Scale Soaring UK

A request. Not sure of the correct place to post this as there isnt a place where i can post suggestions to improve forum use.
Ive tried to post pictures but the size is limited to 400Kb. IMO this is way to small for modern cameras and SSUK is the only social media space where there is such a limitation. Even after a reduction to 1600 from say 4000 pixels camera files are rarely under 400kb. I know there is a compromise between space on servers and file sizes etc but cant this be done in other ways, even a doubling to say 800kb would allow 1600 pixel pics, rahter than the current size which seems to be about 1000 pixels or less. Cheers, Jimbo.

I tried to get photos to load that were under the 400kb size limit but they were denied. It wasn't until they were about 200 kb that they posted.
Stu

These are reduced to fit, very small file sizes, and they produce a good picture. It took seconds to reduce the file size, so what is the problem.

Most modern cameras produce ridiculously large file sizes that are of little use in normal life. We have to pay for the storage space that we have, so take a few seconds to reduce you file sizes to fit.

Thank you for your understanding...

BC

We should count ourselves lucky...If you want to post on Retroplane, the size limit is 500 pixels and 80Kbs. You still end up with a half decent view-able picture that takes up hardly any server space at all...

In hope of drawing a line under this topic (once again) it really does need to be understood there is a requirement to limit the size of attachments stored on our server or we will run out of space (again) and be asked for yet more money.

There is ample free software out there that is not difficult to use that will reduce both the physical dimensions (pixels)
of the image (1350 x 900 whichever is the larger) but more importantly, the file size.

I have already upped it from 300 to 400Kb which, as already stated above, is more than adequate for a decent image.

I spend a lot time clearing out any unnecessary dross from the database trying to keep it as lean as possible to conserve space so, apologies to all for any inconvenience but regrettably, 400Kb it has to stay.

I use PhoXo

Open photo
Press F2
type 1000 in the top box
Hit return
Save or save as.

Simples....

BC

Barry_Cole wrote:These are reduced to fit, very small file sizes, and they produce a good picture. It took seconds to reduce the file size, so what is the problem.


BC

the problem is it's a pita! I usually take about 2 or three tries to get the right size, each time having to post, edit, upload, delete, repost , re upload, even when get size to 397kb it often gets rejected. Isn't a background process that could take the file and edit it to your required size then delete the original? Most other systems must do this.

jimbo wrote:

Barry_Cole wrote:These are reduced to fit, very small file sizes, and they produce a good picture. It took seconds to reduce the file size, so what is the problem.


BC

the problem is it's a pita! I usually take about 2 or three tries to get the right size, each time having to post, edit, upload, delete, repost , re upload, even when get size to 397kb it often gets rejected. Isn't a background process that could take the file and edit it to your required size then delete the original? Most other systems must do this.

Jim,
If you follow the info on the last post, it works first time, every time.

BC

What is photo X?

Phoxo is a free downlod photo editor...

Bc

Barry_Cole wrote:Phoxo is a free downlod photo editor...

Bc

What about getting the forum to resize the photos automatically after you upload? Must be some php extension that could do that somewhere on the web for you.

Jimbo,

The forum automatically resizes any image to 1350 x 900 px (if larger than that) up-loaded as an extension already but it does not reduce the file size.

The only PHP extension currently available also only does this as file size reduction needs to be handled by dedicated image editing software such as has been mentioned already. The extension mentioned above was only validated for PhpBB 3.0, not 3.1.10 which our current forum is; and it is no longer supported anyway. That's even before you think about the big move up to 3.2 that I am in the process of gearing up for.

The only effective way of doing this as far as I'm aware is to have a software called ImageMagic installed on our server and at the last count I was informed our hosting company do not support it under our current contract - nor do I wish to have to start learning the darker secrets of its functionality even if they did. It really is a serious piece of software.

I use Canon software which came with my camera to reduce file size for emailing etc. Seems to work for me and it is painless to operate. I assume similar software must be available for all cameras, phones, tablets etc.. The programme also does loads of other stuff some of which I don't require. It has always enabled me to load pics onto the forum.

Richard.

For those that have Microsoft office, right click on your picture. A dialog box opens and click on OPEN WITH then pick the Microsoft Office picture manager. You photo will open. On the LH top menu click on PICTURE then RESIZE. In the rh side you then have three options to reduce your photo.
use the bottom option (Percentage of orginal-----) set a percentage figure to reduce, you will see below that option Original size and New size
Reduce the percentage figure until the new size figures are below the SSUK maximum.
Then at the LH top pick FILE and SAVE and you are done.

You can do this in bulk.
When you have a picture open click on the little icon in the top LH corner showing 4 pictures. All pictures in your directory will open, Pick them all then reduce file size as above , then top LH FILE , SAVE ALL.
Always correct first time

As a tiny aside to all of this, I have recently discovered an anomaly regarding the posting of jpeg images on the forum.

Some editing software will finalise the file extension as upper case - JPG. For some reason the forum doesn't seem to like this and will often stall the upload so please make sure all jpeg extensions are lower case - jpg.

Just tried your PhoXo Barry, did exactly what you said and this is the result...........good man! Sorry I got that chap in the corner of the frame though!!!!

Just checked the sizes of the above photo, original photo is 7.04 MB and the reduced size is 303KB......as an aside 500KB is equal to one half of a MB.