Avatar file sizes

[The Barrow-Wight]

Lossentilien's avatar has motivated me to remind everyone that avatars should never be more than 5-15 KB in size. Her's is 249KB smilies/eek.gif That means that every time someone reads a topic she has posted on, they must wait for her giant avatar to load. This can be excrutiating for people with a slow connection. Of course, Lossentilien is not the only one with an oversized avatar, so we would appreciate if everyone would work to make their own avatars as small in file size as possible.

Thanks,

[ May 06, 2003: Message edited by: The Barrow-Wight ]

[Trippo The Hippo]

Can you tell us how to check on the size?

[The Barrow-Wight]

Yours is 13KB. I typoed to say never more than 5KB when I should have said 5-15KB. So your's really isn't too bad. I'll fix my original post.

I found out how big your avatar was by right-clicking it and saving it to my hard drive. Then I explored that folder and saw the file size.

[Orual]

I don't know if this works for everyone's computer, but if you right-click on the avatar then find where it says "Properties" on the menu that the right-click ought to pull up, it'll tell you how many bytes it is. Just translate that into kilobytes, and you've got the size of your avatar.

~*~Orual~*~

[Oddwen]

Uh-oh. This is the second post regarding site space...this isn't a bad thing is it?
smilies/eek.gif

[The Barrow-Wight]

Oural is right, of course. For some reason I didn't think of the simplest solution to checking the size. I download and upload pics out of habit.

No worries. We're not running out of space, though saving space could cause future glitches like we had a couple weeks ago. If we can all just be cognizant of how our posting affect others, everything will be great.

[Ainaserkewen]

I guess mine is too big, eh?
Darn, I really like this one to.

[Eruanna]

Mine is 38kb, I didn't realise that they took a long time to load....However, when you think about all of the different dancing/running/twirly/whirly avatars that are on the Downs, you realise that they must really slow some older computers down. I'll look for a smaller one. smilies/smile.gif

[Firondoiel]

it'll tell you how many bytes it is. Just translate that into kilobytes, and you've got the size of your avatar.

How do you translate it?? smilies/confused.gif

[Galadrie1]

1 byte = 1000 kilobytes.

[Firondoiel]

Thank you Galadrie1. That means bye bye Bugs though. smilies/frown.gif smilies/frown.gif smilies/frown.gif smilies/frown.gif smilies/frown.gif

[The Saucepan Man]

Eruanna, your avatar is 9.756 KB according to its Properties.

Is 15 KB a definate limit? My mirroball is just over 18 KB, but I'm quite keen to hang on to it for a little longer ...

... Please, Mr Barrow-Wight, sir?

[Gorwingel]

I do think Saucepan Man should be able to keep his disco ball because it simply ROCKS!

But I have noticed that the large size of certain avatars have slowed down the speed of downloading some of the topics (though it is not really a problem for me because I have broadband). If it is a slight problem for me, I could understand that it could be very serious for other people with dial-up.

[Trippo The Hippo]

1 byte = 1000 kilobytes.

I believe you mean 1000 byte = 1 kilobyte. Otherwise the barrow-wights avatar is 1,285,000 kilobytes.

[Beren87]

Hum, mine is only 4KB! I'm under the minimium. smilies/tongue.gif

[elven maiden Earwen]

ack mines only like 2KB I think smilies/rolleyes.gif

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Mines 3.494 kb... is that okay, as in, is under the limit okay? smilies/rolleyes.gif smilies/confused.gif

~Menelien

[The Barrow-Wight]

If anyone's avatar is over 15KB, it's far too big - no exceptions - even for fancy disco balls. Sorry.

[Beren87]

is under the limit okay?

Erm...obviously...

[Alkanoonion]

ok time to change my avatar back
bye bye
http://breeunderbreehill.com/3161e1e0.gif

[ May 06, 2003: Message edited by: Alkanoonion ]

[Orual]

Testing my new icon to make sure it's small enough...

