Big avatars

[Mitsukara]

So at this one forum I go to, they're setting up a new forum- upgrading from IPB, I think- and are just barely stepping up avatar pixel size to 100x100 (it was 80x80 originally). They cite bandwidth issues as the reason they don't want to make them bigger.

This got me thinking; how much strain is it on AGN to have 200x200s? I adore them, and want to do that myself if I ever actually start a forum (if I ever get my webcomic plans going...), but I'm curious how different it really is. Isn't it filesize, not pixel size, that strains the bandwidth? And how big of a difference does it really make, for those who know more about it?

Just curious.

Incidentally, please don't take this as a "oh, we should lower that 200x200 thing" suggestion XD Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!

[DarkDragon]

Well, assuming that image file size is roughly proportional to number of pixels (which will do as an approximation), a 200x200 image is 4 times larger than a 100x100 image, so takes 4 times more bandwidth to serve.

As for what percentage of total bandwidth comes from avatar images, you'll have to ask War Lord.

[Mitsukara]

Ah, but what I meant on that part was, if there's a set filesize limit of, let's say for a random example, 20kb, then regardless of rather the pixel size limit is 50x50 or 250x250 (since there's a "whichever is larger on your file is the limit" rule built in), the avatars cannot take up any more actual room on the server, right? You'd just have to go with really crappy quality or a GIF or whatever to actually utilize the 250x250.

If I'm thinking correctly, that is.

[War Lord]

We have a file size and pixel size limit in place.
Honestly though, images nowadays aren't large, and hosts offer more bandwidth than they did in the past.

Citing bandwidth as the reason for not wanting to go larger than 100x100 is just bs.
Unless you're letting people use High Res 3000x3000 porn images as avatars, bandwidth isn't a concern as far as avatars go.

[Mitsukara]

Ahh, okay. That's what I was wondering- if it would be practical or straining, if I ever actually were to run a forum (lolololol), to set high limits. I adore a 200x200 limit, or whatever the biggest you can get away with without wrecking the viewing format is (depending on the forum/signatures/etc. I imagine extra-vertically long avatars could be made to work, if maybe only as a privileged staff type thing).

And yes, I was well aware about AGN having those limits, and the "whichever is larger" rule. It says so right on the custom avatar uploader field thingy.