Answer: Selecting the Image Resize tool when ordering will allow you to change and optimise your graphics conveniently online within wordserver. If you have access to image manipulation software such as Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Paint Shop Pro or similar you can perform this task before uploading your images to wordserver (recommended). This latter option may also significantly decrease the upload time.
The design templates each contain graphics that are marked with the dimensions to help you prepare your images before uploading. If they are correctly sized and optimised before you upload them, they will appear perfectly when you insert them into the relevant place on your pages.
Tutorial:
Optimising graphics in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements
Photoshop (around £540 inc. VAT) is a high-level graphics tool widely used by design professionals. As the name suggestes Photoshop Elements (from around £60 inc. VAT as a download) is a simplified version of Photoshop with some additional features geared towadrs the digital photography market. Both products have similar interfaces. You can download a 30-day tryout version of either title on the Adobe website:
Photoshop CS2 Windows version (329 Mb) [ + ]
Photoshop Elements 3.0 Windows version (239 Mb) [ + ]
Note: These are very large downloads and are not suitable for those with dial-up connections.
To resize your image, first select your image and note the dimensions required for your web version, given in pixels on your wordserver template. Then select Image Size from the Image drop-down menu.
Photoshop: Image > Image Size
Photoshop Elelments: Image > Resize > Image Size
Type in the number of pixels in the 'Pixel Dimensions' Width box and tick the 'Constrain Proportions' check box to automatically change the Height and ensure your image does not change shape and distort. Click OK.
Tip. Attempting to increase the size of an image will usually give poor quality results. Try to use this process to scale downwards only.
To optimise your image for the web, click Save for Web in the File drop-down menu:
Photoshop and Photoshop Elements: File > Save for Web
A new window will appear. In Photoshop there are four tabs at the top – click '2-Up' and two copies of your graphic will appear. In Photoshop Elements the two copies (showing the original quality image and your current graphic for comparison) are automatically shown.
Now you can select your Settings.
Tip. When you get used to the interface, you can utilise your settings to perfect your web optimised graphics. Then in Photoshop you may wish to select 4-up to compare the results of different settings.
If you have a photograph, choose JPEG (in earlier copies of Photoshop ensure 'Optimised' is checked). Then you can select Low, Medium, High and Maximum quality settings (or the percent scale). When changing these, compare your image to the original shown and choose the best balance between visual quality and file size (shown under the image). In Photoshop Elements and Photoshop CS, you can optimise your graphic to a specific file size.
(The other setting are not crucial at these stage, but Check Progressive and uncheck ICC Profile, while setting blur to '0' and Matte at 'None'.)
If you have another type of graphic with more white space or a solid block of colour, try the GIF option. The number of colours you select will have the most impact on file size and quality. Experiment with other settings to get the perfect balance for your graphic, or optimise your graphic to a set file size.
Once you are happy, click OK. You are then ready to select your file name and save to a folder on your computer. Try to choose file names that are descriptive and include one or more of your keywords, but make sure names are not too long. Use an underscore to separate words.
Your image is now ready to upload to wordserver 2.0 using the upload facility in the administration.
This tutorial is provided as a guide and is based on useage of Photoshop 6.0 and Photoshop Elements 3.0 tryout. Variations of the interface may occur between versions of each product. Any errors or omissions are accidental.
Back to FAQ home page 