~*~Orual~*~

[The Barrow-Wight]

I appreciate everyone's quick attention on this. Thanks. You are truly doing your fellow Downers a favor.

[ElentariGreenleaf]

*cough* I have a slow connection, and Saucepan Man's avatar loads as quick as any others.

Oh, and I believe if it was Lossie's olando getting his head saved one, I will take part of the blame for its size. She sent it to me to upload it, and I tried to cut down the size, really i did! I just couldn't bare to cut out any frames... smilies/wink.gif


YAY! My avatar's only 7kb! AND I made it... *very proud of self*

[Eruanna]

I really liked my Grail and Star but it was 38 kb. I chose the Homer one as it is well under 10kb, and as I am usually in the Quiz section his perplexed look seemed to suit me. smilies/wink.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

He does look a bit squashed-up though.


[ May 07, 2003: Message edited by: Eruanna ]

Too squashed...I've decided to go for something more M.E...and it's smaller.

[ May 07, 2003: Message edited by: Eruanna ]

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

The raindrops are gone as well... *sighs* oh well... coolness can be sacrificed in the name of efficiency smilies/wink.gif

Sophia

[Manardariel]

Changed mine! Same pic, but much smaller. Does it work?

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Erm...obviously...

I stated that question wrong, and it made me look like an idiot smilies/rolleyes.gif

I meant, 5-15, so if it's under 5... yeah.


~Menelien

[Amanaduial the archer]

Phew, mine's only 9KB. Ish. Ok, a little over then...

[*Varda*]

How can you make it smaller? *frowns* And does it help?

[Lossentilien]

Geez, you couldv'e pmd me! I'm not here that often to notive this thread quickly..
I'll change it straight away. Am soo sorry. Assumed that it was fine, cause it loads real fast on my computer.
Uh! Feel awful now. But maybe it would've been more sensitive to pm me...*sniffs* Why am I singled out?! On second thoughts, don't answer.

And Elentari you will not take the blame. It's my avatar, you were just nice enough to go to all that bother.
Again, very very sorry.

[DaughterofVana]

Posting so she can check her pic...

87465 bytes. So, does that mean mine is 87.465 kb? I guess I gotta find a different one (hint: just move the decimal place left three spaces from B to KB)

[ May 07, 2003: Message edited by: DaughterofVana ]

[ May 07, 2003: Message edited by: DaughterofVana ]

[ElentariGreenleaf]

And Elentari you will not take the blame. It's my avatar, you were just nice enough to go to all that bother.


Why thankyou. I'll make you another one if you wnat, but under the limit, and not orli head shaving one.... man does that make you dizzy..... ^_^ Tell me what you want, and I'll make it smilies/wink.gif

[Lossentilien]

It's fine. I guess it was about time to say goodbye to that one...and have got very un-original one for the moment.
Thanks a lot for hosting it though.
xxx.

[ElentariGreenleaf]

That's ok ^_- I like your one now. *gets evil looks from the BW* Wa? Oh, off topic... sorry... *backs away slowly from green cloud... type... thing.....

[Lossentilien]

Why thank you. And I really hope that my brain hasn't been so badly damaged by all this bloomin studying that I've picked another over limit one....
Nah, it's under...I think...no,it is...I hope...

[The Saucepan Man]

*cough* I have a slow connection, and Saucepan Man's avatar loads as quick as any others.

Aw! Thanks, Elentari. But rules is rules. smilies/rolleyes.gif

So smaller, less sparkly and less memory-guzzling mirrorball installed until I find something different that takes my fancy.

[Beren87]

Saucepan's avatar makes me dizzy.

I meant, 5-15, so if it's under 5... yeah

I was just kidding about the minimium thing...just because B-W said 5-15KB instead of 15+.

