Why are avatars so restricted?

boerewors · 15th of July 2012 (Sun)

I uploaded my avatar picture today and damn it was a challenge! First of all the 80x80 pixel limit is too small, it should be atleast 100x100.
The worst thing though is the 8kb limit... Damn it but it was a challenge to get my avatar to 8kb!! I tried jpeg on its minimum setting quality while saving in photoshop and it churned out a 18kb image. I eventually got luck with an indexed coloured 64 colours saved in PNG format, it saved at exactly 8kb. Now i beleive there are many people who wont be able to get their images down to 8kb.
I recommend 100x100px and 30kb limit. This is after all a photography forum so why the heavy limitations?

Pekka · 15th of July 2012 (Sun)

I agree. But for various reasons situation will remain the same until our upcoming custom software takes over by the end of the year. Then uploading Avatars will be joy, you can upload up to 5mb image in various formats and server builds it into a high quality Avatar, 150*150 jpeg.

Mike · 16th of July 2012 (Mon)

Quote:

Originally Posted by boerewors

i beleive there are many people who wont be able to get their images down to 8kb.

Surely on a photography forum digital imaging ought to be something that most users can do...

Mike · 16th of July 2012 (Mon)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pekka

I agree. But for various reasons situation will remain the same until our upcoming custom software takes over by the end of the year. Then uploading Avatars will be joy, you can upload up to 5mb image in various formats and server builds it into a high quality Avatar, 150*150 jpeg.

This sounds great, thanks for all you do

tommykjensen · 16th of July 2012 (Mon)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

Surely on a photography forum digital imaging ought to be something that most users can do...

Well some are beginners and some even experienced users do not know for example that unless you strip exif data you will never get a jpg below 8 kb.

Mike · 16th of July 2012 (Mon)

Perhaps it should be an initiation test...

asysin2leads · 16th of July 2012 (Mon)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

Perhaps it should be an initiation test...

That's what the captcha words are for.

D. Vance · 18th of July 2012 (Wed)

Quote:

Originally Posted by asysin2leads

That's what the captcha words are for.

Am I the only one who has a terrible time with those things?

Thanks for your hard work, Pekka.
Any idea when the new software will be out?
Wonder how long POTN will be down the switch happens....

tommykjensen · 18th of July 2012 (Wed)

Quote:

Originally Posted by D. Vance

Am I the only one who has a terrible time with those things?

Thanks for your hard work, Pekka.
Any idea when the new software will be out?
Wonder how long POTN will be down the switch happens....

See Pekka's response earlier.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pekka

I agree. But for various reasons situation will remain the same until our upcoming custom software takes over by the end of the year. Then uploading Avatars will be joy, you can upload up to 5mb image in various formats and server builds it into a high quality Avatar, 150*150 jpeg.

D. Vance · 18th of July 2012 (Wed)

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommykjensen

See Pekka's response earlier.

Maybe I should learn to read first!

Can't wait to see it!

MDJAK · 19th of July 2012 (Thu)

Well, a couple of mods and Pekka himself have attempted to answer the question. However, they are perhaps being politically correct, so let me give the real answer.

Some of our members are perhaps not 10's. Now, I'm only a 9.5 so I'm not one to talk.

But if we allowed large avatars, we might upchuck our breakfast while browsing the forum.

asysin2leads · 19th of July 2012 (Thu)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDJAK

Well, a couple of mods and Pekka himself have attempted to answer the question. However, they are perhaps being politically correct, so let me give the real answer.

Some of our members are perhaps not 10's. Now, I'm only a 9.5 so I'm not one to talk.

But if we allowed large avatars, we might upchuck our breakfast while browsing the forum.

A 9.5. Damn, I'm only a 9.4.

D. Vance · 19th of July 2012 (Thu)

Yeah, if Tommy's avatar gets any bigger, it would scare all the members away! That thing keeps blinking at me; I'd give that a 10 on the "most intimidating avatar' scale.

Quote:

Originally Posted by asysin2leads

A 9.5. Damn, I'm only a 9.4.

And I'm a 9.45; where do I fit in?

15th of July 2012 (Sun)	#1
boerewors Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: South African living in Indonesia Posts: 1,598 IMAGE EDITING OK	Why are avatars so restricted? I uploaded my avatar picture today and damn it was a challenge! First of all the 80x80 pixel limit is too small, it should be atleast 100x100. The worst thing though is the 8kb limit... Damn it but it was a challenge to get my avatar to 8kb!! I tried jpeg on its minimum setting quality while saving in photoshop and it churned out a 18kb image. I eventually got luck with an indexed coloured 64 colours saved in PNG format, it saved at exactly 8kb. Now i beleive there are many people who wont be able to get their images down to 8kb. I recommend 100x100px and 30kb limit. This is after all a photography forum so why the heavy limitations? __________________ The most important piece of gear you own, resides in your head and its called your brain.

15th of July 2012 (Sun)	#2
Pekka El General Moderator Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Hellsinki, Finland Posts: 14,075 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Why are avatars so restricted? I agree. But for various reasons situation will remain the same until our upcoming custom software takes over by the end of the year. Then uploading Avatars will be joy, you can upload up to 5mb image in various formats and server builds it into a high quality Avatar, 150150 jpeg. __________________ This signature signifies my significance significantly* Photo Gallery ----------------------------

16th of July 2012 (Mon)	#6
Mike ugly when I'm sober Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sandwich UK...the place, not the food! Posts: 14,913 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Why are avatars so restricted? Perhaps it should be an initiation test... __________________ www.mikegreenphotography.co.uk Gear UK South Easterners flickr Blog 5∞px Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? ::: A closed mouth gathers no foot.

19th of July 2012 (Thu)	#11
MDJAK ...the definition of a noob Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York Posts: 22,223 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Why are avatars so restricted? Well, a couple of mods and Pekka himself have attempted to answer the question. However, they are perhaps being politically correct, so let me give the real answer. Some of our members are perhaps not 10's. Now, I'm only a 9.5 so I'm not one to talk. But if we allowed large avatars, we might upchuck our breakfast while browsing the forum.

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