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Signature Sizes

Sharkull's picture

OK, there has been some discussion on signature sizes going on in a few different threads recently and I thought it best to have a thread devoted to this topic (so that other discussions don't get derailed by such side comments).

To be clear, the current guidelines can always be found in the Site Rules:
http://www.siegetheday.org/?q=node/9

At the time I'm writing this, the current siggy rules are as follows:

Quote:
Signatures:

Signatures are allowed, but as a courtesy to those with low-bandwidth connections please respect the following.

1. The combined size of all images is to be no larger than 400 px in width, and 100 px in height.

2. The total filesize should be no larger than 100 kb.

3. The signature height with images and text should in a 800 px wide browser window with normal textsettings be no larger than 120 px.

4. Images in signatures should not be animated.

5. Signatures should follow the rules for posting.


(If there is a difference between this listing and the Rules, the Rules is assumed to have the correct version).

This currently means at most a 400x100 image, plus text for a total of no more than 800x120. Here's what it looks like:

Each square is 10x10, and the darker area with the thin red boundary is the max size for signature images. In addition to the restriction on image size, your entire signature must be no larger than the above sizing grid (with Normal text size set within your browser).

If you see that someone has a signature that does not follow these guidelines, then please post about it in this thread or send a PM to site staff. This is preferred over hijacking other threads...

These restrictions are put in place for a reason: to make the forums easier to read, and overly large signatures can be distracting.

Thank you for your understanding and compliance.

LoneKnight's picture

Thanks for the heads up, Sharkull.

Sharkull's picture

You're welcome, but...

LoneKnight in the OT thread: Custom Signatures wrote:
Quote:
LK,
When you consider the quote, yours is too big as well...

No it isn't.

EDIT: It's 398x98.


Yes it is (point #3 in the list).

I wasn't talking about the text within the image... I meant the image plus the text below it (the "unknown" quote adds another 40-50 in height...). Wink

Yes, Lord_Claw_II's signature also has the same problem in addition to the image being too large.

Again, this is for anyone with siggy's that are too big:
Shark

Templarian Arch Sorcerer's picture

Is mine okay? *looks around nervously* :?

Sharkull's picture

Technically it's 29px too wide. Stare While I won't hunt you down for it, I would appreciate if you trimmed it down a little.

LoneKnight's picture

Hmm can we let mine slide, because I really like that quote, and my pic is smaller than the maximum size.

Templarian Arch Sorcerer's picture

Sharkull wrote:
Technically it's 29px too wide. Stare While I won't hunt you down for it, I would appreciate if you trimmed it down a little.

Is 29 px really that huge? Its less than three of those little squares.

Sharkull's picture

LK, taking the text out of the quote block should cut the size down enough... :idea:

TAS, no it's not that huge, but the line has to be drawn somewhere, and the only way to be fair to everyone is to have one standard.

I don't try to understand the obsessions with having images in your signatures, but plz listen to sharkull and follow these new guidelines.

Wyvante makes a good point. Please respect forum rules. They are not arbitrary whims which are made just to be annoying, they serve a purpose. Rules keep the site orderly and enjoyable for ALL forum members.

And I would have said that a month ago, before I was even asked to be a moderator. Which is not to say that I have not goofed up myself on several occasions, but you know...I am not perfect. Wink

Read the rules, love the rules, feel the rules...be the rules! :P
Thank you! Laughing out loud Laughing out loud Laughing out loud

Sad Why is it that every time a new rule is stated on a forum it conflicts with me? Sad

Sharkull's picture

I think that's a bit of an exageration... and rule changes are never personal (all Rules apply to everyone equally).

It may be true however that rule changes happen in reaction to circumstances (like something new happening or a complaint which staffers agree it is reasonable to correct with a rule change)... but these changes are never arbitrary, and typically involve debate with staff (not all proposed changes are implemented). We want this site to be enjoyable for everyone, and accordingly take this stuff seriously (making every attempt to be objective and look at things from every angle). Moderating a community site isn't easy... it's a constant balancing act (between reckless fun and nurturing the type of friendly community we want to help grow...). *sigh*
[/rambling on and on...]

Don't take it to heart Lord_Claw_II, I have seen stuff like this worked out on many sites. If you had an annoying sig in somone's opinion here, you were not alone either.

Templarian Arch Sorcerer's picture

My previous animated signature prevoked a new rule, i would say that applys to Lord_Claw's Statement. :?

Pretty much, since there were enough complaints about it.

I don't know what to say...I guess I would like to please everyone, but that is impossible. All I can do is my best to be impartial and try to make the site enjoyable for everyone.

Sharkull's picture

That's what I try to do. Smile

Oh, and to be clear, the sizing of signatures did not change recently... I just posted the sizing image (which I made) because pixel counts can be kind of abstract to non-techies.

