Optimize your Photos for the Web

Optimize your Photos for the Web

by: Kelly Paal

It doesn’t matter if your emailing photos of your grandson or putting images of your latest product on your online store. Too many people don’t consider optimizing their photos for the web. We’ve all been on too many web pages where it seemed that the photos would never load, and sometimes they didn’t. So here are some steps to make sure that your photos show up on your site.

1. Always have a back up original format copy of your image. Never alter the original. Believe me you will regret it.

2. Crop to size. Make sure that you crop out any extra information that isn’t needed. Remember the larger the photo the longer it takes to load or send.

3. Resize to reduce pixels. There should be an option to resize according to pixels. You’re going to want the largest size to be no more than 250 pixels or you can reduce the dpi to no more than 96.

4.Reduce the color palette. Many images have millions of colors so the first thing that you need to do is reduce the colors to 256. You will lose some depth with this.

5. Save the file in a standard format. JPEG is the most common for photos and you can compress the image with a JPEG for further reduction in file size. It’s not unusual to see GIF or PNG as well.

Remember that with a 56k connection a 150k file will take 20 seconds to load. If you’re creating a web page every photo that you add will add to the time it takes to download all of the images. If you keep the images small in size the smaller resolution will not be as obvious.

About The Author

Copyright 2004 Kelly Paal

Kelly Paal is a Freelance Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting nationally and internationally. Recently she started her own business Kelly Paal Photography (www.kellypaalphotography.com). She has an educational background in photography, business, and commercial art. She enjoys applying graphic design and photography principles to her web design.

This article was posted on August 03, 2004

by Kelly Paal

Playing With The Color And Image

Playing With The Color And Image

by: Blur Loterina

Does your image appear good on the screen, but looks blurred, jagged or fuzzy when you print it?

To clearly see the difference of the quality of image on screen and on print, take an image from the internet. Zoom it out or make it larger. Can you see how series of little squares appear on the image? Try to print it and you’ll see that the color will fade. There will be a change in the resolution.

Resolution is, basically, the sharpness or crispness of an image. When an image is shrunk, the color looks lively. When you blow it or enlarge it, the color will fade and the image will look unclear.

Resolution is defined as the number of pixels contained in the monitor. Pixel, from the words ขpicture elementข, is the basic unit of programmable color in a computer image. The resolution is measured by the number of dots per inch (dpi), which is equal to the numbers of squares of color in an inch. A standard resolution for an image should be 300dpi and 400dpi for images containing text.

The resolution of an image is inversely proportional to the size of the image. In other words, when you increase the size of the image the resolution decreases, and vice versa. For example, if you enlarge an image, the size, of course, increases. But the quality or sharpness of the image decreases, giving you a blurred image.

When you extract images from the internet, most probably, you will have a poor quality image. Internet images are mostly saved in GIF or JPEG file format, which only consumes 72dpi. The purpose of saving image files on this resolution is to make the image easy to extract. Meaning, these images are not for print use.

Scanners, digital camera, computer monitor and other display devices use the RGB (red, green, blue) color mode, while in the printing process CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) color mode is used. Meaning, you have to expect change in the color of the image when you print it. To reduce the problem, you must convert your image from RGB to CMYK. There are image editing programs that offer color conversion, such as Photoshop or Corel PhotoPaint.

Do not expect to get good images from the internet. You must resort to other sources like real photos or pictures from magazines. When you scan, compare the size of the photo to the size of your layout. If the photo is larger than your layout, scanning at 300dpi is enough. If it is smaller, adjust your scanner’s resolution setting and percentage size. If there are texts over the image, lighten the image so the text will be readable. If you do not know how create good prints, you can resort to a printing press.

About The Author

Blur Loterina

You may wonder why I write articles. Besides from the fact that it’s my job, I used to write short stories when I was younger. I think it would be helpful if I said I’m a big fan of Zach de la Rocha and Rage Against the Machine. This would explain my own views about a lot of things. Their songs were about national issues, politics and human rights. They support the American Indian Movement and Che Guevara, the face you see on tshirts. Not that it concerns me. I only like their music and idealism.

I’m not an artist, I’m not a poet. I just love writing anything I want. I wasn’t born a genius, I just want to know and understand something I don’t. I like to find the difference between similar things. It’s like counting birthmarks on each identical twin.

For additional information and comments about the article you may log on to http://www.printingquotesonline.com

[email protected]

This article was posted on February 07

by Blur Loterina

The Smallest Is The Best!.. As Long As It Serves I

The Smallest Is The Best!.. As Long As It Serves Its Purpose.

by: Decebal Scraba

It is true! In graphics optimization, seen as a part of website optimization, the smallest is the best. Of course, the element in question should still serve its purpose of being the expression of an idea. Furthermore, it should be understandable, clear, suggestive and goodlooking. Letกs see together which could be the right choices (in terms of web graphics optimization) when we decide what type of graphics we’ll use on a website.

