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Archiver > Freepages-Help > 2000-01 > 0947121467


From: Leigh Compton <>
Subject: Re: [FreeHelp] RW Banner-size attributes - revisited
Date: Wed, 05 Jan 2000 19:17:47 -0600


At 06:38 PM 1/5/00 -0500, Pat Asher wrote:
>On Wednesday, January 05, 2000 12:20 AM, Leigh wrote:
>
>>Now -- to see the true sizes of some random banner images, you can view
>>this page:
>> http://freepages.computers.rootsweb.com/~elsi/banners.html
>>
>>The largest file is 37K and is an animated .gif image.
>
>
>Leigh: I was out all day so am just now picking back up on the thread --
>BUT -- don't you think 37K for a BANNER is extreme?

Oh, please don't get me wrong. I didn't say that I thought the banner
image sizes were appropriate, just pointing out that they weren't as bad as
had been reported earlier. I was "challenged" to figure out what could
possibly have led Rod to interpret the files and .bmps so I set off to
investigate and report back.

Most of the "RootsWeb" banners on that page were created by RootsWeb
visitors in response to the "WorldConnect banner contest". And, because
the largest image is an animated gif, it contains multiple layers. Could
the image be made smaller? Probably. I suspect that RootsWeb staff just
hasn't had time to do anything about the size of the banner images which
were submitted for the contest. (Maybe the next contest should have
criteria for the file size as well as the dimensions of the banner graphic.)

My personal preference is to avoid most graphic images and make a lot of
use of the HTML "color" attributes. On my personal web site, the majority
of images that I choose to use are because they convey a message. (For
example, my FTP help pages include screen shots of the various FTP
programs.) However, I'm putting together a CD-ROM for my family with
family pictures, the family tree, etc. and I'm going to use some really
neat graphic web sets since the images will load from the CD and not have
to be transmitted.

>As a sponsor Plus, I can have space without banners. But... doggone it, I
>want to support RW. I have no objection to the banners and, often find them
>very clever. I just think you need to rethink some size limits for the
>files and respectfully request that RW add the size attribute to minimize
>the impact the very large banners have on load time.

I think we're in agreement. Perhaps someone will volunteer to rework some
of the "heavier" graphic images and reduce their size down to less than
16K. Note that the 3 commercial banners are all under 13K and all of them
are animated, so it *CAN* be done! I'm just not the person to do it.

Regards,
Leig

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