What do you think of the idea of us starting a series of runs on How To's so they are easy for us to bookmark and retrieve anytime? We can start the posts with the word Workshop so if one does a search, just punch in the word workshop and all the workshops will pop up in front of you. Why not give it a trial run and see how it works. Please add your additional comments below mine to enhance the info avail for others.
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Many of us are starting to post pictures on the internet.
Question: How should one save an image in preparation for posting on the internet?
Scan your image at maximum 72 dpi.
Your monitor will only show 72 dpi maximum anyways, and any more will create a large file that will take a long time to load on the net.
Downscale the size of your graphic before saving.
Whatever size you choose, bear in mind the image will show larger on the internet than the actual size you've saved it as. Just remember, viewing on the net isn't like looking at a sign, therefore you don't need your images all that large. Also, large images cause someone to have to scroll down to view entire image. Try saving your image at about 4" wide max and experiment from there.
Save your image as...
a jpg file extention. gifs work best for... can someone else elaborate?
Please add any info/tips you can.
Next Workshop: How to Download Images on the net so they can be posted. I'll continue this run if this idea flys.
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Donna with Graphic Impact, BC Canada
gisigns@sprint.ca
[This message has been edited by Donna in BC (edited March 14, 1999).]
I'll try to elaborate on which format to save your image as. The .jpg and .gif are still the two most popular formats so I'll concentrate on them.
Gifs are great for anything that contains less than 250 colors. This includes most artwork and logos. The advantage of a gif, pronounced jif by the way, is that it always appears exactly as it is saved. Although the digital information is compressed, it always displays the exact same quality it was originally saved as.
The jpg format is better suited for photographs and images that may contain thousands or even millions of different colors and/or shades. Jpg's can be compressed much more than gifs but there is a trade off in quality. The more you compress the image, the more quality you lose. I very seldom compress a jpg more than 25% or 75% of it's original size.
A jpg also compresses it's info in a loose way. What this means is that the image does not redisplay exactly as it was saved. Most people will never notice the slight differences but it's still worth taking note of.
So what's this all mean? Use gif format to save your artwork and line drawings. Use the jpg format for your photos. In most cases this simple plan will work out well for you.
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Steve Shortreed
144 Hill St., E.
Fergus, Ontario
Canada N1M 1G9
519-787-2673
steve@letterhead.com
www.letterhead.com/chatpals/signman.html
I think a separate 'How-To' forum would be a real hit. Go for it, Steve!
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Mark Smith
Ampersand Signs & Design
EstiMate Sign Estimating Software
www.ampweb.com/estimate
1-888-304-3300
Hailing from beautiful Asheville, N.C.
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to explain gif vs. jpg for size
http://www.andyart,com/gt_size.htm
I just recently found out that different browsers use different pallets (msie=256, netscp=216) explained
http://www.andyart.com/gt_icolors.htm
how to scan for the internet
http://home.att.net/~cthames/index.htm
of course I will still depend on the Bruce Jacksons of this world to build the real interesting ones http://home.connexus.net.au/~bruceja/tech/index.htm
hope this idea goes somewhere
hey..
is there ever gonna be another design cost workshop?....
everybody said they would have more time to play after christmas.... checked my calendar
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Compulsive, Neurotic
Anti-Social
& Paranoid
but Basically Happy
NEW slamgrafyx.cjb.net
In my humble opinion, I think pictures saved in .gif format are much clearer. This is just the opposite of what our fearless leader suggests.
I scan my pictures "sharp millions of colors" then place them in Corel Photopaint, lighten or darken the image as needed, resample to 2.5 inches high ( length just comes out to scale) and convert to 256
colors and save as a .gif.
I have always had clear, sharp images in my tips and tricks posts here on the BB.
Most everyone is .gif fy fine
To see for yourself, go to the following URL.
This is where I store pictures on the ISP's free space so I can post them here.
A menu will display and all you have to do is click on each menu item and the picture will display. Some of these pictures are from tips and tricks, some are for joke posts and some are even other letterheads work who sent me pics.
here is the URL:
http://homepage.davesworld.net/~signman/
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Go Get 'Em..... :)
AKA Raptorman
Draper The Signmaker
Bloomington, Illinois www.drapersigns.com
