Background images make pages look good, but also make them slower. Each background image is an extra HTTP request. There's a fix: combine background images into a CSS sprite.
Raphaël is a small JavaScript library that should simplify your work with vector graphics on the web. In case you want to create your own specific chart or image crop-n-rotate widget, you can simply achieve it with this library.
74 Great Web Apps for Web Designers we have forgotten about : Speckyboy - Web Design, Web Development and Graphic Design Resources