Your split images questions answered

Can I split my images without optimizing to retain the original quality?
That depends on the source format that you start with, for example:

1. Starting with a JPEG:
   No, since splitting a JPEG file which has already compressed means decompressing it and recompressing it again, resulting in a loss of quality.
2. Starting with a GIF:
   Yes. Open the GIF file, and create the new GIF output 'file'. Then set Max bpp to 8bpp, Web safe 0%, Dither 0%, and Area include to Disable. On output, the original quality is retained. You may find the BPP (and hence file size) are reduced because Ignite will ensure the palette only contains those colours actually used.

Why does my split image have extra white space in the image when I look at it in my browser?
Ignite makes it very easy to create complicated split image layouts, and layouts which may appear to be simple, but in fact produce complicated HTML tables.
 
Browsers may fail to display some of the more complex tables correctly, giving extra blank space within the table. This is not a bug in Ignite. The HTML code Ignite produces is correct, but browsers can't display it properly.
 
Here's are some solutions...

1. Reduce the complexity of the image.
   Use cells which span less columns and rows.
2. Create a 'strutting' row
   Make an extra row at the top of your split image. This row should have no joined cells! To create it, insert a new horizontal division at the top of your image. Then, for each cell on the top row, right click on the cell, and choose 'Unjoin cell' if it is not greyed out so that your strutting row contains all your columns without any joins. This will help the browser to calculate how your rowspans and colspans should be drawn.
3. If these two options don't work, try creating a strutting column along the left or right hand edge, whichever is best for your design. Use a similar technique to that described above.

The image above has a strutting row along the top. It has a cell for every column in the image, none of the cells are joined. In the row underneath you can see that 'our clients' spans two columns and the cell next to it on the right spans three rows. On the left there is a cell that spans two rows and two columns.

It's complex layout like this that causes display problems in browsers. By adding a strtting row as the very first row the browser comes to when it lays out your image table, you are giving it a 'map' that shows it how your table is construted and allows it to display your image correctly.

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