image handling advice

[crystalized]

I understand that preloading images vastly improves performance when images not immediately used on a page need to be loaded for mouseover effects and the like.

What I was wondering is if preloading images that are all immediately displayed is advantageous. Does it improve the speed at which the page is displayed to preload the images?

Also is there any way when an image is used throughout a series of pages, a logo for example, to preload it so it does not have to be retrieved each time one of the pages that uses it is accessed? I thought I heard something about being able to cause the image to cache on the users machine for use in multiple pages.

Can anyone offer me advice on improving image use in anyway as my boss has an extremely graphical image of how he wants things to look. Lots of images. And I want to be able to tell him if it is realistic as far as access speeds are concerned. We all know that a page that takes forever usually only sees the user long enough for them to decide to press the back button.

Any suggestions or references to sources will be very helpful. Thanks in advance. [sig]<p>Crystal<br><a href=mailto:crystals@genesis.sk.ca>crystals@genesis.sk.ca</a><br><a href= > </a><br>--------------------------------------------------<br>
Experience is one thing you can't get for nothing.<br>
-Oscar Wilde<br>
[/sig]

 

[RobSchultz]

Greetings Crystal,

Q1) I don't see how preloading the initial image would help speed at all. That said, there is no reason not to either. It should be easier to code a routine that preloads all images rather than all but a few.

Q2) So long as the images are named referenced exactly the same across all your pages then yes, the cache will have them (case sensitive!). Try this. Create simple pages calling the exact same image from the exact same place. Clear your cache. Go to each page. You will have both pages but only one image cached.

Q3) Use jpegs. Sorry, only advise I have to offer. If your boss is set on using lots of images then its up to you to convince him otherwise. Another thought; use Flash. Lots of vector images, small footprint, excellent interaction. Check out

http://www.barbie.com

(my daugher loves this site) for some very good examples.

Later, [sig]<p>Rob<br><a href=mailto:robschultz@yahoo.com>robschultz@yahoo.com</a><br>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br>
"Focus on the solution to the problem,<br>
not the obstacles in the way."<br>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/sig]