What size should property images be?
Modern computers are rather like HD Televisions and can display images at “high resolution” delivering crystal clear photos. A few years ago, screens were only 640 x 480 pixels (dots) whereas now, many display at 1600 x 1200 pixels and beyond so it pays to upload higher quality images to your website.
Many of our new websites offer a
‘Full screen slideshow” of every property which is a stunning presentation and the best way to motivate viewing appointments but the quality is only stunning if the uploaded image is high resolution in the first place (“Stretching” a 640 x 480 photo to 1600 x 1200 pixels will just be very fuzzy!)
What’s the “4 x 3” rule
Most digital cameras take photos in an aspect ratio of 4:3 so by default, when we create a website we design the picture ‘placeholders’ also at 4:3. If the supplied photo is a different ‘shape’ (not exactly 4:3) and we try to make it fit a 4:3 box it will distort because it is being stretched into shape. We CAN accommodate images that are more wide-screen but it is better to aim to get the supplied images at this standard ratio as it is universal and most property portals also use this shape.
Can images be “too big”?
Yes. Our system will not accept images uploaded larger than 1600 x 1200 pixels so they will need to be resized before they are uploaded to your website.
How do I resize images?
If you set your camera to the right settings in the first place, you won’t need to resize your images so that is the best policy!
Most digital cameras take photos in exactly 4:3 proportions and allow you to choose the ‘size’ of the images in the settings. A 12mp (Megapixel) camera will typically offer the following choices: -
4000 x 3000, 4000 x 2248, 3264 x 2448, 2592 x 1944, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480 or 320 x 140 pixels
If you set the camera to 1600 x 1200 pixels you will not need to resize any photos before uploading them to your website!
But if I DO need to resize images – what’s the quickest way?
Software is available for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 that makes the job of resizing images (one or many) a breeze!
Windows XP
Image resizer for Windows XP please go to: -
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/Downloads/powertoys/Xppowertoys.mspx
Look down the right hand column for the link to Image Resizer. Download the file then run the installation. You will now be able to select one or more images in a folder, right-click them and it will ask you what size you want to resize to. We generally recommend for property photos you resize to 1280 x 960 pixels.
Windows VISTA
Image resizer for Windows VISTA please go to http://www.vso-software.fr/products/image_resizer click the 'Download Image Resizer' link. Download the file then run the installation. You will now be able to select one or more images in a folder, right-click them and it will ask you what size you want to resize to. We generally recommend for property photos you resize to 1280 x 960 pixels.
Windows 7
Image resizer for Windows 7 please go to http://www.codeplex.com/ImageResizer and click the download link. Download the file then run the installation. You will now be able to select one or more images in a folder, right-click them and it will ask you what size you want to resize to. We generally recommend for property photos choose the MEDIUM setting.
“I’m computer literate and happy to have a go at editing images..”
Editing images beyond a simple re-sizing requires a higher level of expertise but there a numerous programs (free and purchased) that can do this efficiently. We would urge all clients to make an investment in Adobe Photoshop Elements – please visit http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/photoshopelwin/
It costs under £80.00 and is aimed at Home Users so it is non-technical but it allows you to improve images (brighter, sharper etc) as well as resizing and cropping them to exactly 4:3 ratio. Photos SELL properties so it is well worth the time & investment to get them really good for every property!
So, for your properties to display best on your website here is a recap: -
- Always take images in Landscape orientation (Horizontal)
- Take, or Resize them to 1600 x1200 pixels before uploading
- Try to take at least 5 photos per property.
“A Quart into a pint pot?”
When you are creating information (Content pages) for your Estateweb Classic website- please note that the website is exactly 1004 pixels (dots) wide so if you insert images that are too large into any page it will overflow outside the page (just as a pint pot would if you tried pouring a quart into it!)
If you are going to have text at the side of any image (as shown above) you need to leave room for it so we recommend resizing images to be used in content pages to about 350-400 pixels wide. This leaves plenty of room for your text to display beside the image.
If however you want images full-width then resize them to 910 pixels wide to allow for a margin either side – text will then only be able to go above and below your image.
Here’s an example (below) of an image bigger than the web page- it overflows outside the page!
If you have any other questions about the website please email support@technicweb.com