Size matters for multimedia
I have my main work computer’s screen resolution set at 1024 x 768. That’s a measurement in pixels, for all the non-designers in the crowd. But don’t run away. This is important.
Take a look at the two screenshots below. They are both captures of the same page in an excellent package from the St. Pete Times in Florida, and the designer is one of the best. But you can see, can’t you, that the image does not fit on my screen. Compare the top and bottom edges in each image, please, and then we can continue.
While I appreciate a very high resolution screen as much as anyone, the text gets smaller as your res goes higher, and I am nearsighted.
I’d like to emphasize that I am not some weirdo using an unusual screen resolution. Please look at the chart at left, which I captured from this very blog (via Site Meter) earlier today. These are the monitor resolutions of people who had come to this blog by about 4 p.m. Eastern Time. While no resolution setting has a share of 50 percent or more, the setting I use (1024 x 768) is at the top of the list.
So, 34 percent of the visitors to this blog will see the same messed up cover screen (shown above) for the beautiful wetlands package.
I can make this easy for all you designers out there with the crazy 1600 x 1200 screens, okay? The viewable space in my Firefox browser when it is fully maximized is 1008 x 591.
That is with the scrollbar showing. There would be more than 1008 pixels in width if you did not have a scrollbar. But hey. You do.
I used the useful Firefox add-on MeasureIt to get the exact width and height.
The wetlands package is built in a SWF that is 1000 x 720.
That means there are always 129 pixels (vertically) in the package that I can’t see.
Technorati tags: design | information graphics | multimedia | usability | examples
Mindy,
I just wanted to tell you that as a graduating journalism student interested in pursuing online journalism I really enjoy reading your blog. Thanks for creating a place for discussion specifically for online journalism.
Best,
December 19, 2006 at 12:05 amMallory Simon
I’ve always got to zap my Google and Web Developer toolbars to watch multimedia presentations. Sigh.
December 19, 2006 at 4:13 amMallory, welcome. I’m so happy to see that journalism students are reading my blog!
Danny, I know what you mean, but in this case, I can hide all the toolbars and the status bar and STILL not quite see it all — because of the title bar at the top AND the WIndows Taskbar. 720 is just TOO TALL! (Sorry, Lee!)
December 19, 2006 at 1:48 pmMindy,
No need to apologize. It was a battle between versions I could publish in (titles as png), accomodating some previous galleries, keeping it all contained, r&d with our database ties, and a nasty dealine. No excuses. I battled with this one and the interest of time won out. The sacrifice was the title of the segment that is repeated at top.
But I really appreciate your comment and you’ll soon see my “response.” Afterall, this is a legacy piece and we are the web
Thank you for keeping us rogue producers in check!
December 19, 2006 at 8:14 pmThanks,
Lee
Classy reply, Lee. You are a true professional. Thanks.
I know what you mean about shoehorning older projects into a new package design! That’s always hard to do.
December 20, 2006 at 2:01 pm