Don't try to please everyone as that will please noone. Compromise is good on the other hand. I think this guideline is fair. Any larger and it hinders reading even more for me and others. I already know your name from your avatar, so frankly I don't see a point in it. I like people to be happy and enjoy their image for whatever reason they have for making one as oppose to banning them completely. That was not discussed between moderators(just using as an example), and I have stayed out of it until now to help support what I think is fair. I think STD is being fair here with the size.

Edit: If you guys enjoy making banners in photoshop perhaps you can have more fun in an offtopic poll about who designed the best banner Smile . Then perhaps you can spiffy up the current ones under the proper size. It looks like everyone has resized to a good size and thank you for resizing.

Edit: Well noone listened to the previous comment about having text along with banners. Please show some respect to other members and follow these guidelines

@ LK, please decide whether you want a banner or text in your sig. Your image also links to imageshack so you may want to put in http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/1726/killzone500jl0.jpg as oppose to the linked image(just a suggestion).

@ Templar, you exceed the width requirements as mentioned here before and please remove the blank spaces below your images.

@ Claw, please remove the text below your banner or the banner.

Thank you

Sharkull wrote:
I think that's a bit of an exageration... and rule changes are never personal (all Rules apply to everyone equally).

It may be true however that rule changes happen in reaction to circumstances (like something new happening or a complaint which staffers agree it is reasonable to correct with a rule change)... but these changes are never arbitrary, and typically involve debate with staff (not all proposed changes are implemented). We want this site to be enjoyable for everyone, and accordingly take this stuff seriously (making every attempt to be objective and look at things from every angle). Moderating a community site isn't easy... it's a constant balancing act (between reckless fun and nurturing the type of friendly community we want to help grow...). *sigh*
[/rambling on and on...]

I was being facitious in my previous statement, I just meant that when a new rule that effects signatures/avatars/etc. is set in place it usually has conflicts with what I have JUST changed on my username.

For example, I had just changed my Signature photo to an Ani and was trying to change my Avatar to an Animated .gif aswell but they were all too big.

Templarian Arch Sorcerer's picture

Updated with legal size.

:roll: I am sure if all the nitpicking stopped whoever has the image and some text line below it it wouldnt be an issue. It is not like the mods are gonna get out a ruler and measure the stupid image and text. But I am seeing one person has something slightly over the "guide"lines and the others start whining because they somehow think the other is getting something extra.

Only blatant violations would cause the mods to send a pm to tell someone to change their sig. Jeez.

Templarian Arch Sorcerer's picture

How very right!! I think ill change my Signature back to the old one which is 29 px too big! Cool

I am asking for cooperation here and nicely. I see that don't work oh well.

Templarian Arch Sorcerer's picture

MY IMAGE WAS 394 PIXELS WIDE, WHICH IS LEGAL! (no it was not until you put the new one up and if you thought I changed it I didn't. I do not know why you attacked me- Wyvante )

A member's sig has been changed by a site staff member and this forum poster is unhappy. I left the the essence of this post...and I have sent the original post in it's entirety to the appropriate person. I really debated editing this because there is a fine line that I do not wish to cross... BUT ultimately, I think this is a friendly site that does not need the written equivalent of screaming. Some issues can be dealt with through the use of the PM system.

Sorry...
Kathy

Thank you kathy since this post was clearly against the rules here -Wyvante

Please, can we all remember to express ourselves civilly? I know people get upset and angry, I do as well. It is ok to get angry, but please use discretion about how you express that anger. We are all part of a community.

Thank you.

Templarian Arch Sorcerer's picture

I understand your editing, but what ever happened to free speech? (well, at least the appropreate person got the intended message) :?

Couple points. Free speech only applies to a truely public forum. Since the site is owned by someone they are basically the final say in what can be posted (or mod staff as instructed). Granted if everything gets editted people will stop posting/visiting. Arguing or whining for their own sake annoys other members so these posts can end up getting editted even if they are not what I would consider offensive. It is not much different then when people argue on forums and then since they have a edit button they change what they said to either make the other person look bad or change their own arguement.

The sig size can be set in the forum code. That would stop all argument about sig size, as the sig wouldnt work if it was over a certain size. Witness had done this around the begining of 2005 and it did work well up until the site was cracked into, now I dont really know what is working correctly or not. I believe it was in the usercp script to set.

Your free speech went out the door with your disrespect. Flaming me is not really ok with the our rules here.

Templarian Arch Sorcerer's picture

You still should have checked the size before blindly taking action. Power always corrupts, as I say. :idea:

EDIT : I find it to be not a coincidence that my signature suddenly does not work after you make that remark. :P

I never took action. I asked nicely for you to follow these guidelines. That is it. I just got back from picking up my car so this is all new to me. I do not even have that power. I am just a moderator(we edit when needed and move posts). Do not blame me for removing your sig.

Templarian Arch Sorcerer's picture

Wyvante wrote:
I never took action. I asked nicely for you to follow these guidelines. That is it. I just got back from picking up my car so this is all new to me.

Whatever. It matters not, now that I have repaired its undoing. Cool

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