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Lol, I'm gullible smilies/rolleyes.gif
Saucepan Man- you could use a pict of the Saucepan Man from that book, couldn't you? I've got one-
http://www.upthefarawaytree.50megs.com/TheFarawaytree/saucepan.jpg
but it wouldn't show up too well.
Okay, sorry off topic.

~Menelien

[Legolas]

I'll resize anyone's avatar (or do whatever else I can to reduce the file size). Just let me know.

Finding a place to host it is your job though.

[ May 07, 2003: Message edited by: Legolas ]

[Beren87]

I could probably host anyone's if they needed it.

[Iarwain]

I suppose it's back to the boot for me. I planned on changing back eventually, but not so soon... It is only five KBs over the limit, compared to the jacket's triple of the limit. I suppose it has always been my avatar anyway...

Iarwain

[ May 07, 2003: Message edited by: Iarwain ]

[Legolas]

Additional note - if I resize your avatar to 64 x 64, it will almost definitely fit within the 15kb limit. I've done three already and they're not even 5kb. The image does *not* lose anything.

[burrahobbit]

I'll help anybody out same as Legolas so he doesn't have to do them all. PM me an email address, I don't like being proactive.

[Sharkû]

Actually, it's 1KB = 1024 Bytes.

Basically, this post is only to show off that my avatar has been a record-low 1539 bytes for months.

[Eruanna]

Just to add my bit. I could also host avatars for others if needed. smilies/smile.gif

[ElentariGreenleaf]

Ah, shudup Sharku ^_-

Hey, Legolas. you resize 'em, I'll host 'em smilies/wink.gif

[EDIT] NUTS! Knew I shouldn't have waited for the page to load so I could check Legolas' name...... smilies/biggrin.gif

[ May 08, 2003: Message edited by: ElentariGreenleaf ]

[Arvedui]

I have noticed a few fine avatars that are the artwork of Jonathon Earl Bowser and also note in the properties that it links directly back to his website.
I went looking around there and found this from the Jonathon Earl Bowser website (http://www.jonathonart.com/intro.html):

- Copyright Issues -

All images and text are protected by registered copyright. You are free - of course - to download these picture files to your computer, and if you would like to showcase some of my images on your own web-site, then you are invited to do so. Please upload the picture files to your own server, rather than transloading from my site and borrowing my very limited and expensive bandwidth.

NOTE! - This authorization applies to non-commercial (not for profit) Internet applications only, and anyone who places my work on the Internet must provide a full and prominent credit (my name is to appear with the artwork), and establish a link to my web-site. ANY use of my images without a proper credit and link will be considered an unauthorized use - a violation of, and prohibited by, international copyright law.

So, to use the pics, you should load it to your own host server so you dont load his server everytime the pic is accessed, and you should give the artist credit in your sig with a link to his website since he does request it if you use his images.

I know nobody trans-loads (uses urls) from other websites intentionally, but we all should be aware of this and the legality of it.

As for finding a picture hosting site, that is tough since most free hosts don't allow it anymore. I will see if I can find a couple places to share with you all.

[ElentariGreenleaf]

Yes. The Barrow Wight could get into trouble for it, and not us, if they want to take action. But I link in the sig and remote hosting will be fine. I offer to create a remote linking site for us all to use, if you like smilies/wink.gif

[Lossentilien]

Ok,am perfectly happy to load it to my host server, but don't know how to, and don't have enough time to figure it out for myself. Anyone care to explain it in simple terms?

Ps, d'you think avatar looks a little like Christina Aguilera....? Lol.

Pps, my avatar's 1540 bytes.

[Arvedui]

give me a few here Lossentilien, and I'll have a new url for you.

Edit: Lossentilien, check your PM

[ May 08, 2003: Message edited by: Arvedui ]

[Carlas]

Basically, this post is only to show off that my avatar has been a record-low 1539 bytes for months.

Mine is 3316 bytes!

