Replacement avatar system in the works

[Wartorn]

Blzut has made aware to me that he has a preliminary replacement system under construction. What he wants from us is discussion on a limitation of file size and frame limit on animations. The technical reasoning behind frame limit is because the server will have to process the images for resizing and reconstruction.

Some initial propositions on IRC were between the range of 200-256kb and 16-24 frames, I personally think this is a fine range.

EDIT: The system is moving out, to try it go to your Change Avatar page, or this link: http://zandronum.com/avatars/

[Metal]

256KB is fine, but maybe a few more frames?

[infurnus]

To avoid redundancy, to find out why we're renovating the avatar system check the Site Relaunch post.

Also, I added some brief information to the Change Avatar page a couple days ago.

Just a note about the animation frame limits:
From what I understand, each frame is resized, though I am unsure if this limit applies to animations under the total filesize limit. There will be clarification on this soon.
How's 32 frames sound?

[Blzut3]

From what I understand, each frame is resized, though I am unsure if this limit applies to animations under the total filesize limit. There will be clarification on this soon.

This applies to all animated images. They will be reprocessed roughly every 48 hours.

[Llewellyn]

The technical reasoning behind frame limit is because the server will have to process the images for resizing and reconstruction.

Some initial propositions on IRC were between the range of 200-256kb and 16-24 frames, I personally think this is a fine range.

Will this cause problems with GIFs? Some gifs (like mine) only animate once, then stop.
I also don't see why images need to be reprocessed, or if they fit the size limit and X/Y size limit why they need to be processed at all.

[Qent]

is 7KB and 40 frames, if that gives you an idea.

[Blzut3]

I also don't see why images need to be reprocessed, or if they fit the size limit and X/Y size limit why they need to be processed at all.

There will be an option for people like me to disable animation for one. For two, smaller avatars may be used in places.

[Llewellyn]

There will be an option for people like me to disable animation for one. For two, smaller avatars may be used in places.

Well then you might want to include an option to "process" a certain frame as the "default" frame. For instance, my gif would look bad on the first, but good on the last. Qent's would look bad on any but the first (or maybe the last.)

[Blzut3]

Well then you might want to include an option to "process" a certain frame as the "default" frame. For instance, my gif would look bad on the first, but good on the last. Qent's would look bad on any but the first (or maybe the last.)

There would be some kind of heuristics yes. At the moment the plan is to have looping animations use the first, and terminating animations use the last.

[Torvald]

Im all for whacky Gifs, but size definitely has to have some limits. I think 256-300 would be good enough.

[Balrog]

Idea: Have it so you have to click a link or press a button to reprocess your avatar.

[Ijon Tichy]

keep hotlinking and I will be happy

[infurnus]

The new avatar system is now live to the public.
http://zandronum.com/avatars/

Updated UCP Avatar page with more info & a link (F5 or Ctrl+F5, or Shift+F5 depending on browser/OS):
http://zandronum.com/forum/usercp.php?action=avatar

Non square and animating avatars return!

Don't like .GIF animations?
Google Chrome plugin: Gif Stopper (with whitelist) https://chrome.google.com/webstore/deta ... km/details
Adblock+: http://adblockplus.org/

This should also benefit the planned central user system, more info about that will come later.

[Dusk]

Yay, my avatar isn't oversized anymore

[Llewellyn]

weee he moves

[someoneelse]

Invalid format7593 when trying to use this pic:

[Dark-Assassin]

I still don't see what is wrong with the forum's inbuilt avatar system. It works, I made it work better, then it just gets thrown away.

Also, this new system is being strict on maximum size on offsite links. Again, the inbuilt one didn't after a few tweaks.

[Blzut3]

I still don't see what is wrong with the forum's inbuilt avatar system. It works, I made it work better, then it just gets thrown away.

What was "broken" was already stated. I'm not going to waste my time explaining it again.

Also, this new system is being strict on maximum size on offsite links. Again, the inbuilt one didn't after a few tweaks.

I believe that size limitations should be imposed on off site links. An avatar is a way to visually identify the poster, not a way to share movies. The 256k limit is more than enough to do that.

[The Toxic Avenger]

Looks like .png files with transparent backgrounds bug out when using a URL avatar. I think it's because the forums do not handle them properly (Disguise has the same problem with a black background added to his).

[Disguise]

I see that GIFs don't have any problems? Because they don't appear to have any black background. And yeah, as TTA said my avatar has transparent background.