Optimizing Images

Optimizing images is an important way to make sure your images load quickly and completely. A slow-loading portfolio will cause employers to think that you didn’t take the time to properly plan.


1. Resize your graphics. Resize all images in your editing program (i.e. Photoshop or Illustrator. There are two main kinds of image forms that you will use, gifs and jpegs. Both of these forms compress your image; the difference between them is how they compress the data. A gif file compression is best to use when you have a large background or area of continuous color. A jpeg file compression will best optimize photographs or images with fine gradations of color.

2. Make all images 72 dpi. You can find the resolution of your image by accessing the image information in your editing program. Any image posted on the web does not need to be any higher than 72 dpi unless you are placing it on the page or server for someone else to download and print it. These images will generally still be compressed, however, if they are in a pdf or other word document file.

3. Create thumbnails images of larger images. Placing thumbnail place-holder images on the main pages of your site will allow the site to load faster. If your user wants to view a larger picture of the image, link your thumbnail image to a larger one.

4. Convert any graphic text to stylized text. This technique optimizes your images allowing the page to load quickly (graphic text is still a graphic, so converting it to a stylized format will flatten and optimize it), and still allows the user to see a larger image if they need more detail.

5. Include any copyright information about the images and content. This might include placing watermarks on your designs and photos or a written copyright notice in the footer of your webpage.

6. Create alt tags for all of your images. When you label each image, choose a concise, descriptive title. These alt tag titles will help both your users and search engines to identify the content.


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