Comments on: Why Post Images Should be on the Left

By: Randy Martin

Randy Martin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:11:15 +0000

“…pictures are secondary…”
“…I want the words to be important…”
etc.
Our brains work in predictable ways. What you WANT to be true or what you WANT to happen is largely irrelevant. In the west, we read right to left. Our brains are trained to do the same. HOWEVER, we will ALWAYS look at pictures first and read the caption second, then the Headline. Then, and only then, will we decide to read or not read. We will scan to the copy and if our brain thinks it looks easy enough, we will read. If not, we won’t. Period.

So. You want someone to NOT read? Do all caps, anormal letter/word/line spacing, white (reversed) type over black/color, and treat the words like graphic objects — fill the space so it’s balanced, and looks good to you.

You want them to read? Make the letter/word/line spacing standard. Black/dark gray type over white/off-white BG. Put whilte space around the paragraphs. Make sure there’s a large margin. Then the brain will look at the small, normal type, floating in white and say, “That looks small and easy to read. I’ll read it.”

The standard design is to put the picture first (Left or top)
Then a caption, then a headline. Then you can put some sort of drop cap or dark/different type for the first few words to clue the brain and eye where to begin reading. Look at novels to see what I mean.

This is how the brain works. This is how you decide to read.

What YOU think is largely irrelevant. The point of your blog is to get them to read what you say, right? Then to make that happen, do what will make their brains say, “Oh, I can read that.”

Not what YOU think looks good if flys in the face of how the brain works.

By: vip

vip — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 19:51:12 +0000

Thanks for the info,,, I love it

By: Futurama lover

Futurama lover — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 20:22:40 +0000

Ive been thinking about this for while now and i usually use left side image. but for my current blog i decide to try out the across the top image like here on problogdesign.com instead. Ill see how it gonna work out.

By: Patti Mullen

Patti Mullen — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:34:30 +0000

Makes sense. Lots of great material, thank you!

By: hostpapa review

hostpapa review — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:33:59 +0000

yes i agree. there’s a research said that reading route, or heat area on the web page similar with alphabet ‘F’. people usually with start reading from left to right, then goes to next line, afterward go straight away down.
technically, everything left approached works well. :) just my thought

By: Genry

Genry — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:36:29 +0000

I really like, thanks!

By: Web Host Right

Web Host Right — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:56:22 +0000

I place my images on the left, i tend to use little 150 x 150 images and like the text wrapping around them, as long as theres enough text to justify using an image within the post.

By: Charlene Hendricks

Charlene Hendricks — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:41:54 +0000

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By: goldfries

goldfries — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:38:28 +0000

Yes, the pictures in my article has always been for decoration. :)

The thumbnails in game review on the other hand, occupy the whole row. (refer to my game reviews)

Screenshot / Illustrations will take up the bulk of the area. (refer to my wp plugin post)

By: Michael Martin

Michael Martin — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 14:30:16 +0000

Ses – That seems a good system. :)