What kinds of web graphics are present on the Internet?

When it comes to their origin, there are two types of graphic digital files: vector graphics (created with software tools like Corel DrawTM , FreehandTM etc.) and raster graphics (photographs, 3D renders and any other type of bitmap files). Most of the web sites on the World Wide Web hold as graphic elements bitmaptype graphics in three different formats: GIF (standing for Graphics Interchange Format), JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) and PNG (Portable Network Graphics). All these 3 types use different compression algoritms to considerably reduce the size of the graphic file. Because PNG is not so popular, I hope that you will forgive me if I stick to GIF and JEG in my article. Probably you already know a lot about these (or you can browse the web and find plenty of information) so I’ll get directly to the choices we must make when it comes to design our web site.

How many colors should we use for our web graphics?

What type of bitmap files will hold our web graphics?

Some specialists say that we should always go with JPEG, because it supports 16 milion colors and produces quite small files. Well, this is not entirely true, I think. I can only tell you for sure that we don’t have to go with the same type all over our website. How’s that? Let’s see!

When should we go with GIF?

for graphics with fewer colors: web logos, cartoonlike drawings and lineart (pure black and white) drawings; whenever it is OK to use for our graphics the 256 colors pallette (or even the 216 “safe” colors pallette)

for grayscale pictures with less halftones (with big contrast)

for graphics with smaller screen size (even if with many colors) which rely on details; GIF format compression is lossless and keeps sharp contours and clear definition between areas filled with different colors;

when we need the “Transparency” option of GIF Format, e.g. when a graphic should have a nonrectangular shape and/or we want to discard its background

whenever an image saved in GIF format is smaller than one saved as JPEG, both images being at a comparable level of quality when displayed

generally, for vectorgenerated graphics (unless they have blending and/or gradient fills)

When to use JPEG format?

for color images with 16 milion colors and many halftones (photographs, 3D render output files, any other images with continuoustones)

for grayscale images which rely on subtle halftones

for graphics/images with big screen size where colors and shades are more important than contours, outlines and boundaries

whenever an image saved in JPEG format is smaller than one saved as GIF, both images being at a comparable level of quality when displayed

generally, for photographs and similar images

Which are the inconveniences of each format?

From my point of view, these are the main limitations for GIF and for JPEG formats:

For GIF: limited number of colors (it can show 16 milion colors, but only in dithered mode, which I do not recommend)

For JPEG: compression is done by reducing quality of the graphics (loss of sharpness, “hair filaments”, “pixelate” areas etc.)

Whatever format you choose, when it comes to graphics optimization as a part of website optimization, the SMALLEST is the BEST! Beside the format choice, keep in mind some tips when you create and optimize your web graphics:

Minimize the screen size of your graphics to the point where it is still clear and suggestive.

Try and try again saving a graphic in one of the two formats, at different quality levels (for JPEG) and different number of colors (for GIF). Do this until you find the best size / quality ratio that fits your needs.

Use vector graphics software and limit the number of colors when you create the nonphotographic graphics for your website.

Put emphasis on shape, contour, silhouette and contrast when creating / processing your graphics.

Choose carefully the resizing method in your image processor when you change the size / resolution of your graphics “antialias” is not always the best choice.

I hope that this article will help you in your work and always keep in mind that, when it comes to graphics optimization and website optimization, the smallest is the best as long as it serves its purpose.

Decebal (Dudi) Scraba

http://ewolwe.com/

About The Author

Copyright 2005 Decebal (Dudi) Scraba

Graphic Designer since 1994, Web Designer and Website Optimization Specialist

http://www.ewolwe.com/

[email protected]

This article was posted on January 09

by Decebal Scraba

Creating A Quality Web Site Design!

Creating A Quality Web Site Design!

by: Martin Lemieux

In this article, I will attempt to cover the basics of creating a great quality web design template for your site. Now itกs a known fact that the layout or กeye candyก as I put it will determine whether your visitors will stay more than 15 seconds or they will just become another statistic.

Thatกs right, if you don’t catch your visitors attention right away, statistics shows us that your visitors will come and go within 15 seconds or less.

That doesn’t leave you with a lot of time to grab someoneกs attention!

Some of you may be asking yourself:

Well why does this happen????

See when you think about it, 15 seconds to the กbrowsing eyeก is like an eternity. In other words, it takes about 15 seconds for the average person to browse your main page and determine whether they will explore your site further!

