Web Graphics: Golden Tips

• Lesser the number of colors, smaller the size.
• For photo quality pictures save in JPEG format.
• Save flat colored pictures in GIF format.
• 'Crop' & 'Resize' are two golden tools for the web developer.
• Always optimize your GIFs before uploading them. This service is provided free of charge at: www.gifcruncher.com
• Always check the 'Interlace' option while saving your picture in GIF or PNG format. If this is not done, the picture will be displayed in the user's system only when it is fully downloaded. An interlaced graphic is displayed in bits & pieces as it is being loaded, giving the user an opportunity to see what is being downloaded.
• Check the 'Progressive' option while saving in JPEG format. This makes the JPEG picture display in the browser as it is being downloaded, from top to bottom.
• While saving your pictures to JPEG, first play with different compression settings to get the best stand-off between quality & size.
• Never save your original pictures in JPEG format. JPEG uses lossy compression technique. Suppose if you have set the JPEG quality level to 90% in your paint application, & if you (for editing reasons) open save & close that picture 10 times, the total loss to picture quality will be high. Every time you would have lost 10% of your picture progressively!
• When you are using GIF or PNG, check the graphic in different browsers. Some GIFs are not properly displayed in Netscape, while support for PNG is minimal in both the major browsers.
• If possible, try to confine the number of colors to the 216 web-safe palette.
• You can create your own custom palette & use it throughout you web site to bring about consistency among your pages.
• Use thumbnails when you have to display many pictures, say your travel photography of Andaman islands. Put each of these thumbnails as a link, so that clicking on it loads the actual picture.