problem with pictures (csibson)

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 13 Apr 2004 18:58

Written on 13/04/04 at 17:30:04 GMT by csibson (as a comment to an article)

Can anybody help me with a picture problem in 2.2.4? Clicking Insert/Pictures brings up the dialog box but none of the images on my hard disk are recognised (all are .tif format)in the preview pane. If I save them as .png they appear in the preview pane but when I try to open them in the multimedia box, the program crashes.

ID:375

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 13 Apr 2004 19:01

My guess the problem with the Tiff files is that you are using one of the proprietary compression methods.

I have not heard of any problems with png format, what program are you using to create them and what size are the images, both uncompressed and compressed. How much memory do you have in your system?
What OS are you using?
Have you installed to 2.2.4 update?

csibson · Post by **csibson** » 13 Apr 2004 20:45

My OS is XP, I have 720mb RAM. I am using Microsoft Digital Image Pro 9 to save b/w images scanned using HP scanner & software. Images vary in size from 0.5 to 2.2mb. I bought F Historian v2.1.8 (incidentally v good otherwise) from PC World Hanley last month and updated to 2.2.4 from the web. I'm not sure what you mean by 'proprietary compression methods'. I have tried uninstalling 2.1.8 and re-installing then updating again, so far without success.
Thanks a lot for your reply

csibson · Post by **csibson** » 13 Apr 2004 20:48

One more detail - I saved the file in question from Family Tree Maker in GEDCOM 5.5 format and loaded it into Family Historian.

vliet · Post by **vliet** » 13 Apr 2004 21:13

Doesn't matter how sophisticated your system is - large images (in terms of file size, rather than canvas size, as it were) are not really advisable as they slow everything down. Some of the pix I take for work can be over 40 mb, especially if layered and I wouldn't dream of using them in FH!
Make them jpegs, lowish resolution, make sure they are rgb not cmyk and you shouldn't have a problem. Also, size them to be less than a postcard in cm, even smaller if possibe, and they ought to do the job.
Then, you'll realise that you could have spent less on the spec for your pc!!!

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 13 Apr 2004 23:00

some Tiff compression routines are not supported by FH as they are not public domain so can not be read by the graphics routines.

The same is true for some GIF compression. Please could you detail the exact sequence of events and what happens to FH when it 'crashes', I would also try saving images as jpg as large as you like although personally I do not use any larger than 1600x1200. If you use a low compression ratio the image degradation should not be too great.

I am not familiar with the MS photograph software so can not make suggestions on that area. Perhaps with a few more details I pass on the sequence of events or ideally reproduce the problem. I have never used the png format, so am not sure if that may be part of the problem.

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 13 Apr 2004 23:18

If possible perhaps you could send me one of the photos in png format which crashes FH you have my e-mail address.

Then I can see if I can re-create the problem

csibson · Post by **csibson** » 23 Apr 2004 13:07

Problem appears to be solved using images saved as jpg. Thanks to all for suggestions.
Chris

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