So with that being said;

How do we grab your visitors attention????

Every new client of mine is asked to perform the same tasks. I ask them to explore their competitor’s web sites and look for specific triggers that would make them want to click on or buy right away. More times than none, my clients will notice specific กHeadlinesก or กGraphicsก that really peek their interest. In doing this, youกll have 1st hand knowledge on what you expect your visitors will see and possibly expect themselves.

Step 2, Iกll ask my clients to do one more process just like the previous one. Iกll ask them to make a list of all the กeye candyก that really caught their attention and write me a little note as to why it caught their attention. In doing this, it will give your web designer a 1st hand knowledge on what to implement within your site!!!

With these great tasks, youกve made your job and the job of your web designer a lot easier to target your audience.

Sites that sell กWeb Site Templatesก :

You may have seen some sites that sell your the right for a specific ‘template Styleก. There are 100กs of resources out there. I need to clarify something for you, these templates are targeted at web designers only!!! Reason being, the files that you receive will no doubt require some expensive and time consuming software just to open them.

Now being a designer, I’m not about to กknockก premade templates but thereกs a couple of things you may want to consider:

1) Although the templates you may encounter are very impressive, you will be sharing your layout template with 100กs, maybe 1000กs of other sites. The reason why they are so cheat is because those กspecific templatesก are sold and resold as much as possible!

2) Iกve noticed that many template examples out there on the web are extremely กGraphic Drivenก. This will result in กslow loading timesก. Iกm sure weกve all come across a site that seemed to take FOREVER to load!! How long did you actually wait for the site to load????

The best way to get a template is to have someone professional design your web site layout for you! This will ensure that your template is uniquely designed for your business. It will be easier for you to make changes in the future. Typically, a template may cost you between $0$500 depending on the intensity and added features!

Now, weกve talked about กSlow loading pagesก. Iกve found a good กnormก to stick with when it comes to size and speed: Web sites are compiled of 2 elements:

1) Graphics & Layouts

2) Programming & Pages

Both of them require memory from your computer when downloading them. If one or the other is too large then this may result in negative results for your visitors.

Hereกs a good norm to stick with, either you or your web designer should stick with these specs:

1) Graphic Design Layout: Should be no more than: 3050K in size

2) Programming Pages: Shouldn’t be more than: 1030k in size

Giving your entire web page no more than 40k80k in size. Anything drastically more will result in the loss of many visitors from slow downloading pages.

Animation: Last but not least, making กsomeก aspects of you page stand out by adding small size animations. PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT overkill your site with graphics and animation!!! I can’t stress this enough, your visitors will most likely get a head ache from it and won’t be coming back very soon.

Instead, try targeting specific promotions or services you wish to attract your visitors to right away! Many sites exchange กanimated bannersก with other sites to exchange traffic. I personally NEVER take part in adding ANY banners on my site. I honestly feel that banners only take away from the design, not add to it! A typical กBanner Dimensionsก is 468px x 60px. There are many other sizes!

What I will usually take part in, if any, is smaller, more unique banners that are geared to complimenting an article or text with it. This is much more effective because study shows us that กContent (text)ก accompanied by a กgraphic imageก is more likely to be read by our visitors than just text on its own.

That about raps it up to having an effective web site template. Please look for my กcontinuedก issues related to this article.

About The Author

Martin R. Lemieux

President

Smartads Information Centre

Advertising, Marketing Resources & Web Design

http://www.smartads.info

Webmasters Playground

Webmaster Awards & Web Design Resources

http://www.flyinggelatingames.com

In partnership with www.xlinternet.com we bring you: The Web Clinic

http://www.thewebclinic.com

Search Engine Tools & Promotion!

WANT TO REPRINT THIS ARTICLE ?

You may use this article on your site as is but you MUST send me a note [email protected] Thank You!

[email protected]

This article was posted on July 06, 2003

by Martin Lemieux

Proper Font Selection

Proper Font Selection

by: Maricon Williams

In times when you are writing a message in your computer, have you ever asked yourself the following questions: How will I convey my message with the use of my fonts? Do I need several colors? Am I going to use big, bold, crisp or spaced fonts? Well, you are not alone in this dilemma. To help you with it, just read on..

Fonts are the crossing point between writers and readers. This is the reason why they have to be catchy in appearance and content.

Presentation is crucial because it is not only the superb content that draws the reader’s attention. It starts with the font’s character. It should speak for itself. Font’s role is to get attention, enhance readability, set and atmosphere and most importantly projects an image. To be able to play the role well, we need to follow certain guidelines.

