Optimize graphics: improve online image viewing
Article Abstract:
The graphic elements of a web site are key to getting people's attention, but they also add to download times and can cause impatient site visitors to bale. The GIF format is most useful when images have a great deal of single color information because of the way it compresses data, but the amount of dithering applied to GIF files should be limited. The JPEG format is most useful for photographs, but the sharpening applied to images should be limited to keep file sizes low. Progressive JPEGs are similar to the more popular progressive GIFs that sharpen as they download, but they may not work with older browsers. The Portable Network Graphic (PNG) format uses lossless compression instead of the lossy compression of GIF and JPEG files, which means none of the image information is lost, but widespread support for the format is not expected until the version 5 browsers become available. Slicing web graphics makes them load faster; the process can be done with such programs as MetaCreations' Painter 5.5 Web Edition and Macromedia's Fireworks.
Publication Name: Publish
Subject: Publishing industry
ISSN: 0897-6007
Year: 1999
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Crystal 3D Impact Pro
Article Abstract:
CrystalGraphics' $149 Crystal 3D Impact Pro animation software is an easy-to-use package with an outstanding rendering engine. The product does not come with a manual, but its interface is intuitive and similar to that of other 3D programs, and no manual is needed. Crystal 3D's most impressive capability is a wizard called AutoContent, which guides a user the creation of a scene or an animation. Not only is the wizard easy to use, but the user sees a small preview at every stage of the process. Crystal 3D is also noteworthy for the variety of its convenient features. For example, a user can load a 2D graphic and have the program generate a 3D object from a tracing. Crystal 3D Impact Pro is a sophisticated, easy-to-learn program and is highly recommended.
Publication Name: Publish
Subject: Publishing industry
ISSN: 0897-6007
Year: 1998
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DeBabelizer Pro
Article Abstract:
Equilibrium's $399 deBabelizer Pro for Windows file format conversion software provides a superior set of controls for optimizing palette sets for Web-based images. deBabelizer Pro includes graphic-control features such as rotating, flipping, scaling, dithering, intensity-control and saturation, and color palettes can be remapped, sorted and reduced according to HSB or RGB values. The program also includes superior batch-processing capabilities, allowing programmers to use drag-and-drop techniques for joining scripts, and the ProScripts Wizard guides users through script recording operations. However, deBabelizer Pro's confusing interface necessitates the use of a high-resolution monitor, and the pop-up controls are not consistently easy to use.
Publication Name: Publish
Subject: Publishing industry
ISSN: 0897-6007
Year: 1997
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