[Lossentilien]

Ok doke...
One question, why is my old avatar still on some topics? Does it not change on all of 'em after you've posted once with a new one?

ps, Arvedui, check your pms.
pps, feel free to call me Lossie/Lossen or whatever. Don't mind. Some people do cause it's easier. smilies/biggrin.gif

EDIT: spelling...

[ May 08, 2003: Message edited by: Lossentilien ]

[Lossentilien]

Arvedui why ta very much. Gee, everyone's so nice and helpful here.
(Why did I come out with 'gee'?)
Anyway, will my old avatar still be causing problems if it's not dissapeared off some of the topics?

[Legolas]

It should be replaced with the new one as you post in each forum. If not, try clearing your history and Temp. Internet Files folder, then Refresh.

[Arvedui]

Hey no problem Losse!

[Rynoah, the Overly-Happy]

I'd like to bring attention to VillagePhotos (http://www.villagephotos.com) at this time, which caters specifically to message board avatars. Free accounts have a limit of 25 images and they get 5MB of bandwidth a day, which is usually more than enough. My avatar is hosted there, among other images (usually avatars for other boards). It's not hard to sign up either. smilies/smile.gif

[Lindolirian]

Barrow-Wight, I have a problem. First of all, I MUST keep my Agent Elrond avatar, because it's the only one I've ever had and I love it. So I've sized it down, and put it in my Yahoo Photo Album. It is now 2724 bytes. But, i'm stuck. I can't get it to appear as a picture here. Is there any way that I can change its format or put it someplace so that it will appear here?

[Beren87]

Lind, do you want me to host it for you?

[Lindolirian]

Sorry for the late reply. The above post was my last act on the computer before my grounding. Anyways, yes Beren, that would be quite nice. Do you want me to email you the pic or what? Thank you!

[Lasgalen]

This seems like as good a place as any for my question. (I didn't want to start a new thread)

Why does my avatar not show up? It is the same one I use at another board so I know the url is ok (even copied and pasted it several times-once from host and once from other board). It is 2971 bytes so it is definitely not too big.

[Alkanoonion]

when I had a look at your link it looked like this http://www.barrowdowns.com/ubb/avatars/blank.gif

how are you adding your link?

for help here is a link on how to add your avatar here (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=001152)

[Lasgalen]

I am adding it by copy and paste. First from the site hosting the pic. When that didn't work I copied and pasted from my profile at another board where the avatar works. Apparently this http://www.barrowdowns.com/ubb/avatars/blank.gif thing is getting in the way. How do I make it so my pic supercedes this?
This is what I want: http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid60/pe2d4c89aef59ea0d62dfcaec3320c9db/fc53059c.jpg Is it possible that it is too long? How can I shorten the url if that is the case?

[ June 02, 2003: Message edited by: Lasgalen ]

[Alkanoonion]

How do I put in a picture/image/avatar?

In the screen where you can edit your profile, there is a textbox under the words “OR enter your own image URL (support: .gif .jpg .png .swf)". Put the complete internet address of a valid image in the textbox.

Common reasons for a picture not working:


The URL you entered is not correct.

The website that hosts the picture does not support linking to outside sites

You are attempting to link to a picture on your own hard-drive instead of one that is hosted on the internet at an accessible address.

The image is not one of the supported file types

First I would tri an avatar from a site that allows linking to other sites or you could host the picture on your own site. This would also allow you to change the file name which would also shorten the URL.

ok to help you I have hosted your picture so all you need do is enter this into the URL field http://breeunderbreehill.com/fc53059c.jpg

and you will get this
http://breeunderbreehill.com/fc53059c.jpg

[ June 03, 2003: Message edited by: Alkanoonion ]

[Lasgalen]

Thank you VERY much.
I don't understand why my url didn't work as it is the same url I used on a different board and worked just fine over there. Oh well. Thanks again for you help.

[Snowdog]

I changed mine to a smaller file size. When I initially loaded it it was within the 15 K limit, but when I checked today it was 23k. Hope this one is within the limit...