Broacher, I think this one is for you..Photopaint 12 palettes

[KKG]

Have created a custom palette in "users's palettes" which I cannot access from within the "Web Image Optimiser" so I can quote download times to my clients.

I can see the pallete I created (say 27.cpl) in the Color Palette Browser Docker.
I take my bitmapinto the Web Image Optiser, convert to 256 paletted ,select Gif in the drop down menu,
it defaults to "last used", I go to advanced to open my 27.cpl, the resultant gif is no good. It's palette says it is full 256 but looks more like 8 colours.

I have tried creating a name for the 256 palette ..say 256.cpl, then taking my optimised 27.cpl and "save as " 256.cpl and get the same horrible result.

I figure I am doing something monumentally stupid here Broacher.

kk
___________

[Broacher]

Yeah, if you're to build any monument to your stupidity, it would be for asking me. I'm a very 'casual' PP user, but 99% of the time I'm in Photoshop. I've nothing too big against PPaint-- there's some great stuff in there-- it just doesn't go as fast for me as I've been using PShop for a decade--occasionally dipping into PPaint to see if program stability problems were resolved (not so far... but I gave up trying after about vers. 9).

Still, FWIW, I opened up PP12 and tried what you did and got the same results. As soon as you apply a custom palette and return to the main dbox of the Optimizer, it wipes out the customized palette! A nasty bug.

Here's somethings that I did discover that might help and a workaround:

For some unknown reason, when you save a palette in Ppaint, it saves the file NOT in the CorelDraw Custom directory but instead, it goes into the 'c:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Corel\Graphics12\User Custom Data\Palettes'. Also, you won't even find the palette subfolder in the Program files\Corel\CorelDraw12\Custom directory--- it's inside the Languages\En subfolder! Now this is WHERE the programs look for the custom palettes (read them) but NOT save them there. Confused? I am. I tried to do some edits to the Corelapps.ini (both the file in the Username and the Program directories) file to change this but I couldn't get it to acknowledge the changes.

Workaround? Convert the image to indexed colour using the custom Palette BEFORE you go to the WEB optimizer, and make sure that the Optimizer uses 'Advanced/Adapttive/No dithering' before saving. You'll get the size there.

The problem though, is still going to be finding the darned custom palette file. As I said, by default it starts to look in the Languages/En/Custom folder, but if you save a custom palette it's gonna be in the Username equivalent under Documents and Settings -- major PITA!!

If I hear of any other solution, I'll let you know.

[KKG]

Thankyou yet again for your hard work. I wasted most of yesterday on it, and yes, discovered the 'two directory dilemma'. I falsely figured that was my solution, but, corel spits out a messed up image when you use the version saved via the Language directory.

What is very tantalising is the lovely neat palette docker with all my customised palettes just sitting there looking very pretty, but apparently un-usable.

I have decided to put it in the too hard draw, because I have been taking my frustrations out on my partner, and figure 'can't use customised palettes' might look a bit 'thin' on the divorce papers.

PS...Hope you had a great festive season for end 2004, we did. Escaped to Broome in the north of WA.

ooorrooo for now broacher

PPS. Does Photoshop have 'useable' customised palettes? I have it , but rarely use.

[Broacher]

KKG, did you try what I said?

You CAN still use a custom palette--- if you go to the custom palette loader inside the 'Convert to Paletted' box (not the one inside the Optimizer! Just the one when you use Image/Color Mode/Paletted from the main menu.)

From there, hit the 'open' button next to the palette and browse for that directory in the UserSettings area that I described. This is where the custom palettes are stored when you save them. I've now even added a shortcut file pointing to this directory in the OTHER directory inside the Corel/.... Languages/en/palettes folder-- so if it gets reset, I just click on it to get there quickly.

[KKG]

Oh!!!! got so frustrated I couldnt see the forest from the trees. I had been doing it, llllloooong way round to get to the palette I had created, but thought it was pooey cos when I then went into the Web Image Optimiser to tell my client the various loading times it comes up visually with the screwed up version in the right hand window. But, if I just create the optimised gif and then merely use the Web Image Optimiser to give me the loading times I am getting what I want.

That is ofcourse if the load times it gives me are correct.....?

It is an image 483 x 282 @72dpi ..........12kb ...

It is quoting 33k , (the normal dial-up 56K modem download rate) at 2.23 secs.

Are you able to confirm that Broacher? I dont want to quote times that are not true, he originally wanted the prospectus versions I drew, which had to be jpeg'd and was going to take around 35 secs to load on dial-up. Cos he didnt want to spend the money to have me redesign them.

[Broacher]

KKG-- why not just download a freeware download estimator? Or even print out a table that'll ballpark you real close? I mean, it's not that big a deal, I think.