WebImage: Images on Web Pages

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Q: Why is it a graphic will sometimes look fine in WebImage, but look bad when I load it into Netscape?
A: Netscape uses a predefined palette to display all paletted images, rather than using the palette provided with the image. This means that the colors will generally not match and dithering has to be done. In some images this can be drastic. WebImage v2 has a powerful color reduction/dithering algorithm that can dither using the Netscape palette. Under Optimize Palette, select Netscape as the Palette Definition. You can see the difference by using the Preview button and selecting both Netscape and 256 Colors.

Q: Can I dither a bunch of images to a single palette.
A: You can do this if the palette is stored as a standard Microsoft Palette file. Under Optimize Palette, you can select External Palette as the Palette Definition. Then use the Browse button to locate you palette. You can then use the Preview button to see how it looks, or just press OK.

Q: How can I make those images that start off in my browser sort of blurry, but fill in a little at a time?
A: This is called interlaced or progressive display. Only certain file types support this option (PNG, GIF and JPEG). It can be turned on in the Save Options Dialog by checking Progressive Display. Progressive JPEGs are not supported in WebImage 1.72.

Q: Why is it whenever I save an image as interlaced/progressive, it keeps coming up normal?
Q: How can I create interlaced/progressive images?
A: Only certain file types support interlaced or progressive images (PNG, GIF and JPEG). This option can be turned on in the Save Options Dialog by checking Progressive Display. Progressive JPEGs are not supported in WebImage 1.72.

Q: How can I reduce the size of my image files?
A: The most important factor in reducing the size of an image file is color content. One way to quickly reduce the size of a GIF file is to reload and resave the file, enabling WebImage's auto-detection of colors which loads the file in the appropriate bit depth. For example, a 30 color GIF file will most likely have been saved as an 8-bit (256 colors) file by another product. By reloading and saving, the auto-detect feature will save the image as a 5-bit (32 colors) file, effectively reducing its size. The content of the image is another consideration. Images with a wide array of colors do not compress as well as images with large areas of a single color. When color reducing an image, evaluate the difference between the matched and dithered methods, as dithered files do not compress well. Also consider using the JPEG format for 24-bit images, carefully evaluating the size versus quality issue. Additionally, you need to consider the image's actual size. You can trim the edges from an image or even resize it. A reduction in image's actual size will also reduce the file size, although because of compression, the reduction may not be quite proportional.

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