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The PVD Skins - Optimized a tad.

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goddert:
PVD uses exactly one XML file (no css) at the start. The preview of a skin is shown only in the configuration dialog and only when you choose a skin. It's not loaded to visualize a movie. So it's a saving of load time for exactly one image during the configuration of a skin. How often do you change your skin?

On the other hand to visualise a movie with its preview it loads exactly always only one image (the movie poster) from its database (whether it's stored in the database or as external file) Therefore, you're right, if you minimize this image you'll have saved maybe 200kb load time for this one image at the cost of a, in my eyes, worse visualisation. The difference in load time on today systems is very small if not to neglect. To repeat it: PVD loads only the one image which it needs to show the current movie. This is the concept of a database. At no point PVD loads all images on start up or during the visualization of movies.

So your calculations are wrong.

And believe us, Rick is the last one who has to learn something about PVD.

rick.ca:
I wish nostra would comment on your conjectures, but he seems to have the good sense to stay out of such discussions.


--- Quote ---PVD is basically by all rights very similiar to a website - it uses css and xml as for it's templates - I think we can agree on this.
--- End quote ---

The fact a skin is defined by XML and an export template may include CSS doesn't make it similar to a website anymore than anything displayed on a computer screen is similar to website because they're both displayed on a computer screen.


--- Quote ---It is well known the smaller you can make the weight of a page - the faster it will load. - we can agree on this as well I'm sure.
--- End quote ---

Can we agree an imperceptible load time makes no difference? Do you use low-res posters too, because each movie 'page' has to load one? [Edit: OMG, it seems you do!]


--- Quote ---I saved you over 100k - which will load faster at full rez - the 119k of course.
--- End quote ---

Yes, I could have 'optimized' the preview, but why bother? It's just a preview. It's already a compressed jpeg. It's not being transmitted over the internet. And...


--- Quote ---Now PVD loads from what I've seen, at start-up all templates.
--- End quote ---

...if by 'templates' you mean previews, it doesn't.


--- Quote ---So lets say you have 1000 images for a 1000 movies - each weigh say 200k each. That comes to... what a mear 100 megs of photos - then add your database itself. that's a pretty heavy database.
--- End quote ---

Now you're talking about posters and other images. Yes, I have more than 1,000 movies, many of which are 'heavier' than that—my database is 1.6 Gb, and most of that is obviously images, none optimized in the way you're advocating. That's because I want to be able to view them in the viewer at as large as my monitor will allow. If I have time, I do optimize them at that resolution, but it doesn't matter much if I fail to do so. To me, spending any time looking for and choosing the best images for a movie is a waste if you're going to then save them at a low resolution (e.g., a poster optimized for the size at which it's displayed in the skin).

If my database were being accessed over the Internet, I'd likely do it differently. If I were offering my database to others by download, I'd tell them it's big, but worth the download if they like good art.

Again, it makes no perceptible difference to how quickly PVD loads or displays a record.


--- Quote ---Do you really go through your data base and look at all the preview images? Or more honestly do your preview images simple serve as a reminder of what the movie or song or album was?
--- End quote ---

You apparent use of the word 'preview' to mean both the preview of a skin or template and a poster or other art is very confusing. A poster is not a preview, it's a poster. And no, I don't use them as thumbnails to remind me of what the movie is. I collect posters, just like I collect other movie meta data—that's what the program is for. I don't want to butcher a good poster, just like I don't want to butcher a comprehensive review because it's 'too heavy.' Since previews have no impact whatsoever on the performance of the database, I'd much rather (as explained in my last post) have images that convey as clearly as possible the nature of the skin or template. Many of those things I rarely use, so a good preview will very likely save me from loading or using something only to then discover it's not what I want.


--- Quote ---Go to a JPG and optimize it - add a tad of sharpening or clarity and you drop 50% or better off a JPG. Let alone what you save off a PNG.
--- End quote ---

Is there some reason you think I don't do this?


--- Quote ---image your 1.75 Terri database only weighing in at 750 megs or less once optimized.
--- End quote ---

That's not difficult. I'd be sacrificing a very significant and valued degree of quality in images for a very small improvement in performance. Why would searches be faster? Do you understand how a database works?


--- Quote ---just my two cents but - bet mine runs faster now it's optimized even with a mear 166 titles. Actually - I know it does.
--- End quote ---

I'm glad you're happy and sorry to be argumentative, but I don't think this sort of analysis helps others understand the program better and use it to their advantage. I would agree there is value to understanding digital images in general and what is meant by things like 'optimization' (which, BTW, you didn't explain). But that doesn't have much to do with PVD. It uses the Firebird database, which is very forgiving of things like image size. If someone had reason to collect very high resolution images (i.e., way beyond the needs for displaying on a monitor), there would be no reason for them not save them in their database—if that's what works for them (e.g., for keeping them organized and secure).

chase:
Sorry for the confusion with my use of terms - I'm be more careful using terms.

When PVD first starts up - if you break a link to an image in any template - whether you are using it or not - you'll see it will warn you that it can't load it due to the break in the preview image link.

To me this was telling me - PVD is loading all templates on start up. Including images.
This may not be true - but the instance i have with all the template images optimized definitly loaded faster than the one that didn't have them optimized.

All i did was batch optimize them in PS. so it was easy for me.

But as you are stating above - You are a collector of the Poster art etc etc. In that case I can see why you wouldn't want your images optimized or re-sized etc etc.

I'm using PVD more as a tool...
- Now I realize you guys are collectors and image quality is more important for your use than mine
and may cringe at the thought but yes I optimized all my Posters as well. And resized them.
and don't have the need for screenshots for my particular use.

Anyhow - I thought i was doing a good thing for all - no biggy. I do see your reasoning. 8)

but I'm still saying mine runs faster overall    ;) heh heh 

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