IE5.1 - H1 with background img and -9999px text indent

image disappears

[Aberdeen]

I was in the process of adapting my style sheet so it would work on all browsers, when I noticed that IE5.1 struggles with this:

#intro-left h1 {
font-size: 13px;
text-indent: -9999px;
height: 62px;
width: 360px;
background: url(h1-community.gif) left top no-repeat;
}

The text indent takes the background image off the page. This only seems to happen on IE5.1 though, IE5.5 handles it correctly.

Is there a way around this. I am really just using a graphic as an H1, but using the above system allows the text to be read by the search engines.

Cheers
Brian

[zollerwagner]

When we present one thing to the search engines and another to viewers, we're basically spamming.

Is this graphic necessary? The standard today is evolving to using text instead of using graphics that show text. If I really wanted the image, I'd probably use real HTML text with a graphic background.

[SuzyUK]

IE5.01 and I think IE/Mac? has a problem with this image replacement technique

you can workaround it by using absolute positioning or floating.. floating is possibly the better choice, to allow following text to clear

example:

h1 {
font-size: 13px;
text-indent: -9999px;
height: 100px;
/* width: 300px;*/
background: url(hello.gif) left top no-repeat;
float: left;
width: 100%;
}

Suzy

[MatthewHSE]

<off topic>

When we present one thing to the search engines and another to viewers, we're basically spamming.

I was always under the impression that this is the kind of thing that would trigger a manual investigation if someone complained, but otherwise would be "safe." And, that it would even pass a manual investigation as long as the text-replacing graphic was actually relevant to the text it was supposed to replace. Perhaps someone could clarify?

</off topic>

[Aberdeen]

Thankyou Suzy,

As usual you have got it spot on.

To zollerwagner:

Surely if the image is a just a graphic version of the text, but is far more aesthetically pleasing, then this method is justifiable. A similar system is used on many navigation systems, even by Zeldman himself.

I would agree if it did not stand up to a human editor, and the graphic was different from the text, then it would be spam.

Is there any chance that method this could be penalised by google for being spam?

[zollerwagner]

That's a very good question. I doubt that google is energetic enough to find this one, but why don't you ask over at highrankings' forum? They'll have a good answer.