We often hear people complain that it takes too long to download pictures off the net. The real problem stems from how the file was sized and what format was used to save the file (picture). I have been told some people just scan a picture and then send it. Or they open a picture from their digitial camera and then send it. Most of these picture files need to be made Web ready before being sent. The following will help you get started.

Scanning pictures

Did you know that the screen on most PC monitors runs at 92 DPI and the MAC at 76 DPI? Thus sending a file with a resolution greater then 92 DPI is a waste of time. Most scanners let you select or set the DPI at which you want it to scan. Personally, I scan at 200 DPI because I want to have a bigger file so that I can use Photoshop and to make any corrections to the file and sharpen it if necessary. If you don't plan on making any corrections then scan at 92 DPI.

Once I've done my corrections, I use photoshop to set the maximun dimension too 6" (inches) and the DPI at 92. The computer then resizes the image to a size that works on the web. This will give you a file of around 700K in size which is still much too large to send easily. Again use Photoshop or a similar program too save the file as a JPG format. Photoshop and some other programs also let you set the level of compression. This I set at 6 (six). This gives me a file of around 60K to send. A file this size will transmit in a few seconds . The newer browsers all open JPG's, as do most paint or editing programs. You can also use a JPG image in a handout since most word processing programs will also open JPG's .

If your browser is over a year old, try downloading a newer version from the web. You will have the usual startup learning curve but you will now be able to send and receive attached pictures with ease.

Digitial Cameras

Most digital cameras save pictures in a compressed format which is most often a JPG file. Copy the file to your hard drive in a folder you've set up for photos and then use Explorer or My Computer to check to see the actual compressed file size. If the file size is around 100K or less and in a JPG format then you can simply attach it and send it as is. If you open it for any reason, then be sure to save it as a JPG and if possible set the compression level to 6 or less.

Cropping

Most picture editing programs have a crop feature. This allows you to select just the part of the picture that you really want to send and not waste download time sending unwanted background that surrounds the real subject. The trick is to send as little as possible and have it sized so it looks good on the screen of the receiver.

Summary:

If your current software doesn't let you open, crop, and save pictures as JPG, then you should invest in a picture editing program that allows you to perform these functions. No one likes to sit and watch a file download.