The first rule is to know what case to use. Avoid using all upper or lower case especially in the body of your composition because it is hard to read. Use upper case in titles and headings only if it is necessary. Do not make the readers curse you while reading your message.

The generally accepted size of a font is between 1012 point for the body, 1448 point for primary headings and one half of the primary heading point size for secondary headings. Be aware though, that fonts may appear larger in computer than the actual size.

Keep the font simple. Your font is used to augment your message and not to impair it. Simplicity is still a virtue in writing so bear in mind using simple fonts not exaggerated ones.

Sometimes variation is necessary. Variety is most of the time used to break the monotony. Examples of variation are underlining of the text, italization, making the letters bold, highlighting and the likes. But it will be overstressed if you used them all so use them sparingly.

The last rule is to match your font with your medium. You can break other aforestated rules provided that it blends with your medium. Every project has many perspectives. Some are intended to general public some are specific. Some are serious others are funny. But whatever your approach and typeface it must redound to the benefit of your project and not to destroy its goal.

After you are through reading these rules, ask yourself, am I using my fonts perfectly? If so continue what you’ve started. But if not, try to change your ways for the better. Communication is more than just words. Actually, there are a lot of things that we should consider to achieve not just comprehension but retention.

About The Author

Maricon Williams

Book reading has always been her greatest passion mysteries, horrors, psychothrillers, historical documentaries and classics. She got hooked into it way back when she was but a shy kid.

For comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.ucreative.com

[email protected]

This article was posted on March 01

by Maricon Williams

A Closer Look at Image Resolution

A Closer Look at Image Resolution

by: Nashville

Image resolution refers to the size your image appears on a computer monitor rather than the physical dimensions an image will print. The pixel dimensions of an image identify the resolution. Many digital cameras let us change image resolution. So, before we take a picture, we must determine the quality of an image first by using the highest quality setting available on the camera. Therefore, set your camera for the best image quality if you want to obtain high quality photos.

According to the article ขImage Quality – An Explanationข by Julian Foster which was posted at www3.teleplex.net, a truly highresolution digital photo can be anywhere from 12MB (for a 4by5inch image) to 70MB (for a twopagespread photo). The CD ROM photo collections currently on the market have files ranging in size from 500K22MB. He added that image resolution, the amount of information in a digital file, is measured in dots per inch. Screen frequency, the density of the lines of dots used to print a continuoustone photograph, is measured in lines per inch. Newspapers typically use a coarse line screen of 85 lpi; inhouse publications, 100 to 120 lpi; and glossy magazines & good quality offset lithography, 133 to 155 lpi.

Proper resolution is truly important for good printing. And to achieve this, you must always remember some rules that include the following: the text must be 400dpi at the final size in the layout; the images must be 300dpi at the final size in the layout; the dimensions of the resolution and size are inversely proportional to each other so, if you enlarge an image, you lower its resolution and if you reduce an image, you increase its resolution; how an image is originally acquired will determine its resolution and thus, the size it can print at for clear and crisp printing; and low resolution images print with jagged edges and appear fuzzy.

Indeed, when deciding on the print size of your image, you must choose a size that is appropriate to the resolution of the image you are supplying. The size to which your image can be printed without a loss in quality depends on the resolution of your image. Remember that the higher the resolution of your image is, the better the quality of the image when printed.

Most digital cameras allow you to select a combination of resolution and quality from the settings menu. In order to obtain an optimal print out, you must set your digital camera at the highest possible resolution and quality. Always remember that the higher the quality, the larger the image file will become. So folks, make sure you have sufficient room on the memory card!

About The Author

Nash Ville

Well, I must say that I am not a born writer. I didn’t acquire this gift hereditarily either. However, I’m an adventure book lover and used to read everything that I come across in the Internet that sounds interesting. I think, I only developed it through constant practice and exposure to numerous writing stuff. I was chosen to compete in press conferences that showcased my needsowelldeveloped writing skills. I became part of our school publication staff. I started as a news writer and photojournalist of the school paper. Soon, I was appointed editorinchief. It was during this time when I realized that I needed to be more efficient in writing because duty called for it. I should say that this event in my life opened me wholly to the wonderful world of writing.

With all these, I can’t say that I have mastered writing because of these writing experiences. I believe that this craft is also a continuous learning process. I’ve been working hard to become amore efficient and competent in writing, most especially now that I’m working as a content writer for this company. I’m doing articles for printing companies, medical sites, legal sites, and many more.

For additional Information about the articles you may visit their website at http://www.brochuresprintingonline.com

[email protected]

This article was posted on February 09

by Nashville

5 Tips For Buying The Right Laptop Computer

5 Tips For Buying The Right Laptop Computer

by: John San Filippo

Itกs easy to be intimidated by all the laptop models on the market today. There are literally dozens and dozens in every price range.

