|
Making_Better_Web_Graphics_that_grab_your_attention_and_load_FAST
| Making Better Web Graphics that grab your attention and load FAST.
AG Graphics
Making Better Web Graphics that grab your attention and load
FAST.
Volume 1, Issue 1 October 1, 2004
You are subscribed to - Making Better Web Graphics that grab
your attention and load FAST. If you wish to be removed, you can
find simple instructions at the end of this email.
CONTENTS: Feature Article: Making Better Web Graphics that grab
your attention and load FAST.
Is it possible to create quality web graphics that grab
attention and load fast at the same time? Take a look at the
illustration samples at our site and see what I talking about
Understanding the basics of GIF and JPEG compression will not
only help you choose the best format for your Web graphics but
will also enable you to create graphics that look better and
load faster. Many graphics programs and compression utilities
allow you to compare an image in different formats with various
palette and compression settings before you actually save the
file. While this takes much of the guess work out of choosing
the best format for an image, it's still a good idea to have a
basic understanding of how each type of compression works. With
that knowledge, you can make changes to the graphic before
compression takes place, creating an image that compresses to a
smaller file size and looks better, too.
Optimize for Best Images
Q. I was asked a question by one of my customer's earlier this
year. How do I put together a quality website with great
pictures that don't take a long time to load on older equipment
or just in general?
As a general rule, the following guideline will give you the
best quality images with the smallest file sizes: GIF: images
with large areas of solid color, such as vector clip art. JPEG:
images with many shaded or gradient colors, such as photos. GIF
Compression & Optimization GIF compression is lossless. This
means that there is no loss of information when the file is
compressed. When decompressed the image will be the same as
before compression. Use this file format to save line drawings,
text, or even small photos. The compression scheme for GIF
format works by identifying repetitions or runs of color within
the image and identifying these repetitions with an algorithm.
The more repetition and the longer the color runs are, the
smaller the image will be after compression. To better
understand how this works:
JPEG Compression & Optimization The JPEG format is most often
used for photographs. When decompressed, the image will not be
the same as before compression. It will have lost some of the
information contained in the original file. Each time you save a
JPEG image it will lose more information. For this reason, it is
best to save an original of your image in a lossless format
(such as TIF, PSD, etc.), and work from that file when making
changes. JPEG compression does not work with runs of color, like
GIF compression. Instead it breaks the image into zones and
throws away subtle color differences. When saving an image in
JPEG format, you can select how much compression to use and,
therefore, how much information will be lost. The more the image
is compressed, the more the quality is reduced but the smaller
the file size becomes. This format has overhead, so it is not
necessarily a good format for small photos. Generally images
that are smaller than 100 x 100 pixels should be saved in GIF
format. Sometimes experimenting is the only way to determine
which format will give you the smallest file size with the best
quality.
W3C - World Wide Web Consortium One of the most popular and mind
bending questions I get is. Where do I find all those nifty web
tools and solutions for graphic tools code validation?
The W3C writes the standards for the Web. HTML, XHTML, CSS, XML,
DOM and many more are all produced and maintained by them. This
site is not for the faint of heart but contains everything you
need to know about the standards and much more.
http://www.w3.org and also take a look at Macromedia MX web site
for great development software.
Now if you’re looking for a site that will have give you all the
tools and a whole lot more. Here is a link that will knock your
socks off it's web reference at http://www.webreference.com this
site has Java Scripts, news letters, code tools, services,
references, database, how to's articles and a the list goes on.
Where do I go from here? As we discussed in this article there
are a lot of ways to find resources and to create great
graphics. Now I can not tell a lie you will have to do some
work. But don't get stressed if you need help contact Albany
Graphics NOW. We have a great package for any size company.
Contact Information info@albanygraphics.com
Do you know 3 people who would like to read AG Graphics? Please
go to your address book right now and copy and send the
following email address to those 3, and more:
info@albanygraphics.com =Subscribe to AG Graphics and they'll
start receiving their FREE issues immediately!"
SAVE BY ADVERTISING IN AG Graphics: Please visit our website at
http://www.albanygraphics.com/rates.html for complete details. A
SPECIAL REQUEST: You're not the only one awake at 3 o'clock this
morning. Please forward Ag Graphics to those friends, family and
business associates who may walking the floors too!!
To be removed from SNEWS please send email to
jcatalfa@nycap.rr.com wit the word remove in the subject line
and you will be promptly removed.
Albany Graphics is published by: Albany Graphics Co. 1095
Brandywine Pkwy. Guilderland, NY 12084
ARTICLE CONTRIBUTIONS: If you have an article that you feel
would be appropriate for Ag Graphics please send it by email (no
attachments please) to jcatalfa@nycap.rr.com PRIVACY STATEMENT:
Albany Graphics Co. respects the privacy of all viewers and
subscribers and will not disclose your email address or any
information about you to any third parties.
Great News form Albany Graphics Custom graphics at affordable
prices The solution is just a click away. www.albanygraphics.com
or Email to info@albanygraphics.com
About the author:
The author has been in the web development business for 7 years
and in graphics and desktop publishing fo over 20 years.
|
|
| |
| |
