Making an image smaller (in KB)

[MikeCouves]

I am using Photoshop and wondering how all your pro's make your images so small in size? The hampster pic in my sig is only small, but other images just as big or bigger are 1/3 the size. Do I lower the resolution? Should I convert to JPEG? If so, how do I do that with Photoshop? Thanks alot.

[Patron God of Pirates]

[Image]
[image size]

[MikeCouves]

Yeah I know about that, that's where I made the pic smaller (I am new to Photoshop). But what is bigger, JPEG or GIF, or are they the same?

[Patron God of Pirates]

The image size (as far as the web is concerned) is determined by its pixel dimensions. This is true regardless of image format.

Unless you are asking about size in terms of bytes?

[MikeCouves]

Yes, bytes. Sorry if I didn't make that clear enough.

[Patron God of Pirates]

All things being equal, GIFs are generally smaller files.

There are a number of file save settings that effect file size (i.e. "Quality", # of colors, Web Snap, etc.).

As a JPEG your hampster is 22 k

As a GIF it is only 11 k

[Patron God of Pirates]

Here he is as an 11 k GIF

[Patron God of Pirates]

And here is the little fellow as a GIF with Web Snap set to 100%. A mere 5.1 k

[MikeCouves]

I see, the colors look a tad different in the second one, but cut the image byte size in half. Where do you change the colors/Web Snap? Another thing how do you make part of an image transparent so the background matches that of the site.

[Patron God of Pirates]

The easiest way to do it is:

[File]
[Save for Web]

The next screen will give you all the options you need.