The key to finding the right one for you is to step back and consider exactly how you plan to use your laptop. When you define what you need before you go shopping, buying the right machine becomes much easier.

Here are 5 basic factors to consider:

1. SIZE

In the world of mobile computing, size definitely matters. The size of a laptop affects two key areas: portability and display size.

If you’re always on the go and will be using your computer only in short bursts, a socalled ultralight will save you some shoulder strain.

On the other hand, if you’re going to spend hours in front of your laptop, a larger display may be in order.

Today, some laptop displays exceed 17 inches, rivaling the display size of many desktop systems. The down side is that these monsters can easily weigh three times as much as an ultralight.

2. HARD DRIVE

Speaking of size, what about the size of the hard drive? One way to approach this issue is to ask yourself the following question:

Will this be my primary computer, or will it supplement my desktop system?

If the former, you should look for a bigger hard drive 60 GB or more.

If the latter, you may be able to make it with a 2030 GB hard drive.

But even this isn’t absolute.

If, for example, you plan to copy a huge MP3 library from your desktop system to your laptop to make your music library portable, youกd be well advised to err on the side of too big.

3. MEMORY

In determining the right amount of system memory, or RAM, take a look at the ways in which you intend to use your laptop:

If your needs are somewhat mundane email, spreadsheets, word processing, etc. 256 MB of RAM should be plenty. This is a common configuration for many laptops, so it means you probably won’t need to spend extra for more RAM.

On the flip side, if you’re an aspiring mobile digital photographer or videographer, you should stuff your laptop with as much RAM as it can hold.

In fact, exactly how much RAM your laptop can hold may in part drive your purchase decision. Applications for editing and manipulating multimedia content are notorious resource hogs.

4. NETWORK CONNECTIONS

Thanks in no small part to the Internet, computing in the 21st century relies heavily on being connected:

Connected to the Internet, connected to a corporate network, connected to a wireless network, connected to a home network, connected to an online service.

Your life will be easier if you buy a laptop that includes builtin means to connect to them all.

5. PRICE

If you’re considering a laptop, you’re probably wondering how much money youกll need to spend.

A few years ago, youกd be hardpressed to find one for under $2,000. Today, there are plenty of laptops to be had for under $1,000.

Whatกs more, most of the major manufacturers offer a variety of financing options.

Laptop prices have come down, to be sure. However, a laptop still represents a fairly major purchase for most people.

If you take the time to search for a laptop that meets your specific needs, you should get many years of use and enjoyment from this important investment.

You may republish this article, but must keep the resource box and copyright at the end.

About The Author

The author, computer journalist John San Filippo, has created the definitive guide for buying a laptop computer. Itกs an easy read and explains everything you need to know. Check out ==> http://howtobuyalaptop.com/

This article was posted on April 16, 2004

by John San Filippo

Beginning in Videography

Beginning in Videography

by: Jim Wagner

If you’re looking to get into videography and video editing as a hobby, the options can be daunting. Here is a small question and response that may help you get started in this fun and rewarding hobby.

What type of camera do you recommend?

Response: For a beginner, a Canon single CCD camera will suit you well. It has a cost range of $500 to $700. Canon is well respected at all levels of video camera quality and has probably the best quality for the price at the low end.

If you want to start out with something more professional, you may want to look into the Canon GL2 which is a low end 3 CCD (1/4ก each) camera running about $1500. This camera is great for an enthusiastic hobbyist or a beginning special events videographer.

If you’re looking to make some money on the side (or as a career) with your camera doing special events such as wedding videography, you may want to look into the Sony VX2100, a highend consumer 3 CCD (1/3ก each) camcorder, running at a price between $2100 and $3000, check out prices here. The high definition capable version of the same camera is called the Sony HDR / Fx1 and goes for $3700 at all major retailers.

What is CCD?

CCDs are imaging chips. CCD stands for chargecoupled device and is a light sensative circuit which stores an electrical charge representing each tiny part of an image. The difference between low and high end video cameras is usually determined by the number of CCDs (one or three), and the size of the CCD. In video cameras the number of CCDs determines the clarity of the picture in low lighting (most indoor) situations. The size of the CCD is directly linked to the amount of กcolor bleedingก present in the video.

It is also interesting to note that for video cameras, unlike photography cameras, the size of the pixels is far more important than the number of pixels. Fewer pixels that are larger make a better video camera. It is also interesting to note that as you go from lowend to highend cameras, you will be getting fewer กextrasก on your camera such as the ability to take กstill photographyก.

