What size to make members area pictures?
 

What size do you find site members like best for the photos which are inside a members area?

I use 1024x768 with a 60% jpeg compression. The pics come out clean and large for the surfer and lightweight for me :)

That's actually pretty good advice

that's what I do but I go 70%

ours are 1000x1500 78%

What file size will that be? You dont want it too large.

depends on the pic blank background like 100kb up to 300-350kb for things like detailed pics in a forest or so

http://www.dutchteengalleries.com/po...1227_dta_4.jpg

thats 1000x1500 72dpi 78% 150kb approx

We do slightly higher compression, and offer a smaller version (typically about 800x600 (or smaller depending on the site) for our dialup people).

used to do that too takes up a lotta space though on the server less then 5% clicked them so i decided to remove them and just get better quality vids etc

dig the spyker on your site :)

It all depends on your software. I have seen perfect 60% jpgs come out of photoshop and very poor 60% coming out of other programs.

These numbers are not carved in stone but they work well. A little trial and error will help you get the right compression setting.

These are paying members.

They signed up for a reason.

And bandwidth is dirt cheap, its 2005.

Ok I disagree with some people here.
I honestly feel that most people are using a screen resolution of 800x600, so why give them a super huge picture? It's not fun to scroll while you jerk. :)
My pictures are cropped to where the longest side is 700pixels. But they are cropped so the model is taking up the entire space of the picture. Less background makes for bigger looking pictures, but not actually too big that they have to scroll much to view it.
The file sizes range from 80k-175k depending on the picture.

I agree, no one is using them for wallpapers, why make them that size?

Our standard is 1024x768. Nothing 'dates' a site more than small pics. Consumers are switching to larger screen sizes; most still do use a resolution of 800x600 but why not plan for a future of larger screen resolutions.

True, some will eventually move up to a higher screen resolution, but there will always be those who don't. You need to build the site around those people.
It's the same as when I was discussing site building to a friend of mine. You need to set the site up for 800x600. Cuz if you set it up for 1024x768 or whatever....the other people will have to scroll sideways. You need to do something that will please everybody.
And I feel that as long as you crop the picture super tight into the "action," no one is going to complain because it looks bigger. No useless background crap.

:thumbsup

Thanks!
I think I'm starting to gain a little respect around here! lol

When we increased from 800 on the longest side to 1024 2 years ago retention went up and we received allot of emails from members who appreciated the increase in size.

Yup. You'll get people emailing and thanking you for increasing the size.
But I must say, with all my advice, I'm a girl in a smaller niche than most here are. But I think my advice is still pretty good...if I do say so myself. lol

I agree Mandy.

Agreed, get cheap with your free sites, give the members all you can to keep them.

This option is enabled by default with IE6 and Firefox:

"Enable Automatic Image Resizing"

So if they have 800x600 and trying to view a 90000x90000 resolution image, it'll automatically resize.

640 by 480 is a great size

if its for pay a little bigger. there are still toolios on 800 by 600 resolution

Most tgp's require larger pics then that on free galleries.

Mandy I appreciate your opinion and like Mr Drummond says "what might be right for you might not be right for some" All I can go by is our stats and what members say. I would say for every email we received saying the pics are to big we got 10 thank you's. Considering people are more likely to complain then compliment that speaks volumes.

Most of the stuff we do here is 800 max width or heigh and about 120kb each. This size works for us and we don't have complaints about it. 1500 pixels wide means people have to scroll which I think sucks for pics..they don't need them for anything so no point going bigger. IMO :thumbsup

Helpful info! Any more suggestions?

I Think 1024x768 with a 70% jpeg compression is more then good :thumbsup

Good number but I do anywhere from 65 to 70 percent

We run 800 on the long side, for modem surfers, 1200 on the long side as a "High Quality" option.