Making Wallpapers
Has anyone done this before? Any tips? Do you normally design at the largest size you plan on offering and then scale down? What's the best way to offer for download - in a zip file or just right click-save image as? Anything else to keep in mind?
mairving posted this at 22:26 — 23rd July 2001.
They have: 2,256 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
It would be best to put them in a zip file. If you use the save image as, people will instead select Set as Wallpaper. If enough people do this, you can have a bandwidth problem with your server.
Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states
Adam Oberdorfer posted this at 00:35 — 24th July 2001.
They have: 383 posts
Joined: Sep 2000
Design them for a few different resolutions.
It's really frustrating to find good quality backgrounds for larger resolutions. I usually have to center ones I download and use a colored border. Which doesn't look as good.
Megan posted this at 01:48 — 24th July 2001.
She has: 11,421 posts
Joined: Jun 1999
I have almost no visitors above 1024 so that's as high as I'm going to go. I would do that if my audience demanded.
subBlue posted this at 07:26 — 24th July 2001.
They have: 7 posts
Joined: Jul 2001
I always design my wallpapers for 1280x1024 (sometimes even 1600x1280). I then scale them down to the according resolutions and sometimes slightly enlarge any text for the smaller resolutions. I then save then as 70% quality JPEGS.
One thing i also do is apply a subtle sharpening (unsharp mask in photoshop) for the smaller resolutions to regain some of the details lost in the downsize.
I also have the desktop images open in a new window so the user can see them first in their full glory and can then simply right-click and save as background. The max file size for the 1600x1280 resolution images is around 180Kb down to about 90Kb for the 1024x768.
Tom
subBlue design
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