Help on Images/Signatures

[[Titan]]

hehe, this was IMO the most usefull thread I've ever made, so I'm reviving it. Guess we won't really need it until we get new newbies to bash : p

This thread is made to give you basic information on images and signature, as wel as image hosting. If you have any basic questions regarding images and signatures, this is the place to ask it. Don't ask questions regarding photoshop or any other advanced graphics program in this thread, I suggest we make a seperate thread for that.

Topics
My picture won't show! (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=93&postcount=2)
Where can I find free webspace for my pics? (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=95&postcount=3)
Which image type should I use? (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=95&postcount=4)


Some general info/tips regarding signatures:
Signature Images
Putting images in your signature is allowed. However the following limitations apply:

- Maximum imagewidth 500 pixels for all images combined.
- Maximum imageheight 60 pixels (with maximum 2 lines of text in your signature) or 80 pixels (without any additional text in your signature) for all images combined.
- Maximum filesize of 50000 bytes for all images combined.
- Any annoying signature images (either because of animations or content) may be removed at the sole discretion of the administrator or moderators.

The signature rules above are loosly enforced. Basically this rule will give us the right to remove any image we deem inappropiate either because of size or content.
For as far as I know, there is not a concrete policy on how these rules are enforced, but the following seems to apply:
-signatures with large animated gif's (and with large I mean filesize, like those 300 KB ones) will not live long.
-signatures of 640 pixels wide and 160 pixels high seem to be OK, as long as the filesize is below 30 KB.
-breaking two out of three rules (width, height, size) seems to be okay, as long as it does not become annoying.
-the filesize rule is enforced the most.
-mods will remove any signature they think is inapropriate, without prior notice.

[[Titan]]

My picture won't show!
two main reasons why pictures won't show:
1. The image is on your hd, not on a website or server. In that case, the url would look like this: file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Your%20Name/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/picture.jpg"
This does not work. You'll be able to view the file, since the url points to a file on your harddrive, but the rest of us won't be able to see it, because we DON'T have that file on our hd.
Solution: find some webspace and put it there.

2. No Remote linking allowed
This is the most common one, in this case, the image IS online, but the server it's on doesn't allow the picture to be accessed from anywhere else than that server. Which means it won't show up on this forum. Chances are that you WILL see it, probably because it's still in your cache (temporary internet files), but the rest of us will only see that little red cross.
Solution: You'll need a host that allows remote linking.

3. You messed the tags up
The only way to use the IMG tags is like this:
http://www.myhost.com/myfolder/myimage.jpg (without the space in the first tag of course)
Solution: Write it properly ^^

4. You used a wrong image type
the only image types allowed are .jpg, .jpeg, .gif and .png
Image URLs with .asp or .php in it don't work.
.bmp does not work

[[Titan]]

Where can I find free webspace for my pics?
Below is a list of free hosts which allow remote linking, I personally prefer http://www.uploadit.org since it's extremely easy to use and you won't have to create an account in order to use it. If you know more hosts, please tell, I'll add them to the list.

Hosts
http://www.uploadit.org
http://www.freehost.com
http://www.imagemagician.com/
http://www.villagephotos.com/
http://www.boomspeed.com/
http://www.hostmysig.com/
http://www.strike9.com
http://www.free-host.com
http://www.iownjoo.com


Edit by Moderator: It's been a long time since this thread was made, so I'd like to add http://www.imagehost.org/ to this list. It is at least as easy to use as any other on that list. I use it all the time. Since the host is created and administered by GHDpro, there's a good chance that it will last as long as AnimeSuki does.

[[Titan]]

Which image type should I use?
Depends on what you want. There are a couple of image types available:

.jpg
The most commonly used one, has perfect compression, great for the web.
advantages: Good compression, small filesize
disadvantages: Lossy compression, the more you compress the file, the worse it looks.

.gif
Mainly used for small animated images.
advantages: Animation is possible, lossless compression
disadvantages: only 256 colours, not suited for large or colorful images

.png
Fairly new image type, not used very often.
advantages: has alpha channel, lossless compression
disadvantages: a bit unkown, files tend to be large

[jamuraa]

I would like to note that if you're going to use a .png in your signature, don't use alpha channels and expect it to show up in IE correctly. The whole picture, in my experience, shows up as a black box.

[@Naruto@]

Just a question.
How big are the sigs supposed to be?
How many pixels?
I totally forgot since they didn't mention it in the f.a.q. page, and I don't remember it from the old forums. Was it like 200pix by 400pix or something like that.

[Timo]

@Naruto@, Read the first post. >_<
Signature Images
Putting images in your signature is allowed. However the following limitations apply:

- Maximum imagewidth 500 pixels for all images combined.
- Maximum imageheight 60 pixels (with maximum 2 lines of text in your signature) or 80 pixels (without any additional text in your signature) for all images combined.
- Maximum filesize of 50000 bytes for all images combined.
- Any annoying signature images (either because of animations or content) may be removed at the sole discretion of the administrator or moderators.

The signature rules above are loosly enforced. Basically this rule will give us the right to remove any image we deem inappropiate either because of size or content.

[@Naruto@]

Thanks Timo,
I can't believe I missed that and I read over everything too. I feel so stupid right now. :stupid:
Thanks for letting me know. :D

[-|(aGe-BuNsHiN-]

Is there anyway to upload the signatures from your computer without depending on a hosting site?

[Superchop]

In a way you can...but you'll be the only one able to see it...cause the file path will only point to the file in your hd not ours...so all we'll see is the infamous red x...

Edit: Oops...i guess you can't...i just tried it myself and it didn't do what i thought it would...

[Forse]

Is there anyway to upload the signatures from your computer without depending on a hosting site?

Well kinda, you can run apache yourself on workstation and host sig there. That means the minute u shutdown your computer we'll see red x :innocent:

[Rhia]

How do i actually put the picture in the singnature...?

[xris]

How do i actually put the picture in the singnature...?

Well, reading this thread would be a start....

Then you click on the user cp button found at the top of the page and then click on the signature link. In the big text box you enter something like this

http://www.myhost.com/myfolder/myimage.jpg

That should give you enough info. But you do need a site where you can host your sig image (you cannot download it from your HD like you can with your av).

If you're not sure of these URL type thingies, come back and ask for more details. But one question, do you have access to a web site you can download to?

[Muraki]

Exactly how big can it be before u go insane xris? as in file size...and yes I have read the rules ~_~;;

And does using a .psd file effect nething/allowed...the colors go all screwy when I change it to .gif o.O and i tend to forget to save the .psd which causes some grief ...

[Shii]

And does using a .psd file effect nething/allowed...the colors go all screwy when I change it to .gif o.O and i tend to forget to save the .psd which causes some grief ...
GIF only supports ugly 256-colors. You should never use GIF, except when you're making an animated picture.

Save it as a PNG or JPG.

[mxg]

I need a program that can convert JPEGs and most dominant Photoshop formats to vectors or line art. I was told once before I can use FLASH to do this but I do not know how.

Thanks

[DjShine]

Can ne one help me out n tutor me on how to make a signature on Photoshop 7?