[documentation] [Documentation feature] Expanding Image Support for Documentation Contributors

[karldied]

Issue status update for 
http://drupal.org/node/81586
Post a follow up: 
http://drupal.org/project/comments/add/81586

 Project:      Documentation
 Version:      <none>
 Component:    User Guide
 Category:     feature requests
 Priority:     normal
 Assigned to:  Anonymous
 Reported by:  TheWhippinpost
 Updated by:   karldied
 Status:       active

Thanks for bringing comments in from the forums to the mail list. The
current doc (at http://drupal.org/node/762) says: 


Format: PNG-8
PNG is preferred because of its lossless compression and small file
size. JPEG is not suitable - it leaves artifacts and its 24-bit color
depth is unneccesary when dealing with screenshots. GIF is not used
because it is an outdated format.


So, right now, this says that PNG-8 is the _preferred_ format. I
propose a re-write that more clearly states that the others are fine: 


Format: PNG-8
PNG is preferred because of its lossless compression and small file
size. JPEG and GIF formats can also be used. If using JPEG, select the
compression carefully to keep the files size small, but not create
excessive artifacts. GIF is outdated, but can be used if PNG is not
readily available. 


I also think that the word 'images' belongs in the title, since that is
the broader term a user may be looking for in the handbook (and as
evidenced by the title of this issue report).




karldied



Previous comments:
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Wed, 30 Aug 2006 21:36:00 +0000 : TheWhippinpost

To save me repetition (and time), I'm pasting an excerpt from a debate
elsewhere on the forums. Consequently, although the issue is addressed,
the reader is advised to please take into account the context with which
it was written.


... a particular clause in Drupal's handbook submission policy, which
quite frankly, I think is retarded. As a result of that clause, a
submission I wrote that deals with a fairly common issue with certain
site-types, remains on the forums, and here's why...


Pictures speak a 1000 words. To do a proper job in communicating with
total novices, I wanted to do a few supporting screenshots. What do the
submission guidelines say?... I must use PNG's!


... WTF?!


IIRC, even movies should be in Quicktime format!


This whole debate has been about making things less awkward for the
user and here we are stipulating that contributors have to use formats
that only a minority of the web population is able to view!


And please, I'm not inviting a war on what browser, O/S, media player
or picture format is best - I know the relative differences of each, the
point rests with those words: minority, and awkward.


---


SEPECK suggested I raise this here (I presume) with a view to
revisiting it.


In short, please consider allowing both GIF and JPG files... there ya
go, I said it! ;p




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Fri, 01 Sep 2006 16:08:12 +0000 : Gary Feldman

I'm sorry, I must be missing something.  Which browsers don't understand
.PNG?  IE6, Firefox 1.5, and Opera 8.2 all do.  I know those aren't the
only browsers, but PNG has been around long enough that I can't imagine
why other browsers wouldn't be able to support it by now.


Or does the IE6 case depending upon a particular version of Windows?  


Gary




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Fri, 01 Sep 2006 16:41:09 +0000 : greggles

IE6 doesn't fully support PNG (e.g. transparency)


See http://www.metaskills.net/meta-theme-for-drupal/png-support-for-ie6




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Sat, 20 Jan 2007 06:55:31 +0000 : pnm

Does this belong in Documentation?