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FAQs by GIFfers

See also:

Some comments by Željko Heimer:

Question: Why should an image be made to FOTW standards?
Answer: In short - because it our rule :-) Seriously, the images that we post to the list are all intended to end up eventually on the FOTW web site. And, we would like to have the web site "decent" and "uniform", not only for some aesthetic reasons, but also to enable quality comparison among various flag images.

Question What format should it be in?
Answer: It should be in GIF format. GIFs are widely accepted and readable by all image capable browsers, they are supported by all drawing programs (except the most primitive ones like MSPaint) and they fully satisfy our imaging needs. GIF format has also a few drawbacks, though, but these can be discussed someplace else.

Question How big it should be? (in pixels)
Answer: The size of the image in pixels (coloured dots that make the electronic "bitmap" image) is determined as 216 pixels measured vertically. The horizontal size is, of course, then determined by the ratio of the flag represented. In some special cases we divert from the rule (as all other FOTW rules, this one has "except if there is a good reason against" catch that allowes some flexibility if there is a good reason). Such cases are, e.g. long masthead pennants, where is sticking to 216 pixels at hoist would produce much too big horizontal dimensions. Other good examples are vertically hoisted flags, that are inherently different and the 216 pixels size is for then used for the horizontal dimension.

Question: How big it should be? (in bytes)
Answer: A typical FOTW standard GIF would rarely be bigger then a dozen kilobytes, more often it would stick around 5 K. If you are getting images larger than this, especially if they include large areas of one colour, there must be someth