Signatures

Authors note: I'm editing this from a rant to something suitable so bear with me. Keep your opinions coming - even if I go crazy and don't listen. I'm a member of several different websites and everywhere there is the same problem. I'm going to look at this issue on the writing.com side of things at first.

PS I moved this unto the opinion folder. For now

Signatures. They are handy, and beautiful. But are they getting too big? While this may just seem to be only my opinion keep in mind that Writing.com is for writing and reviewing, not graphic design. The signatures should reflect that concept in some way.

If you decide to use image(s) in your signature, here are some suggestions for their construction and application.

The signature shouldn't distract from the content of the post nor obstruct the post's readability. When a post opens either on the message forums or on the public review page the text is always done loading before the image(s). Many average readers often finish reading before the loading is complete. If the image(s) is too flashy or big it tends to draw the eyes to it making whatever is posted seem less important.

Ensure the entire size of all your images and text do not exceed a reasonable amount. The maximum size currently allowed to uploaded is 400x400 pixels. That is small in graphic designing sense but does your signature need to be that big?

Excessive colors or animation in a signature are attractive but distractive.

Signature must not contain any offensive or objectionable material; that is not appropriate for the rating of the post that the signature is being used in.

It is important to remember that there are people who have 56k dial-up connections.

Signatures greatly affect the loading time of a page. Most members keep their image limits at the default setting of three to expedite page loading times.

Please keep the signatures as appropriate as possible. Don't use the signatures to advertise a forum or contest where it is NOT accepted.

A big, expensive graphics program is NOT needed to make a decent signature. Avatars are only usually 100x100 or 150x 150 and make great signatures. Also 88x31 buttons.

If you desire a 400 pixel width graphic then keep the height simple. An example of using a 400 pixel width with a reasonable height is a banner with a height of 60 pixels. There are some online studios that can be used for graphics: http://www.lunapic.com/editor/ or http://www.myimager.com/ are two I have bookmarked.

Save the 400 x 400 images for cnotes.

In closing, I would like to share an example of one of my signatures.



It is small, simple, reveals something about me and links back to my port. It was made at http://www.needasig.com