Latest News & Blog
We've reduced the price of our starter ecommerce solutions
14 Apr 2013
If you're looking for an ecommerce solution on a budget then you will be pleased to know that we've reduced the price of our starter solution to just £1,250.
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Website re-design for toners express
18 Aug 2012
We produce a lovely re-design in record time for ink and toner cartridge website.
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New stationery supplies website launch
22 Jun 2012
We've just launched a new ecommerce website for a stationery supplies retailer
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We launch new website for blankplastic
07 May 2012
A winning formula see's us launch a new ecommerce solution for an existing client.
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Deskdesk ecommerce website goes live
21 Apr 2012
A joint colaboration between Coldfuel and the clients in house designers see's the launch of their new ecommerce website
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A look at the pros and cons of a fixed and fluid website design layout
A question we're often asked when we receive enquiries for professional website design is should I have a fixed or fluid design? To answer that question you really need to understand the benefits and negatives of both, so let's look at the differences between the two.
Fixed layout
A fixed layout design uses fixed measurements to specify the width, height and placement of elements on the page, usually pixel measurements. You can usually spot a fixed website design layout as they appear the same no matter what browser resolution you view the page in. For example a two column layout the columns will always appear the same width even on high and low resolution browsers and often the website will be aligned centrally or to the left of the page at a fixed width.
Fluid or flexible layout
A fluid or flexible website layout uses relative measurement to specify the width of the page and elements using percentage measurements. You can tell a fluid or flexible website design by the way the page expands and contracts to fill the same area of the browser, for example it will always fill 90% of the browser width if that’s the percentage that's been defined in the measurements.
So which one should you choose?
Well there is no right or wrong answer to this; it's much easier to look at some of the benefits and disadvantages of both;
Fixed layouts allow total control over every aspect of the website design, to the nearest pixel you can specify the exact placement of elements on a page, how much spacing, the width and height of elements in pixels and it will maintain this layout no matter what browser resolution you are using. Generally speaking a fixed design will allow the designer to be more creative with the design and layout of the website because the designer knows that no matter what browser resolution the website is being viewed in it will always appear how it was intended. A disadvantage to fixed layouts is the common empty space either side of the page and on higher resolutions there can be quite a lot of empty space.
A fluid layout on the other hand will always expend and contract to fit whatever resolution browser the page is being viewed in. So you generally won't have the empty space either side of the page and the website layout and columns will move around and stretch to fit the available space. A typical example will be the central column on a three column website design expanding to fill available space and the content within that column also stretching out. While fluid layouts will fill the screen much better, because of this fact and because you never know what resolution the user will be using you can't control exactly where every single element will be in relation to the rest of the elements on the web page, as all elements will move around.
While there is huge debate on which is best and it really does come down to preference and market research, it is generally thought that fixed design layouts allow for a far more complex website design as you don't have to worry about the page elements expanding or contracting. Whereas a fluid design has the capacity to display more content on the screen and reduce empty space. There are some great fixed and fluid professional website design examples so take some time to have a browse online before you make a decision or chat to us about the best options for your next website design project.