Custom avatar size - geek/talk: Signature-free discourse for serious web publishers

LastActionHero · 07-21-2001, 02:15 AM

As suggested by steve I'm posting this question in the right forum

I noticed that the custom avatar file size limit is only 3072 bytes. No animated avatar of good quality can fit into 3072 bytes. I suggest that you change the limit to atleast 5000 bytes.

Thank You

LastActionHero

LastActionHero · 07-21-2001, 12:59 PM

So what do you think about the custom avatars size limit Steve?

suresk · 07-21-2001, 01:14 PM

Try using a program like JASC PaintShop pro to reduce the file size. Thats what I ended up doing, and it really didn't degrade the quality at all.

Steve_S · 07-21-2001, 01:14 PM

Thanks for the post and request. I see your point but their are many many other issues to consider.

1) Please consult http://66.33.83.213/forums/misc.php?...&page=1#avatar which has exstensive help and links which might help you.

2) This is a Webmaster centric Community and so we need to keep things consistent with our focus which is quality discussions and not a bunch of distracting pictures under your name. Don't get me wrong, I love them and bigger ones for other types of Communities are neat and appropriate. The Webmaster centric Communities that I studied had very very few animated Avitars in use. You can still animate but need to tone it down. See member MattC who has one.

3) Lot's of folks are on a dial up connection so bigger Avatars will slow the thread display for them

4) Avatars are stored inside the MySQL datatbase and consume bandwidth. It's far to early for me to measure this but this can be a huge hit which costs money.

5) We already have a fairly large selection of smiles which you can add to your sig and thus they appear in every post you make if the sig check box is enabled. This permits you to express yourself. I'm happyy to add more subject to the following conditions:

1.4 K Max file size
Public Domain and not (C)
Suitable for a Mainstream Webmaster Community and suitable to our unique mission.

Conclusion: No changes

in our limits. I will be happy to re-visit the issue in 3 months.

HTH and thanks for the post

LastActionHero · 07-21-2001, 01:25 PM

Thank you for your comments Steve. I will retain my current Avatar.

suresk: I tried reducing the image using photoshop. I finally managed to reduce it to 15 colours to keep it within limits. But the quality was not good.

Steve_S · 07-21-2001, 01:37 PM

You need to use "flat colors" aka solid tones. Avoid graduations and use only a small number of flat colors.

Look at this members very nice animated one:

http://66.33.83.213/forums/member.ph...fo&userid=2584

Have you consulted our exstensive and enhanced FAQ documents on this issue?

good luck

LastActionHero · 07-21-2001, 02:01 PM

I was actually thinking of this avatar which I use at freewebspace.net. But since it isn't related to any webmaster issue I won't use it. I will continue using my current avatar until I come up with some other idea.

I read the FAQ after reading your post Steve.

I hope to read your comments about my proposed avatar.

Steve_S · 07-21-2001, 02:26 PM

note my own

2.2K

loops 10 times and then stops

demae · 07-21-2001, 08:50 PM

I personally don't like animated avatars, because the motion is disturbing when I'm trying to read a post.

But that's the nice thing about vBulletin: I can just set "Show user's avatar in their posts?" to no and I won't be bothered by it.

jemma · 07-22-2001, 12:51 AM

LastActionHero wrote:I was actually thinking of this avatar which I use at freewebspace.net

Hi, I took a look, and that animated GIF is around 5K, has 32 colors, a transparent background, and 10 frames. Dropping a photo-realistic GIF down to 16 colors doesn't work well (as you already discovered). You can shrink the size below 3K by dropping some frames. It will affect the action some, but you can minimize that when choosing which of the frames you want to drop.

Also, if you change the transparent background to a solid color, you might be able to optimize the GIF to an even smaller file size.

Using a GIF animation program is the easiest way to make these changes. If you don't have one, most companies offer time-limited free trial downloads - so if all you want to do is fix up your avatars, you can do it and not pay anything.

