Most browsers will only display graphics files in a gif or jpeg format.

• Therefore, we must restrict your photo to one of these two formats: gif or jpeg
• Do not simply rename your photo into a file with a gif or jpg extension. It may fool us, but it won't fool a browser. To get a photo into the proper format, open the file in almost any graphics editing program (PhotoShop, PaintShop Pro, Corel Photopaint, Microsoft Paint, etc) and use the Save As function.

Size Matters...

A photo that is very large takes a long time to download for the average internet user, discouraging him or her from viewing a photo if it takes too long to download. Your photo must be less than 55k in size. To help you meet these requirements, we offer the following advice.

• Remove unwanted or unneeded background from you photo by cropping it. In other words, show people only the part of the photo you want them to see. If you just want people to see your face and not the room you live in, cut that part out. You and your photo will look better for it.
• Using the Save As command, save your photo at different compression rates (be sure to give each copy a different file name than your original). Compare the way the different files look. Choose the file with an image quality you can live with. Over the internet, speed matters. The smaller your file, the more viewers are willing to take the time to see it. In addition, a highly compressed file viewed over the internet will not look that much different thanone not compressed.
• Remember, jpeg, not gif, for photos.
• Black and white photos are much smaller in file size and are often much more flattering. Think about it.