Guidelines for Image links and Albums on HybridZ

[pparaska]

There are 2 issues with image "size" on the web:

 

1) horizontal/vertical pixel size (how much room it takes up on the screen, relative to lines of text).

 

2) File size. This is what kills download time for dial-up users.

 

It's best to use an efficient compression type format for all images for use on the web. This means that non-compression type format like .BMP is very inefficient. In other words, a .BMP image might have a small vert./horiz. pixel size that uses up 100kb of file size to save or download, versus a .JPG image from the .BMP having the same vert/horiz. pixel size and 1/10 the file size. Large file size means the download time for the page being viewed with BMPs is now much longer than needed for the small (pixel) image sizes.

 

Therefore, use a compressed format like .PNG or .JPG, not a uncompressed format like .BMP. .JPG files have lossy compression applied to the original image, which works relatively well for photographs. It will unnecessarily blur a drawn graphic like a logo, so it's better to use .PNG for these types of files.

 

With .JPG format, try experimenting with the "quality" of the image. Packages like Ulead's PhotoImpact even have WYSIWYG before and after windows that show the effect of a selected "quality". Use the minimum quality needed to have the image get the message across - this may be less for "This is how I did it" images, than "Dude, this car looks awesome!" type images.

 

With .PNG format, try experimenting with the number of colors used in the pallete. For example, many logos can be displayed very well with only a 4 color optimized pallete. In fact, when saving graphics files with your drawing software, save the file in .PNG format and try experimenting with the number of colors (keeping the number as small as needed) to keep the image file size down.

 

Here are a few tutorials on image compression and their uses:

 

http://ratedhot.com/tutorial/imagecompression.php

 

http://www.oit.umass.edu/publications/at_oit/Archive/spring00/jv_compress.html

 

 

There are several freeware software packages available for downsizing images, converting formats, etc. Here are some for the PC:

 

http://bluefive.pair.com/pixresizer.htm

http://www.photo-editor.net/

http://www.ultimatepaint.com/download.htm

 

Note:

.BMP, .GIF, .JPG, .PNG and other formats can be linked with the tags on Hybridz.org. If you want to upload an image to a HybridZ.org gallery, you can only upload .JPG and .PNG formats.

Please don't link .BMP images - convert them to .JPG or .PNG first.

 

Image limits on HybridZ Albums:

 

.JPG and .PNG only

128000 bytes maximum file size

800 pixel maximum width

600 pixel maximum height