Next question: What video editing software would you recommend?

Response: Pinnacle Studio 9 has many great features for beginning in photoediting. It runs between $70 and $90 at major retail stores. It gives many options and is very user friendly. If you’re looking for some more advanced options in lighting, transitions, and sound editing, you may want to consider the more professional editing software Pinacle Liquid Editions for around $600.

This article may also be found at http://www.researchtechs.com/videoediting.htm

About The Author

Jim Wagner

Contributor to www.ResearchTechs.com

Enjoys anything Tech.

Majoring in Computer Science.

[email protected]

This article was posted on December 04, 2004

by Jim Wagner

What Size Body Section Ranks Highest?

What Size Body Section Ranks Highest?

by: Jon Ricerca

This is another one of the controversial questions in many of the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) forums, yet it is very easy to answer for any particular search engine. While popular belief seems to be that pages should be very short (less than 10K) to rank well with the leading search engine, this article conclusively answers that question… with a completely different answer.
The methodology is really quite simple for this question. I gathered the results of the queries naturally performed last month by myself and three associates using Yahoo and Google. I then visited each page and wrote down the size of the body section of the page. Those sizes were then tabulated for the top 20 rankings and converted into a normalized ขranking correlationข.
The resulting number shows each group of body section sizes normalizing into a number between –100 and +100 showing the likelihood of being ranked higher/lower. A value of +100 shows that all 10 rankings were in the proper order to show that pages of the studied size ALWAYS rank HIGHER than pages of another size. A value of –100 shows that all 10 rankings were in the proper order to show that pages of the studied size ALWAYS rank LOWER than pages of another size. Numbers in between show the varying likelihood of rankings proportionally between –100 and +100.
That is the number you see on the Yaxis. On the Xaxis, we have groups of page sizes varying from 0 to >100K bytes. Here are the graphs for Yahoo and Google:
http://www.searchenginegeek.com/graphs/dey02.gif
http://www.searchenginegeek.com/graphs/deg02.gif
(Note to Webmasters: Feel free to hot link to the above graphs or even copy them to your own site. Also feel free to delete this note.)
There is an obvious correlation on Google, which shows that body sections of a size between 50K and 60K generally rank much higher than shorter or longer bodies. The Yahoo graph is a bit more erratic, but also shows a nice peak at 6070K (and another one at 2030K). This goes against the popular belief that states that shorter pages rank highest. The popular belief is shown to be completely inaccurate with this study.
Notes:
1. For the purposes of this test, the actual body section size in bytes was used. The page was saved to disk and then everything before the body tag and after the end body tag were deleted. The resulting size of the file as reported by the operating system was used. Graphics and any other external references were completely ignored.
2. Over 1,000 queries and over 10,000 sites were examined for this study.
3. There was no exercise to attempt to isolate different keywords. I merely took a random sampling of the queries performed by myself and three associated during the prior month.
Conclusion:
Pages with a body section size between 50K and 70K rank best on the two leading search engines!
This is merely a correlation study, so it cannot be determined from this study whether the leading search engine purposefully entertains this factor or not. The actual factors used may be far distant from the factor we studied, but the end result is that this search engine does, in fact, rank pages between 50K and 60K higher than pages of other sizes.
Copyright 2004 Jon Ricerca

About The Author

Jon Ricerca is the lead researcher and author of the Search Engine Ranking Factor reports at Search Engine Geek. For more information, please visit: http://www.SearchEngineGeek.com

This article was posted on May 24, 2004

by Jon Ricerca

Web Site Optimization: How To Speed Up Your Web Si

Web Site Optimization: How To Speed Up Your Web Site By Minimizing Your GIF and PNG Image กBitDepthก

