optimization

Can anyone help with optimization? What's the best programs? How can I find the best optimization for a graphic without giving up quality? I've used a couple shareware programs.. the only optimization turns out with a less # of colors, black and white, etc.

Thanks for your help http://www.datera.com

I may be wrong here but the best program I have used for optimization is Photoshop 5.5. It allows you to view files as they would appear on the web. You can have four file variations on the screen. It not only shows you the different files but the file size and approximate loading time. A very useful tool. Hope that helps.

Actually, its not Photoshop 5.5 that is the optimization program, its ImageReady 2.0, which ships w/ Photoshop. That is a great program... Macromedia Fireworks is also just as good.

Hi,

Before Photoshop came up with the version 5.5 Fireworks image optimisation was the best, but from the Photoshop 5.5 I never went back to fireworks.

Photoshop 5.5 is the best soft
u could use
The combination of photoshop, illustrator and image ready should do it

OK, Let the flames begin, because I'm going to put in a plug for the under-appreciated Corel. I agree that Photoshop is better than Corel for many things, but I always found it easier and more productive to do web graphics in Corel Photopaint. Corel was ahead of Photoshop when it came to web image optimization from version 7 up. I don't have the latest version of either Photoshop or Corel now, but I am willing to bet you can get at least the same amount (or more) image optimization control out of Photopaint, and it will cost a lot less than Photoshop.

In version 8 of Photopaint (1997-1998), I was able to optimize GIFs to any level of color palletting, with a preview before saving. JPGs and PNGs could also be previewed before saving. Back when Photoshop only had a few levels of compression for JPGs, Corel had a continuously sliding scale, for any tweaking needed. Also, Photopaint 8 could edit and create animated GIFs.

I invite any comparisons from those with access to Photoshop 5.5 and Corel Photopaint 9.

I agree. I have Corel Photo Paint 9/Draw 9 and I would recomend it to anyone with a lower budget. It is great, I hope they put it our for linux, just as they did wordperfect (if they haven't already).

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Jerome Gagner

ImageReady 2 and Firework3 are great for optimization. You optimize the image further removing the colours from the palette or blurring jpg file a bit. Imageready's 64no-dither is the best for gif format.