What happens to my layouts?!

suladesign

New member
I've recently started uploading my layouts to my member gallery. But - oh disappointment! - the LOs, which still have firstate quality when I preview them on my computer, become rather blurred (almost bad quality) as soon as I upload them. Then I see everyone else's in the gallery with brilliant resolutions, and I wonder what am I doing wrong? Any suggestions?
 
I use CorelDraw 11, which I know doesn't compare really with PSE etc., and I save them as jpeg files, making sure they aren't larger than the 150 kb SSD allows. But fact is, you hardly see a difference in quality when I upload the LOs in facebook or on other websites (turn out great!), but there's a clear reduction of quality once I upload them on SSD.
Thanks for taking the time and checking into this :)
 
They are over optimized. Your images are in the 30-40kb range. I would try saving them just under 150kb.
 
I use PSP and have never used Corel Draw but do you have a save for web option in that program? The way I save is resize to make it 600x600 or make the longest side 600. Then put the optimize number so that the size is between 145 and 150 kb. Usually that number is between 5 and 12. Most programs have this option available and it helps to keep the quality of the image up and the size down
 
Thanks so much, ladies, for taking the time and trying to help.

I did try the web optimizer thing. Result: the same. Layouts just don't come out clear once I upload them. Again, the original files on my computer always have perfect quality, making them look so absolutely real. Even the ones I save for the upload still look great when I open them on the computer, and printing you think you could just pick the elements off the page!

The changes happen during the upload process, and I guess I can't do anything about it and will have to accept it. :(
 
Can you upload one to Photobucket and post a link here? It would be helpful to see what the file you upload to the gallery looks like. As far as I know, the gallery doesn't optimize your pages and your pages are quite small in file size (which explains the quality). What is the size when you look at the properties of the file on your computer?
 
Thanks Sheri - your not giving up on this means a lot to me!

Well, as far as I understand from SSD gallery guidelines, layouts are not allowed to be any larger than 150kb. So, the closest my software lets me get to this size, that's how I save them, which is normally at 148 kb. For my personal use of the layouts on the computer, I save them at the highest quality (normally somewhat between 4-6mb, depending).

Now, I just uploaded both versions of my latest layout onto photobucket, as you recommended, and there even the smaller file (saved with web optimizer at 136kb) turns out pretty good, the original file of 4.3mb is stunning in quality! (Just as I'm used to see them on my mac). So you say, there's a possibility to link up those photobucket files with the gallery and get them uploaded this way?

Anyway, thanks a ton, Sheri, I can't believe you keep coming back, trying to help!
 
I realized I had to flatten my image and then save it to upload so the quality was good....can you flatten your image and then save it at the right quality?
 
What are the actual steps that you follow to save it for uploading to the gallery, that will help us figure it out.
 
Thanks Sheri - your not giving up on this means a lot to me!

Well, as far as I understand from SSD gallery guidelines, layouts are not allowed to be any larger than 150kb. So, the closest my software lets me get to this size, that's how I save them, which is normally at 148 kb. For my personal use of the layouts on the computer, I save them at the highest quality (normally somewhat between 4-6mb, depending).

Now, I just uploaded both versions of my latest layout onto photobucket, as you recommended, and there even the smaller file (saved with web optimizer at 136kb) turns out pretty good, the original file of 4.3mb is stunning in quality! (Just as I'm used to see them on my mac). So you say, there's a possibility to link up those photobucket files with the gallery and get them uploaded this way?

Anyway, thanks a ton, Sheri, I can't believe you keep coming back, trying to help!

Your layouts in the gallery here aren't 148 kb though.. they're between 30-40 kb.. which is what's causing the blurriness. How are you saving them?
 
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