Optimizing images for web

which softwares

[fashezee]

Which softwares are being used in the industry to optimize graphics for the web?

Does anyone use debablizer to optimize images? Also, how does it compare to the
save for web options in photoshop?

Is there a significant advatange one software has in optimizing images for the
web? If so, what is it?

[tedster]

Photoshop's bundled companion, ImageReady, is pretty standard ... and it does a sweet job. Each version is improving more and more. Another commonly used program is Macromedia's Fireworks. It seems to do a better job than Adobe for PNG format - at least on my version.

I haven't used Debabelizer for a couple years - I think it's value was a lot greater when lots of people were running at 256 colors and lower. It has some great compression algorithms, but Photoshop and Fireworks caught up to it.

[JayCee]

Hi Tedster,

Is the compression in Image Ready really different than that in Photoshop itself? I'm still on Photoshop 6, Image Ready 3. Maybe they changed in version 7?

I agree that png compression doesn't seem to do very well in Photoshop, but I love their jpg compression and gif controls.

[Dante_Maure]

The following thread has lots of recommendations and insights into the subject.Best Image Optimizer [webmasterworld.com]

[tedster]

Is the compression in Image Ready really different than that in Photoshop itself?

Yes, it is. The jpg algorithms are excellent at reducing visible artifacts that tend to crop up near strong border areas, even at relatively high compression rates. You can also weight jpeg compression to be higher in some areas of the image and lower in others.

ImageReady also offers "lossy" gif compression - no where in Photoshop can you get that. Also with gifs, controlling the color palette is a lot easier, although you can also do this in Photoshop proper.

Many options for all the file formats are right there close at hand. You can quickly try and compare various approaches. If you just stay in Photoshop proper, you need to first save an image, and then open it to see the results. In ImageReady you get a very accurate preview and make your decisions on the fly, including what format works best. I often get surprised, for instance, by getting better results for a photo with GIF, or better results for line art using JPG.

[JayCee]

Cool!, I'll try Image Ready for all compression, instead of only for image slicing.

Yes, for important images, I always try gif, jpg and even png. It doesn't take much longer to try them and be sure, and I too have often been surprised by an 'obvious jpg candidate' actually looking better, at a smaller file size, in gif format, or vice versa.

[Jon_King]

I have found the exact same thing regarding the "rules" for line art/ flat color to be optimized as gif and jpeg for full range photos. Either one can do a better job at certain times, and I can't seem to figure out what those certain times are.

[JayCee]

Hey Tedster,

Had reason to do a jpg compression of a large image last night in PS 6. Needed 20% quality, to get to a small enough file size. So, as an experiment, I did 20% jpg in both PS 6 and IR 3. Then I opened the jpgs in PS 6, zoomed to 300% and compared them. They both had lots of artifacts, of course. Far as I could tell, they were identical. The compression and artifacts seemed exactly the same in both products.

Maybe the compressors are only different in PS 7?

[GilbertZ]

Any seos doing webpages geared toward webmasters? Looks like an article showing a test and roundup of results using the different tools would be well received by webmasters.