Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: hamfist on May 23, 2008, 08:38:10 AM

Title: Avatar pics
Post by: hamfist on May 23, 2008, 08:38:10 AM
Well the forum software has just decided to not like the avatar picture i've been using for months. It states that it wants an image no bigger than 100x100 pixels and less than 6kB.
  My problem is that however small I make my images in Photoshop elements v2.0, they are still 15 kB. Even if i get it down to something ridiculous like a 15x15 pixel image.  how are you guys getting your images under 6kB ?
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: ToneMonkey on May 23, 2008, 08:44:58 AM
I think I continually farted about and changed the type of file a couple of times.
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: Twinfan on May 23, 2008, 09:02:34 AM
I shrunk mine in MS Paint or Photo viewer I think.  Loses quality, but it does the job.
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: Modular1 on May 23, 2008, 09:03:07 AM
i dont see the problem with having 200x200 avatars. would give people a chance to show off guitars with BKPs in better :P
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: maverickf1jockey on May 23, 2008, 09:12:17 AM
What are you exporting as.

Mine is a .gif with an optimised palette to reduce the size of the file.

That won't look good with a photo so I'd say that it'd be a better idea to get something done in a graphics programme from scratch to get the best illusion of quality.
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: sgmypod on May 23, 2008, 09:16:07 AM
think there was an online avatar convertor I used to shrink mine(was on a lazy day..and was free)
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on May 23, 2008, 09:24:25 AM
Make it the suggested pixel size and host it on something like photobucket and get the forum to show that image.

Overlarge avatar pix can get to be a pain in the bum as you'll end up with someone who doesn't think that a 300x300 px avatar is a problem
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: WezV on May 23, 2008, 09:58:36 AM
I think the size is good as it is, we dont get somebodys attempt at a funny avatar forced down your throat  every time you want to read the forum at work.

I like the sig's nice and short the way they are as well... it means you can focus on the discussions
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: Philly Q on May 23, 2008, 11:59:43 AM
I think I made a very small pic then reduced the image quality a bit in Photoshop to make the file small enough - so long ago I can't remember really.

Quote from: WezV
I think the size is good as it is, we dont get somebodys attempt at a funny avatar forced down your throat every time you want to read the forum at work.

Totally agree, I hate those forums where people have huge animated avatars and bloody great pictures in their sigs too.  It's so boring seeing them over and over again, and it takes forever just to scroll down a page.
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: PhilKing on May 23, 2008, 12:16:46 PM
Did you use the 'save for web' option?  You can vary the quality to get the size down using that.
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: _tom_ on May 23, 2008, 12:34:51 PM
Yeah I resized mine in photoshop and used save for web to compress it a bit I think.
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: hamfist on May 23, 2008, 12:39:39 PM
thnks guys. i'll try some of these ideas out.
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: Jonny on May 23, 2008, 01:08:18 PM
I can save mine four ways and each is, like, best pixels, but highest memory. And lowest, etc. I just skimmed the limit for the lovely Gwyneth.
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: maverickf1jockey on May 23, 2008, 01:11:46 PM
mine weighs in at just over 2kb. :twisted:
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: hamfist on May 23, 2008, 04:40:37 PM
Quote from: maverickf1jockey
mine weighs in at just over 2kb. :twisted:


Now that's just boasting !
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: gingataff on May 23, 2008, 05:09:03 PM
Quote from: hamfist
Quote from: maverickf1jockey
mine weighs in at just over 2kb. :twisted:


Now that's just boasting !

And this isn't?? :wink:
Quote from: _tom_
Yeah I resized mine in photoshop
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: ailean on May 23, 2008, 07:26:32 PM
Try adjusting the compression ratio, most photo manipulation software will have some kind of 'quality' setting so you can offset compression against image quality.

Edit: And make sure you are saving as a GIF or JPG! BMP files are uncompressed and huge by comparrison.
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: _tom_ on May 23, 2008, 08:15:00 PM
Quote from: gingataff
Quote from: hamfist
Quote from: maverickf1jockey
mine weighs in at just over 2kb. :twisted:


Now that's just boasting !

And this isn't?? :wink:
Quote from: _tom_
Yeah I resized mine in photoshop


 :lol:  :lol:
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: hamfist on May 24, 2008, 08:28:53 AM
Quote from: ailean
Try adjusting the compression ratio, most photo manipulation software will have some kind of 'quality' setting so you can offset compression against image quality.

Edit: And make sure you are saving as a GIF or JPG! BMP files are uncompressed and huge by comparrison.


Even the lowest quality option of a 25x25 pixel jpg still saves as a 15kB file on my software !
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: maverickf1jockey on May 24, 2008, 09:16:06 AM
Use .gif ; it's much smaller than a .jpg and you should be given the opportunity to optimise the palette for the web, reducing the size of the file.

You'll have to go for the best compromise between optimisation and quality you can get.
Title: Avatar pics
Post by: Scotty477 on May 24, 2008, 10:15:02 AM
Hmm

I wonder if mine still works?