| What image format can I use for photos and maps? |
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| You can use jpg or gif files. We plan to support other formats in the future. |
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| How do I size my maps and photos so they fit in the space allotted on a tour page? |
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You do not need to resize your images before you upload them. MapsAlive calculates the space available for your images based on the page size and layout you choose. If your images are larger than that size, they are automatically reduced. If they are smaller, they are not changed.
If you want more control over the size and quality of your images before uploading, you can size them using any image editing software. |
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| What is the optimal size for map and photo images? |
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MapsAlive automatically sizes images that you upload; however, for the very best image quality, use images that are already exactly the right size. To determine that size, look at the page layout for the page that the image appears on (choose Layout Options from the Page menu). The dimensions for the image area are shown over the image in red like this: 300 x 200. The number means 300 pixels wide by 200 pixels high.
For best quality, the dimensions of the file you upload should not be any wider or higher than the dimensions shown in the layout. If you upload a file that exceeds either dimension, MapsAlive will automatically scale it down to fit which may result in a reduction in image quality.
You can use any image editing software (like Photoshop Elements) to size your images before uploading them to MapsAlive. By sizing them first, you will not only improve quality, but significantly reduce upload time because the file size (in bytes) will only be as big as it needs to be.
Note that for web images (like maps and photos used in MapsAlive tours), image quality does not increase by uploading a larger file. Today's digital cameras and scanners create files that are many megabytes large, but a high quality web image need only be a few hundred bytes at most. For best results, use your photo editing software to both reduce the size and maximize the quality of your images before you upload them to MapsAlive.
Important: When you upload a file that is the exact size you need, MapsAlive will not enlarge it if you change your layout to accommodate a larger image. Therefore, you should make sure your layouts are sized the way you want them before resizing all your images. |
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| Why does the quality of my map image degrade sometimes after I upload it? |
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MapsAlive converts your map image to jpg format when you upload it. If your original map image is a gif file the quality of the resulting jpg may be poorer than the original if you are not using the image at its original size. The combination of the conversion to jpg and the resizing of the image can cause parts of the image to appear fuzzy or colored. This is especially noticeable in parts of the image that contain text.
To solve this problem you can either use the map image at its original size within your tour or you can convert your gif image to a high quality jpg image before you upload it. You can use an image program such as Photoshop to convert the the image. |
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