Business website advise - images

[sally]

What is the best format and pixel size to put an image in so that you get the best quality online and lose that 'done on my home computer' look?

Any advise on this using photoshop in particular would be great

[Spiderden]

If you're not fussy about the file size then .png is the best format to display an image without loosing any detail. .gifs are lossless too, but you're limited by the number of colours that can be used and jpgs loose some detail through compression though often this is negligible.

[sally]

Thank you I shall go look that up. I have a banner on my forum that looks fine in PS but when saved in jpeg and uploaded it looks bloody awful, the text is broken up around the edges and the image looks fuzzy.

Shall give that a try, can I just a replace a jpeg with that format or do I have to do anything to the coding in the files?

[Spiderden]

If it's for a banner then you'd probably be better off using a jpg due to bandwidth issues. PNG files can be rather large. You might just need to save the jpg with a higher quality setting to fix your problem. If you have problems getting the balance between quality and file size right then you'd be better off talking to one of the graphics people as image manipulation isn't really my forte.
If you did change it to a .png or another format, then you'd have to change the code to reflect the filename change.

[Calibre Designs]

Hey Sal,

Write me an email explaining what you want to achieve. Attach the files. Quote the link to the website you are referring to and I'll sort it for you.

ps...avator artwork file needs adjusting in colour which will be done for you today (sorry for delay)

[sally]

Oh no Kay that is too kind and I know you are busy but thank you so much for the offer, you have already helped me so much with my avatar.

I would appreciate it though if you could email me idiot instructions for getting the best quality banner with image and text in PS. As I say it looks great in PS but when I save it as jpeg and upload it - YUK.

[Calibre Designs]

No problem what so ever always glad to help...

Write and I'll do it. Once I've looked at all the details, i'll explain it so you know what to do next time. With image manipulation, there are so many variables.

Also the simple fact that you are/can use Photoshop is an achievement in itself!!!! Trust me on that one. "Idiots guide" will not be necessary - just "how to...." would be much better

[sally]

Hee, hee you haven't seen me use PS yet

I shall send my new spring forum banner in PS format and when you open it I bet you go "what the bleedin hell has she done" or gentlemanly words to that effect.
I am still at the trial and error stage (with lots of the latter but really enjoy playing).