Image size! Pixels! Resolution! Oh my! Sizing images correctly can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to understanding the vocabulary and translating that information into a meaningful process for editing your images. The most common reason that sellers have trouble uploading photos is that the images are too large. Today I’d like to define some terms that will help you better understand image sizing.
Image size refers to the file size of the saved photograph. In order to be uploaded to your Zibbet shop, photos can’t have a file size larger than 3MB. I recommend that when you’re photographing your items, that you set your camera to take ‘large’ photos. As you edit your photos, they’ll get smaller and consequently the quality will be downgraded. It’s better to start with a larger file that allows room for this downgrading.
Pixels are the tiny dots that combine to create digital images. The word pixel was derived from the phrase ‘picture element’. The dimensions of a photograph can be measured in pixels. The maximum dimensions allowed for item images on Zibbet is 800 pixels wide by 600 pixels high. When printing digital images, it’s useful to know the size of the image in either inches or centimeters. The physical size of the image depends on both the dimensions and the resolution set for the photo.
Resolution refers to the number of pixels present per linear measurement. Resolution is a function of the size of the pixels, which in turn affects the size of the image. For example, if resolution is set at 300 pixels per inch, a photo that measures 1200 pixels wide x 1500 pixels high will be 4? wide x 5? high. If you change the resolution to 150 pixels per inch for the same image, the physical size will change to 8? wide x 10? high. Decreasing resolution will also decrease the quality of the image. For online use, you’ll probably not be able to detect any difference.
High resolution images are important when it comes to printing. However, lower resolution images work better for online presentation. Low resolution photos have smaller file sizes which allows them to load faster. Because of their smaller size, they also occupy less storage space on the host image server.
Next week I’ll take a closer look at the photo resizing process, so be sure to stop in for more photo editing information.
Best wishes for much success on Zibbet!
Vicki is committed to assisting her fellow Zibbeters improve their shops for successful online selling. She is the owner of five Zibbet shops: LOC Design Studio, Denim and Pearls, A Stitch and a Prayer, Black Creek Crossing and Think Like a Fish. You can follow Vicki on Twitter and through her LOC Design Studio blog.
Tags: File Size, Image Size, Photo Sizing Vocabulary, Pixel, Resolution, Success on Zibbet
