A Simple Guide to File Sizes

OR Why Does It Take Forever To Upload Pictures...


I often watch people trying to upload say a picture or other document getting quite annoyed and thinking there must be a problem with their internet connection or computer (or both). 

The simple fact of the matter is that all files (pictures, artwork, spreadsheets, word documents) have a size and if you know how to reduce file sizes you can make your uploads quicker or if you don't change them at least you'll know why it takes so long.


File Size Primer
1Kb (kilobyte) = 1024 Bytes
1Mb (megabyte) = 1024 Kilobytes
1Gb (Gigabyte) = 1024 Megabytes
1Tb (Terabyte) = 1024 Gigabytes


Imagine it like this... take an apple, pear or other piece of fruit... now take a byte
now 'byte' the apple pear or whatever 1024 more times... Congratulations you just had a kilo'byte'
now take 1024 bytes 1024 times... Waheyyyy you just had a Mega 'byte' (and are probably feeling quite ill and unimpressed)
Now copy that feat 1024 more times... for a giga'byte'
Is it starting to make sense to you now how these sizes relate?


So How Do You Find The Size Of A File?


That's easy...just right click and go down to properties 
when you select 'properties' (HINT: it's the last on the list) you will see something like the following pop up (see pic below) 

Circled in red is the size of the file that I selected for this demonstration and it is 5.05Mb !!! This might take a while to upload depending on the speed of your internet connection!


How To Make A Picture A Smaller File Size For Quicker Uploading


In Adobe Photoshop


Open your image then go to File and from the drop down box select 'Save for web and devices' (see pic below)

this will save a copy 'web-ready' ie. small enough of a file size not to slow down somebody's internet connection when they come to view it






 Gimp, Microsoft Office Picture Manager and others to follow...