I am working with Dreamweaver to create a home-based business site. I am starting to collect "assets" (images) and was wondering if there is a freeware app that will reduce/convert a folder of images suited for the web. What exactly is the perfect size for a web ready image? I have Photshop 7. Should I just resize them one-by-one and then "Save for Web"? What about when someone clicks on the "thumbnail" image and want to see it larger- how would I save the image for that? Should I use only jpegs?
Hey Goose bay, you should look into Photoshop's "batch" processing. You build an action, (in your case, downsize to 72 dpi, set your dimensions, save as web) and then use "batch" to automatically process a folder of images. That's the really simple version but trust me when you're dealing with 20 plus webimages, it's nice and quick. Good luck.
Photoshop has a save for web function. Basically it will offer you a few choices then strip away extra information that is not needed (image preview, colourspace data etc) as well has save 72dpi.
The choice of JPEG or GIF depends on the kind of image that you have and it's use.
Your questions are too vague to be answered properly without more information.
If you have a thumbnail image that get bigger, then you need two images.
Photoshop has actions that can help with all the resizing.
Perfect size for web image? Again depends on the use of that image in your scenario.
Maybe I need to work with Dreamweaver more to get an idea of what I want/need. I am quite unacquainted with requirements for waht I want to do. Basically, I will have the items listed with a small thumbnail image, and when clicking on it, I want it redirected to a larger image and more information.
Howdy csonni. For what you wish to have you should have two images of the same thing, one thumbnail and one full size image. You could, if you wanted, do this with the same image, but the refresh rate of images that are scaled would reduce the efficiency of the site. What you would do is place the image "path.../thumbnails/image1_tb.gif" in the layout and set the image ref to "path.../images/image1.jpg" so that the link brings the full size image up. The GIF is a flat colour palette file, very small, while the full size image could be a JPG with a wider colour palette and better image quality.
Further to this, you can customize the window placement and size with java script or even format it in another page that automatically opens in a new window, leaving the original list on screen so the person just closes the image off rather than having to navigate back. Formatting the larger image on a new page will also allow you to add any necessary information.
Any other questions, just ask!
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As artist series said you will need two images. What I do is save my larger image as insertnamehere.jpeg and the thumb as insertnameherethumb.jpeg. That way they stay together in your folder and everything is perfectly clear. As far as sizes, test what thumb size gives you the most information at the smallest size. For rectangular formatted photos I generally go with an inch wide. You get an idea of whats going on enough to want to click it. As far as the larger image, always bear in mind people's connection speeds and screen sizes. I always play it safe (how Canadian of me) and go with 5-6" wide @ 72DPI saved as the highest quality jpeg. This size seems to convey all the information you would need.
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