700 by around 150 or so is perfect. Dimensions are pretty obvious, the screen is wider than it is long, but over 600 means you will get a 'scroll bar" appearing - and cock up the text on screens. So about 700 is the limit.
The height is what you can see though.....and more important really. Mainly as if its only 370 in height, its around half the visible area of your browser window on your screen. Thats ALOT of screen - especially when several people leave them.
So - make it only about 200 MAX in height. That way it shouldn't be TOO tall - but large enough for egos (mine needs large ones
)
Finally - the file format. JPEG - but low "level" jpg by photoshop - or best yet - once made in your software of choice - use PAINT to open the image again, and then re-save it. The reason is simply that you get a small file size. Reason for that is around 3/4 of forum users are 56kers - and if they come across a 100kb image as a sig - it takes ten - twenty secs to load.........
If you have a thread full of them - it takes forever. So using paint means your sig will only weigh in around 8-25Kb depending upon size etc (a 800x600 screenie done using this method comes in at around 38kb on average!!!). As you can imagine - ALOT more 56ker friendly!
*edit* - changed dimensions slightly
- this isn't an exact science!
Edited by - Chips on 5/2/2004 2:43:57 AM