- Graphics
Ever been to a website that
takes forever to load? Chances are the graphics are the
problem. Why? Because poorly compressed or sized
graphics are one of the biggest problems in website load
time. Many people aren't aware that they need to do
something about it or have no clue where to start. So,
let's talk about website graphics.
What
format should I save my website graphics in?
Graphics for the web should be saved in either the .gif or .jpg
format. Is there a difference between the two? But
of course. Without getting into a lot of techno-babble, .gif
format uses a limited palette and is generally best for logos
or art items with limited colors. I have seen .gif used
for photos, but it really depends on the colors in the photo
itself, and if you're a beginner, I'd recommend .jpg for
photos. The .jpg format uses a larger palette and uses
fancy compression algorithms to reduce the size of the
file. So, bottom line, .jpg for photos and .gif for
logos, cartoon items, or other items with limited colors.
Can I
just always use .jpg to be safe?
Hmmm. I
suppose you can. The only thing you need to watch out
for is that sometimes on items with a limited palette or large
areas of one color, sometimes you get some mottling within a
solid color due to the .jpg compression. So, I'd say if
you're working with a graphic that has a large areas of solid
color I'd stick with
.gif.
How do I
save my graphics as a .gif or .jpg?
Most graphics
programs have an option to save a graphic to another
format. Typically (but not always) it's under the File
menu and the option is either Save As or Export. Below
is a sample of one Save As window.
Under Save as Type, you click the down arrow to expand the
list, then select the type of file you would like to save
as. For a .jpg file you will also want to select the
amount of compression to be applied. Settings vary from
program to program with some using a % setting and some using
a sliding scale of 1-10. A general rule is the more
compression applied, the smaller the file size AND the lower
the image quality. The key to .jpg compression is to
find the right mix to get a manageable file size while keeping
good image quality. A good start point is usually 20%
compression (if your scale is labeled quality, then use 80%).
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