what are the best image dimensions?

19 May 2013, 20:14

#1

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what are the best image dimensions?

I sell a niche of sporting goods products, no clothing or paintings or anything where customers would normally want to zoom in to see very detailed photos.

I've been using a max 800x600px for large product images, but that's the max, so I have all kinds of different aspect ratios. I plan on fixing my images to all be a standard size for better uniformity. I'm thinking 600x600 would be a good size, because from what I understand that will fit on more smartphone screens than 800x800 would. No need for square, though. I'm just not sure what is best.

What does everyone else do?

20 May 2013, 10:23

#2

rodg

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Re: what are the best image dimensions?

fakeDecoy:
. I'm just not sure what is best.

It seems to me that you are looking for a 'one size fits all' solution. Alas, there isn't one.

fakeDecoy:

What does everyone else do?

The best we can........ :)

What I do advise is that whatever size you choose, you should keep them at one of the 'standard' resolutions (typically a 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio).

Also keep in mind that there is always going to be a trade-off. You can pick speed/performance or image quality. You can't have both (unless you reverse the polarity of the shielding de-couplers, but that'll probably cause a core breach). :)

Cheers
Rod

ps. There is no right answer to the question (there are many wrong ones though) . It is a design choice that will ultimately fall on the shoulders of the developer with input from the client.

20 May 2013, 15:35

#3

fakedecoy

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Re: what are the best image dimensions?

What's the purpose of using one of the standard resolutions?

21 May 2013, 12:28

#4

rodg

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Re: what are the best image dimensions?

fakeDecoy:
What's the purpose of using one of the standard resolutions?

1) Because they *are* a standard.
2) Any code that resizes the images will work a lot more efficiently when dealing with 'standard' resolutions.
3) It minimises distortions that could/would normally occur when converting between different aspect ratio's.

Having said that, this is just a recommendation. If you have a need for an oddball resolution like 600x600 then don't let these standards get in your way.

Cheers
Rod

21 May 2013, 12:31

#5

kobra

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Re: what are the best image dimensions?

What's the purpose of using one of the standard resolutions?

May I add - -

Images should all be the same "matted" size - this presents your pages uniformly
Especially alignment of new, special, featured listings

There are scripts that will automate matting to a single size
If you have photo shop this is called an "action" other apps will have similar routines

22 May 2013, 03:12

#6

torvista

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Re: what are the best image dimensions?

As indeed nothing fits all requirements, I decided to use a square aspect ratio of 500 x 500 which has not caused me a problem. If I want to show detail I add another close up image.
That's a comment, not a recommendation, whatever you choose will work if you are consistent, just choose what you prefer.
Irfanview does a fine job of batch processing sizes.