"Download file size?" Topic

How big is a 'reasonable' size for a download file for paper models? I'm getting my paper Napoleonics armies ready for sale and I'm worried that the files might be a tad large, maybe 4-500 megs per army (before being zipped).

It is the size of the file after zipping that matters most. Most folks have enough room to store gobos of data on their computers anyway. So knowing how big the file is after being zipped is probably the big determiner.

I'm worried that the files might be a tad large, maybe 4-500 megs per army (before being zipped).

If you're going to zip then it's the zipped size that matters. And then it is a function of the downloader's broadband speed.

My current download speed is ~18.92Mbps. A 500MB file would take me less than 4 minutes.

What's the biggest paper model file you've downloaded?

Okay, I zipped a few files as an experiment and I'm rather dismayed that they didn't get any smaller. The zip file is the same size and the sum of the unzipped files I'm putting into it. Am I doing something wrong?

Okay, I zipped a few files as an experiment and I'm rather dismayed that they didn't get any smaller. The zip file is the same size and the sum of the unzipped files I'm putting into it. Am I doing something wrong?

"Different types of files compress better than others. Examples: jpg and gif image files do not compress well as they are already very compact file types. "
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What is the source file type? You can get them down by playing with dpi and file type. For instance, are you using jpgs as your base files? If they are PDFs, there are compression settings in Acrobat.

What is the original file type? Some types are already compressed.

10 Megs is frequently a limit for sending via e-mail, with some providers.

PDF files no longer compress to any significant extent, you do well if you get them down by 10%, 2 or 3 is normal unless they contain uncompressed bitmaps – particularly older formats.

You can reduce the quality of the images in the PDF to reduce its size but you will have to take care that the printed version works – viewing it on-screen is not enough to confirm print quality. I've been caught by that once or twice in the past.

I export from CorelDraw and have found that twiddling with the settings can reduce file sizes but not always predictably. Particularly vector images with bit-map components (e.g. patterned fills or textures) can be stubborn and won't reduce much until you reach the point where they fail to print well.

You probably do need to look at the limits for providers such as Gmail and other freebies as they will be smaller than paid-for ones.

I'm wary of using zip files as they regularly host viruses and won't generally touch them unless I know the source. Just send a PDF, you don't gain much by zipping.

4-500 Mb is not a "tad too big" it's enormous!

Your images must be very large (pixels), very detailed, in a format like bmp or all three.

I'd check the ppi settings, the colour depth and the size (in cm) of the printed image(s). Plus switch to a compressed format.

As you are looking to sell them to consumers they are unlikely to:

[1] Print at more than 300 dpi (not = ppi). Some even say 120 dpi is more than enough.

[2] Use paper much larger than A4 or US letter.

In short make sure your image matches the end use not just what your graphics program defaults to.

--
Martin Stephenson
The Waving Flag | Twitter | eBay

really comes to opening and printing. Too large and some of our home printers choke

I'm creating the images in AutoCAD and then I 'print' them as PDFs. A single 8 1/2" x 11" sheet is coming out at around 7MB. There is a LOT of detail on each sheet. There are anywhere from 4-10 sheets per corps and 4 to ten corps in an army. I really need to have all the files for an army in one file to sell. If this turns out to be an impossible download, I guess I'll have to put the files on flash drives and mail them to the buyer. Small flash drives are very cheap these days.

Consider making them a multi-part download. Maybe a corps per download? You could still sell as one but just deliver them in parts.

I'm not sure how to do that!

The .rar format is popular for multi-part archives, you could use that.

You could restructure the corps so that the typical troop "stands" are one-per-sheet, and you print that particular page many times. And another sheet of skirmishers, artillery, etc, which is printed fewer times. And so on. That could dramatically reduce your page count.

I've downloaded terrain from Wargameprint with files over 100 MB, by the way.

I prefer 600 DPI, if anyone is listening.

At a later date I'll probably offer generic troops stands, but this first offering is meant to mesh with the Blucher Hundred Days campaign and as such every stand is completely unique, so I have to have files for them all.

Not sure how I'm going to manage this. Of course I will be selling hard copy, too.

One of the reasons that I went for hard copy only for my 1/300th scale buildings was that the PDF files would be too large to e-mail easily. You may also have issues with your ISP if you have to send off so much data regularly – even, so called, 'unlimited' deals usually have a 'fair usage' clause that can give them the right to charge you extra.

Don't reduce below 300dpi unless your images are exclusively plain colours and simple shapes or if important details are less than about 1mm apart. If you do then a basic model inkjet will not give a good image. If the plan is for the customer to get them printed on a laser at Staples or similar then you can probably go to 150dpi and put up with the odd minor glitch.

Personally I would not go as high as 600dpi unless I were including photo reproductions or larger areas of graduated shading or fills, you won't make any significant improvement on the printed image by doing so.