by: Andy King

Web Site Optimization: How To Speed Up Your Web Site By Minimizing Your GIF and PNG Image กBitDepthก
Are bloated images slowing down your web site and causing you lost business? Images comprise over 50% of the average web page so putting them on a diet is essential to improving web performance. One of the best ways to optimize GIFs and PNGs is to minimize the ขbitdepthข or the number of colors within your images.
For palettebased formats like GIF and PNG, file size is directly related to the size of the color palette, or the number of colors in the image. As the number of colors in an image crosses a power of two, the file size jumps. A 33color image must use a sixbit palette, while a 32color image can use a 5bit palette. Smaller palettes mean smaller codes (representing pixel patterns), which makes for smaller files. So minimizing the number of colors in indexcolor images like GIFs and PNGs will minimize file size.
The compression schemes used in GIFs (LZW) and PNGs (Deflate) are dictionarybased encoding algorithms. Dictionary based compression algorithms substitute shorter codes for longer patterns of strings within the data stream. Pixel patterns (substrings) in the data stream found in the dictionary are replaced with a single code. If a substring is not found in the dictionary, a new code is created and added to the dictionary. Compression is achieved when smaller codes are substituted for longer patterns of data.
The code size is based on the number of bits per pixel, and depends on the maximum length code within your dictionary. Thus the smaller your bitdepth, the smaller the codes representing your pixel pattern strings, and the smaller the file.
Choosing the right format for your images is the first step in optimizing web graphics. At lower bitdepths, banding can appear in smoothtoned images. Try quantizing your image to different palettes to minimize banding.
PNG Compression
PNG uses the deflate compression algorithm which is a newer, more efficient cousin of LZW. Deflate is designed to be free of patent problems. Deflate is a combination of the LZ77 algorithm found in zip programs like WinZIP and gzip, and Huffman coding. Deflate typically compresses files 20 to 30 percent smaller than LZW, which is the difference youกll find between gzip and compress. PNGs use a similar substitution technique, but are generally 5 to 25 percent smaller than GIFs, although there are exceptions. In addition to horizontal กscanlineก pattern substitution PNGs sometimes substitute for vertical patterns. PNG can also truncate color palettes. In general, the smaller the color palette, the smaller the overal file size.
Conclusion
To minimize the file size of palettebased image formats like GIF and PNG, minimize their bitdepth, or number of colors. Each time you pass a power of two, file size jumps higher. By minimizing the number of colors, and maximizing the flatcolor areas you will create smaller, more efficient images destined for the Web.
Further Reading:
LZW Data Compression

http://www.dogma.net/markn/articles/lzw/lzw.htm

Mark Nelson breaks down the LZW compression algorithm for Dr. Dobbกs Journal of October 1989.
Multimedia: Use Lossy Compression for Smaller GIFs and PNGs http://www.websiteoptimization.com/speed/tweak/lossy/

Lossy compression lets you squeeze more bytes out of your GIFs and PNGs. Lossy compression increases identical pixel patterns to improve compression in indexedcolor images.
Multimedia: Use Weighted Optimization

http://www.websiteoptimization.com/speed/tweak/weighted/

Weighted optimization or regional compression applies different degrees of compression to different areas of your image. By varying the quality within images you can improve file size.
Optimizing Web Graphics

http://www.websiteoptimization.com/speed/12/

Chapter summary from Speed Up Your Site, shows how to correct, optimize, and compress images for minimum file size and maximum quality.
PNG Home Site

http://www.libpng.org/pub/png/

Greg Roelofs site devoted to all things PNG.

About The Author

Article by Andy King, author of the popular new book titled กSpeed Up Your Site – Web Site Optimizationก. Visit Andy Kingกs web site to learn the best Web Site Optimization practices for higher traffic and speed guaranteed. www.websiteoptimization.com

This article was posted on May 12, 2004

by Andy King

10 Ways to Achieve Superior Web Site Design

10 Ways to Achieve Superior Web Site Design

by: Maricon Williams

In order to achieve online success, one must have effective and reliable products and services and great web design as well. Many people are judging the book by its cover this is the reason why your website should also be superior.

Here are 10 ways to carry out in order to ensure that your website design will turn out to be a superior one:

1. Keep those banner programs away. Avoid plastering your pages with every banner program you can think of because it is like broadcasting to the whole world that you are a neophyte in the industry. Besides, it is useless when you are just starting out.

2. Proof read the whole site. Poor grammar and spelling is a manifestation of being unprofessional. If you can not pay attention to small things like that then how can the potential customers know that you can make a product or service great? Always have some rounds of spell check and have someone proof read the site. That way you can be assured of its content quality.

3. Evade กclipartก type graphics. Learn to make your own graphics that will exude your business character and identity. You can get your hands on with Adobe Photoshop. However, if you are short on money, Macromedia’s Fireworks is a good alternative.

4. Forget about yourself! Nobody wants to hear about you. They want to hear about your products or services and how you can help them. So instead of focusing on yourself, focus on the functionality of your website. That will give lots of visitors that can turn out to be your customers.

5. Keep a consistent design. Inconsistent designs, backgrounds and navigation systems make the visitors feel lost. They will feel as if they have transferred to another site. To avoid this thing to happen, utilize a consistent web site design.

6. Stay away from excessive backgrounds. If you do not know what background to choose, stick with a plain one and blend it with a well contrasting text. The result will be an easy to read website.

7. Use small images. Use images that are small in file size. To do this, you can compress your images to a more reasonable size.

