Image resolution

[Ben@WEBProp]

I used a report from a web page analyzer and noticed that my images were the biggest items on each page, which is understandable. However, I was wondering if i could lower the image size as much as possible. As far as formats, i have chosen the correct ones through photoshop to minimize file size while maximizing a good look. All of my images are currently at 72 pixels per inch, and I was wondering if this was standard or too big/small. What pixel per inch amount do you use for your images? Thanks
-Ben

[Antoniohawk]

72 is my default in Photoshop, and what I use on everything that I do. That's not to say that I do a lot in Photoshop though. :)

[mindlessLemming]

72ppi is correct. Even though most OS's run at 96ppi now, the standard is still 72 for compatibility reasons.
:)
(pixels per inch-ppi for screen; dots per inch-dpi for print ;))

[bradyj]

Correct!:)

72dpi is the standard for all screen graphics -- whether TV or your computer. Anything larger will just show as a larger graphic (with exception to the 96 that mindlessLemming brought up), anything smaller, will show smaller... You should only go larger for print (which is a simple math equation to figure out), and you really shouldn't go smaller for anything. You're doing it ok.

Maybe you just need to do smaller compression? I have found lately that Fireworks seems to compress much better than photoshop. I love photoshop, and will always continue to use it. But for some files, I've brought it in to Fireworks just to export it quickly at a smaller size.

Maybe a jpeg instead of a gif? A png instead of a gif? You're just going to have to try playing with it a bit.

How big did it say the file was?

[Ben@WEBProp]

Well, at least I have the ppi correct. I remember at one point messing with file formats and trying to optimize from there, but maybe I will make a quick run through with all my pics again to see if I cant lower the file size.

BradyJ-The page that I am most concerned about is a property portfolio page that has several small 140px X 105px gifs. The total weight of the images on the page is 107788 bytes, so I was hoping to lower that if possible. However, the total weight of the page is 141513 bytes, so I need to get that down as well. I know that several things will be in the users chache after the home page, so things like my style sheet (8342 bytes, which i also need to dumb-down), external .js sheets for my nav bar(20722 bytes, probably not able to shrink that too much more), and this one universal banner image that I need to revamp desperatly because it looks like crap (32162 bytes). If you have any tips on how to lower the filesize of the items in question, or any other tips to lower the overall size of things on this page, let me know.
Thanks!

-Ben

[mindlessLemming]

property portfolio page that has several small 140px X 105px gifs.

If those are property photos, jpg's your choice.

[bradyj]

Yeah, I would try jpg as well --
But the only way we can lower your html size/css size is if you post up a link (maybe in the CSS/HTML forum?) and we can try and figure out if there's some stuff we can take out or simplify. But, as with all graphically intense websites, there ain't much you can do. I'm doing a real estate site now, and this will most likely be an issue with me -- but there's only so far you can go. The only solution if you have too many images, is to break them up into more pages so it's a quicker download.

[IBM]

I agree, if the image is large I break them into equal parts, most often 2-3 parts..but no more. Just my preference.

As well, photoshop does tend to suck with compression..it has to be said :P.

Some tips for compressing images:

If it's a gif format you can further compress by removing unneeded legalities from the file. There is a free program that will remove stuff like copyright, and royalty from the image. Now that Gif no longer has a copyright on it you can feel free to remove the hidden texts.
Sorry though, I can't remember the program name or it's location.

Jpegs can further be compressed, and quite nicely, by using jpg wizards jpeg compression. Do a search for pegasus jpeg compression, they have an online demo tool. It let's you do about 2 image before it cuts you off with an error..
They do have a version that can be purcahsed..it's worth it imo.
http://www.jpegwizard.com/

PNG's can be compressed even further with tools like optipng or pngCrush.
Optipng is the easiest to use, and it's said they both give nice results almost equal to eachother. so I'd say use optipng.
http://www.cs.toronto.edu/~cosmin/pngtech/optipng/

I can usually shave off about 2 kb off of each png and jpeg file, which is pretty good.
I don't use Gif's so I can't say how much you can compress them.