Jemma

07-21-2001, 02:15 AM	#1
LastActionHero Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 615	Custom avatar size As suggested by steve I'm posting this question in the right forum I noticed that the custom avatar file size limit is only 3072 bytes. No animated avatar of good quality can fit into 3072 bytes. I suggest that you change the limit to atleast 5000 bytes. Thank You LastActionHero

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07-21-2001, 12:59 PM	#2
LastActionHero Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 615	So what do you think about the custom avatars size limit Steve?

07-21-2001, 01:14 PM	#3
suresk Registered User Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Kaysville, UT Posts: 958	Try using a program like JASC PaintShop pro to reduce the file size. Thats what I ended up doing, and it really didn't degrade the quality at all.

07-21-2001, 01:14 PM	#4
Steve_S Join Date: Aug 1998 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Posts: 5,223	Thanks for the post and request. I see your point but their are many many other issues to consider. 1) Please consult http://66.33.83.213/forums/misc.php?...&page=1#avatar which has exstensive help and links which might help you. 2) This is a Webmaster centric Community and so we need to keep things consistent with our focus which is quality discussions and not a bunch of distracting pictures under your name. Don't get me wrong, I love them and bigger ones for other types of Communities are neat and appropriate. The Webmaster centric Communities that I studied had very very few animated Avitars in use. You can still animate but need to tone it down. See member MattC who has one. 3) Lot's of folks are on a dial up connection so bigger Avatars will slow the thread display for them 4) Avatars are stored inside the MySQL datatbase and consume bandwidth. It's far to early for me to measure this but this can be a huge hit which costs money. 5) We already have a fairly large selection of smiles which you can add to your sig and thus they appear in every post you make if the sig check box is enabled. This permits you to express yourself. I'm happyy to add more subject to the following conditions: 1.4 K Max file size Public Domain and not (C) Suitable for a Mainstream Webmaster Community and suitable to our unique mission. Conclusion: No changes in our limits. I will be happy to re-visit the issue in 3 months. HTH and thanks for the post

07-21-2001, 01:25 PM	#5
LastActionHero Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 615	Thank you for your comments Steve. I will retain my current Avatar. suresk: I tried reducing the image using photoshop. I finally managed to reduce it to 15 colours to keep it within limits. But the quality was not good.

07-21-2001, 01:37 PM	#6
Steve_S Join Date: Aug 1998 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Posts: 5,223	You need to use "flat colors" aka solid tones. Avoid graduations and use only a small number of flat colors. Look at this members very nice animated one: http://66.33.83.213/forums/member.ph...fo&userid=2584 Have you consulted our exstensive and enhanced FAQ documents on this issue? good luck

07-21-2001, 02:01 PM	#7
LastActionHero Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 615	I was actually thinking of this avatar which I use at freewebspace.net. But since it isn't related to any webmaster issue I won't use it. I will continue using my current avatar until I come up with some other idea. I read the FAQ after reading your post Steve. I hope to read your comments about my proposed avatar.

07-21-2001, 02:26 PM	#8
Steve_S Join Date: Aug 1998 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Posts: 5,223	note my own 2.2K loops 10 times and then stops

07-21-2001, 08:50 PM	#9
demae Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 1,291	I personally don't like animated avatars, because the motion is disturbing when I'm trying to read a post. But that's the nice thing about vBulletin: I can just set "Show user's avatar in their posts?" to no and I won't be bothered by it.

07-22-2001, 12:51 AM	#10
jemma Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: New York City: From Ground Zero to Ground of Heroes Posts: 87	LastActionHero wrote:I was actually thinking of this avatar which I use at freewebspace.net Hi, I took a look, and that animated GIF is around 5K, has 32 colors, a transparent background, and 10 frames. Dropping a photo-realistic GIF down to 16 colors doesn't work well (as you already discovered). You can shrink the size below 3K by dropping some frames. It will affect the action some, but you can minimize that when choosing which of the frames you want to drop. Also, if you change the transparent background to a solid color, you might be able to optimize the GIF to an even smaller file size. Using a GIF animation program is the easiest way to make these changes. If you don't have one, most companies offer time-limited free trial downloads - so if all you want to do is fix up your avatars, you can do it and not pay anything. Jemma