How do I attach a 3-4 mb background image to my forums?

[hipp0]

Forum URL: zzz-starborne.proboards.com

Im currently linking the image from imgur, but I would like to host it. Do I need to increase storage? Is a background image really an attachment?

[Nscalerr 🐺]

Hi hipp0

The background image is part of the theme storage and not attachment storage. There is a limit of 1mb per image, with 500 images per theme. It is good that you want to move away from hosting with imgur as it is against their TOS to use them for hosting.

There is a list of external hosting sites in this help thread on External Resources.

[hipp0]

Thanks I moved it over.

So there is no way to store it here on this website?

[Nscalerr 🐺]

Not if it is 3 to 4 mb in size.

[Scott]

hipp0, in the External Resources article that Nscalerr 🐺 referenced above, there are links to Image Optimzation services. I recommend using one of those to reduce the file size of your background image. It may reduce it enough to be within the 1mb limit. However, even if not, whatever it reduces to, it will still be better overall to not have such a large file size. Forum visitors with sketchy internet or limited cell data, will appreciate it.

[Kami]

May 26, 2020 6:34:42 GMT -8 Scott said:

hipp0 , in the External Resources article that Nscalerr 🐺 referenced above, there are links to Image Optimzation services. I recommend using one of those to reduce the file size of your background image. It may reduce it enough to be within the 1mb limit. However, even if not, whatever it reduces to, it will still be better overall to not have such a large file size. Forum visitors with sketchy internet or limited cell data, will appreciate it.

To add its also just a bad practice from a web development standpoint. Every user will have to load this image when visiting your forum, and due to the file size it will take longer to load than a different image. Once it is loaded it should get cached but if someone clears their cache they'll have to do it all over again. It's just overall a negative experience for folks.

If you're worried about image clarity or fitting all resolutions, there are simple, easier ways to accomplish this via CSS rather than using a massive file. It would help to know why you want to use a file that's so large so we can better tailor our responses for an optimal alternative path.

[RichardInTN]

Plus, if it's a BACKGROUND image does it have to be "perfection incarnate"? Losing a little resolution may not really harm the image in any meaningful way.

Example: A beautiful shot of the Golden Gate Bridge, is still a beautiful image even at a slightly lower resolution.

[Kami]

May 26, 2020 16:38:42 GMT -8 RichardInTN said:

Plus, if it's a BACKGROUND image does it have to be "perfection incarnate"? Losing a little resolution may not really harm the image in any meaningful way.

Example: A beautiful shot of the Golden Gate Bridge, is still a beautiful image even at a slightly lower resolution.

Ideally the BG image shouldn't take away focus from the site content, either,  I'd generally recommend a blurred out background image in the event of using a photograph as well.

[hipp0]

This is just an alliance forum for a game so there won't be much content here. I find the background adds immersion. I've reduced the image quality to 800KB so thanks for the suggestions!

[Kami]

If I may suggest, set the background to fixed so that it doesn't scroll with the forum (it won't do anything for mobile, but will help on desktop).

For whatever it's worth though -- animated flashing backgrounds (and images, like in your 'skeptics' thread) like this are really bad for eye strain (especially in such sharp contrast between dark / bright) and can cause problems for any users with epilepsy, photosensitivity, and/or problems with eye strain. Worst case scenario, you trigger an epileptic episode. I'd personally err on the side of caution over immersion, and there are plenty of static star backgrounds.

[RichardInTN]

I "second" the suggestion of a "fixed" (non-scrolling) background.

[hipp0]

I changed it to fixed.