What Is a Markup Language? HTML is used to mark up the structure of Web pages, but other markup languages are used by computers on the Web and beyond. The Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) is the grandfather of most markup languages used for print and the Internet. SGML is the international standard used to define the structures and appearance of documents. Multiple SGMLs have been created for a variety of document types and for various specialties—such as physics, accounting, and chemistry. HTML and XHTML are the Web’s primary version of SGML.

Here are six simple things you can do to improve the appearance of your Web page when it is printed.  Use page breaks before page headers to keep them with their text. Separate content from navigation. Try to keep the main content—the part your audience is interested in reading—in a separate area of the design from the site navigation. You can then use CSS to hide navigation in the printed version with a nav included in the print style sheet. Avoid using transparent colors in graphics. This is especially true if the graphic is on a background color or a graphic other than white.

Colors create the first impression of your site. Bright, vibrant, jewel-like colors make a radically different statement than earth tones. Even if you choose to use only black and white, your design will make a statement. Beyond their decorative impact, colors can also guide the viewer’s eye around the page, helping to highlight some important areas while downplaying others. There are many methods used to add and control color with CSS. Keep in mind, however, you can specify color using several CSS properties. But, how to choose colors?.

It’s sometimes difficult to keep track of all the values that you are using in your design. It’s unlikely that CSS will ever include constants, so it will help to keep notes in an easy-to-reference location in your document. Creating a glossary of colors and types leads to more consistent and attractive designs  Although section headers and dividers really aren’t anything more than CSS comments, they do help organize your CSS and allow you to quickly scan your code to locate particular CSS rule groups. If you have established a TOC, I recommend reflecting that organization here.