Avatar size: increase

[Darren]

What's up with the 50 pixel limit on avatars? Any chance of changing that?

I think it would be good to be able to fit a picture of a 4Runner in there as I think it's easier to identify people and their rides that way in their posts.

 

[Thai]

Darren,

How big do you want it to be??

Thanks.

 

[Darren]

Whatever Corey has his set to would be optimal. I think that's like 120 pixels or so.

 

[GatorGreg]

What's up with the 50 pixel limit on avatars? Any chance of changing that?

I think it would be good to be able to fit a picture of a 4Runner in there as I think it's easier to identify people and their rides that way in their posts.

Hey Darren, the 50x50 avatar size is the default setting for vBulletin, which is the forum software we are using. Here's the problem with increasing the avatar size by very much - it eats up a lot of memory at an exponential rate. For example, a typical 32x32 avatar might be 354 bytes, a 50x50 might be 2,832 bytes, and a 100x100 would be 32,718 bytes. Right now, all the money for the forum is coming out of our pockets (the toyota sponsor in the banner ad is not paying us - we put it up for free just as a sample, nor has anyone bought tires from tirerack yet ). Therefore, we don't want the server costs to balloon on us. If and when some ad money starts rolling in to pay for the server, we could consider bumping up the avatar size to something much bigger.

In the meantime I have two suggestions:

1) we could bump the avatar size to 75x75, that should be adequate for allowing members to create an identifiable avatar pic, yet not be overly burdensome in terms of memory.

2) once you post some pics of your 4Runner in the gallery, you can add a hyperlink in your signatrue line which will take people to the gallery thread where your pics are posted. So you could have something in your sig line like : "Click HERE to see pics of my 4Runner".

 

[Darren]

Oh okay. I didn't have any idea what other things are affected when setting up something this like memory and $.

In that case, no biggie. Do what you guys can handle and want to do.

 

[Scofco]

Came to suggest the same thing about the avatars.
Can we set the maximum size to 140x140 or 10240 bytes, which ever comes first. YotaTech has those settings on their forums, works great. Allows for larger images and small file sizes. People will just have to compress them more.

 

[ChuckyD]

as a side note you could ask for donations from some of the members. I am willing to donate some.

As a suggestion, why dont u offer members that donate something. Not material wise, but more advanced features in forum use. ie. Posting Pictures...

 

[Scofco]

The current maximum file size is 20000 bytes, which allows for next to zero compression on a 75x75 image. I am solely proposing to increase the image dimensions and allowing for the file size to remain at 20KB.

No harm can be done bandwidth wise, just allows for larger avatars without compromising anything.

*begs and pleads*
Pleeeeeeease?

 

[GatorGreg]

Okay Scofco, per your request (or beg ) I changed it from 75 to 140 pixels, leaving the 20,000 byte limitation as it is.

Chucky, in case you didn't see it there already is a "donate" button at the bottom of the page

 

[Thai]

Chucky, in case you didn't see it there already is a "donate" button at the bottom of the page

You mean that i will actually get paid!!! It's about time too!

 

[Scofco]

Thanks Greg! *hug*
Much better now, allows for more detail.