Mastering CSS with Dreamweaver CS4

Chapter 4. Using the Liquid CSS Layouts

WITH THE PROLIFERATION of large monitors, creating a layout that serves the same fixed width (typically either 800 × 600 or 1024 × 768) to all browsers may leave a good deal of empty space on some screens. Clients often question this unused space, since using more of the viewer’s screen must give the client more bang for their buck, right? Liquid layouts, based on a percentage of the size of the browser’s window (or viewport), are one way to create flexible sites that work for a variety of users.

In this chapter, we will look at the pros and cons of creating a liquid layout using our fictional client, the Pleasantville Regional Chamber of Commerce. Their in-house designer has sent us a Photoshop comp and ...