Using Images Instead of Text.

[SpicyDuck]

Is there any difference, or is it looked down upon to use images, instead of text for headers on a web page?

Do;

<h1><img src="imagefolder/image.jpg" alt="Welcome" /></h1>

and;

<h1>Welcome</h1>

Really make much of a difference? In terms of search engine rankings, browsers compatibility etc. Is it generally considered to be quite bad work when using images in this way?

Thanks,

Phil.

 

[SpicyDuck]

// Shove this in your CSS file

h1#welcome {
  background: url("imagefolder/image.jpg") top left no-repeat #fff;
  height: ??px;
  text-indent: -5000px;
  width: ??px; }

// ...and this in your HTML

<h1 id="welcome">Welcome</h1>

The text is there for search engines and people using screen-readers to see and you get a shiney image without the need for it to be inline

The thing I really wish the keep, using the design of menu, headings etc in Photoshop, is the smoothness that gives the site it's overall proffesional look, which is lost somewhat when using plain HTML and CSS.

I thought screen readers etc, just read out the "alt" of the image, isn't that the whole purpose of it?

Phil.