frames, to create what is refereed to as a frameset.

Finding Free Web Frames

If you want to use frames on your website, there are a number of resources where you can find free web frames to download.

• Free Site Templates has a selection of many different HTML frame templates users can download for free.

• The PC Man Website allows users to generate code for a web page with two frames. When you visit this website, you'll simply need to enter a little bit of information about what you want your web page to look like, hit the generate button, and your page will be created. You can download and use it right away.

Photoshop Frames

Not all web frames are HTML specific. There are many uses for Photoshop frames in web design. You can greatly enhance the appearance of pictures and other graphic elements on your website by using frames. Free Photoshop frame downloads are readily available online.

• FreePhotoshop.com features a selection of unique vector graphics Photoshop frames, made available free by Graphicxtras.

• Photoshop Graphics by Sage provides access to a large selection of frames designed to be used with Photoshop 5.0 and higher.

• Shutter Freaks features several Photoshop Elements frames that users can download and use on their websites free.

Using Your Free Web Frames

Unless you're skilled with HTML, you're likely to need a little help figuring out how to best utilize the free frames you find online. You'll need to know at least the basics of HTML to work with frames. The following resources offer free tutorials designed to help users master working with frames.

• 3Schools.com HTML tutorial
• DesktopPublishing.com frames tutorial
• HTML Code Tutorial
• Web Developer's Notes frames tutorial
• Page Tutor frames tutorial
• Patti's Place frame tutorial
• WebReference.com frames training

Using Frames in Web Design

Frames have a place in effective web development, but many people prefer not to use them on their websites for a variety of reasons. Some people feel they make websites clunky and hard to navigate. When misused, they can detract from the aesthetic appeal and navigability of a site. That's why it's so important to make sure you know how to properly integrate frames into your design if you plan to use them.

Any time you create a website, it's important to consider how user-friendly the design is. While frames do serve a useful purpose on many websites, it's important to avoid going overboard when introducing these elements into your design. Be sure the frames don't render a large portion of the screen unusable, make sure they don’t hinder page navigation, and be sure to give users the option of resizing frames when appropriate. By keeping the users perspective in mind when you create your website, you'll be able to utilize the free frame resources you find effectively.