Loading graphics on webpage.

[edro]

If a website has an elaborate graphic on the page, I have noticed that a lot of people will "cut up" the picture into many small pictures that after are fully loaded, make up one large image.

Is it better to do this? If my image is like 100kb and 500x500 pixels, should I cut it into 4 pieces....making it 4 images that are 25kb and 250x250 pixels? Does it load faster, or give the impression that it loads faster?

(the above examples are just hypothetical)

 

[Beau]

by chopping it up, you can optimize the way the computer compresses the images, whether JPG or GIF color selection, and it can improve image quality.

 

[Paulson]

That and it makes it more difficult to steal the images (for people that are fairly clueless)

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: Paulson
That and it makes it more difficult to steal the images (for people that are fairly clueless)

Hmm..... that makes sense.

 

[edro]

Ok, here is another question.... What is an easy way to "cut up" an existing image? (How in Photoshop, Paint Shop, Corel, or anything else)

Nevermind.... just found out that you can specify the exact size of your Selection Marquee Tool.

 

[heartsurgeon]

are you optimizing the compression of your images - this is the most effective way to reduce download times for images