8. Keep your font size readable. Have your fonts at reasonable size. The content fonts should not exceed size fourteen and should not go down lower than size twelve. Using gigantic fonts are the biggest indicator of someone who knows nothing about designing online!

9. Keep your site clean and organized but not boring. Don’t scare your visitors away by crowded and messy website with neon colored texts. If that’s your kind of web site – my golly – change it! And you got to do it fast before a number of visitors already transferred to your competitors.

10. Check with every browser. Every web browser interprets code differently. Some may display the page perfectly however, some may do it atrociously thus, to be safe check with different browsers to test the compatibility.

About The Author

Maricon Williams

I love reading. Give me a book and Iกll finish it in one sitting. Reading is the chance to be transported to a different world and so is writing. Iกm more enthusiastic about writing however, since you can relay your ideas to someone else. I can only imagine that feeling when I hear a complete stranger talking about my ideas which read on an article somewhere. To relay my message to as many people is the same as touching people with music. Only mineกs less harmonic. I try to make up for it with the color I bring with words. And most of the time, it’s more than enough.

For Inquiries and Comments about the article and for additional information about web designs, log on to http://www.webdesignsprovider.com

[email protected]

This article was posted on April 06

by Maricon Williams

You, too can Have Fun with Sepia Images!

You, too can Have Fun with Sepia Images!

by: Lala C. Ballatan

If you are one of those who wonder how people come up with the cool looking sepia tone prints that you admire so much. If you are doubling up with jealousy over a sepia tone, here, we will give you tips on how you could achieve this sepia tone, too. Ready up your Photoshop software program, your PC and prepare to have fun with sepia! It’s time that they envy you, too.

First of all it is important for you to choose images that have some darks and lights – it doesn’t matter how colorful they are. Many images could go along with sepia tone, so you won’t take forever finding an image. You can even have a black and white image. However, if you start with images that are in CMYK, there’s no need to convert them to RGB. If you’re going to use them for the web, then convert them to RGB by clicking IMAGEMODERGB. Take the image size down to 72 dpi with about 4 inches in height. Do this by the commands, (IMAGEIMAGE SIZE). If your image is for print, though, a much higher resolution is needed for it. The dpi needed can be checked with your printer.

You’ll see how big your image is by making sure you are at 100%. Whether you are using the image for the web or planning to print it, make sure that you are aware of the size you have it set at. Scale the size down or repair a choppy image by using the ZOOM TOOLHit Z on the keyboard – hold down your ALT key. On a Mac, open apple key to toggle back and forth between zoom in and out). You’ll see your image smoothing out as you manipulate these commands. We dearly hope that it would work for you!

When you have found the ideal size you want for your images, we go on to the fun part! Begin working on the color first for it is easier and adjust your lights and darks.

Change the Hues of your image by IMAGEADJUSTHUE/SATURATION. Check the box that says colorize and preview or check it by default. It’s your choice if you like to adjust the top bar to the color you want for your image, or just type in numbers. Saturation is how much of the hue you chose will be used on your image. For adjusting lightness, the lightness slider does the trick. Try not to go crazy over this last bar (lightness).

Then, adjust the darks and lights. Even if you think your image is already so great and you wouldn’t want to mess it up try this – select IMAGEADJUSTLEVELS. Three sliders will appear – the first will make your image lighter, another will make it darker, and the last one adjusts the midtones. Adjust on these sliders depending on the image you use. Once you’re done, hit CONTROLZ or EDITUNDO MOVE to see your image before the adjustments. It will switch back to the original image. If you hit CTRLZ or EDITUNDO MOVE again, it will toggle back to the image with the level adjustment you just applied. If you like to have fun, go over it again and again! Just don’t blame us if you get bored!

And we haven’t told you that you can do different types of hues? So, we’re telling you now! If you’ll be doing this types of images for the web the great thing is that you can save them as a GIF and they will look wonderful. File sizes will not be a problem since you are using lesser colors! Good luck with your sepia! 30

About The Author

Lala C. Ballatan is a 26 yearold Communication Arts graduate, with a major in Journalism. Right after graduating last 1999, she worked for one year as a clerk then became a Research, Publication and Documentation Program Director at a nongovernment organization, which focuses on the rights, interests and welfare of workers for about four years.

Book reading has always been her greatest passion mysteries, horrors, psychothrillers, historical documentaries and classics. She got hooked into it way back when she was but a shy kid.

Her writing prowess began as early as she was 10 years old in girlish diaries. With writing, she felt freedom – to express her viewpoints and assert it, to bring out all concerns imagined and observed, to bear witness.

For comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.graphicdesignsunlimited.com

[email protected]

This article was posted on March 29

by Lala C. Ballatan