Optimizing Web Graphics and Photos
When a Web page appears slowly, chances are good that the graphics are not optimized. Optimizing graphics is not critical, but is important, especially for visitors using dial-up connections.
There are three ways to optimize graphics, including photos, so they use less memory.
1> MAKE THE PHOTO THE RIGHT SIZE.
This photo is 150 x 230 pixels. Use photos at 100% whenever possible; that is, don't import a large photo and scale it down. Large photos can take forever to load, or seem to.
2> COMPRESS PHOTOS TO 25% OR SO.
Most image editors let you save photos in JPG format, with high compression or low compression or somewhere in between. Compress your photos as much as possible without losing detail. The photo here was compressed to 25%. Similarly, line drawings can be saved in GIF format, using 256 colors or as few as 2 colors. If your GIF graphic only needs 2 colors to look good, don't use 256.
3> DON'T ATTACH A PREVIEW IMAGE TO THE PHOTO.
Many image editors let you save images without a preview. When images are small, the preview can be as big as the image!
If these instructions are not clear, the author, for clarification.