quickest-load: BG with pseudo-column or fill column in DW?

[BobCole]

I want a colored left-hand column as a background for a navigation list on the left side of my pages. In "Photoshop Magic" they recommend creating a 1-pixel-high X 2000 wide graphic to use as a pattern fill -- even when the pattern is simply a bg for a left navigation column. That is, the pattern consists of a color on the left 120 or so pixels -- then white for the rest of the image.

What makes the speedier load? Do you recommend simply creating columns in Dreamweaver and filling the left navigation column with a pattern, or do you recommend using such a background graphic with a "pseudo-column" effect?

Thanks! -- Bob

 

[boyfromoz]

I think the 2000pxl graphic is a gif as a background ina single column will be lighter than two columns, one witha coloured background.

Its the difference though between maybe a tenth of a k so its not important. Really more and isue for layout.

Differnet layout restrictions(how wide are your navigations buttons) when using two columns, and you can't have a button appearing to be half over the patterned background, half over white space if you use two columns.