• allow photos to have a much better colour range, and
• allow very high compression ratios, resulting in much smaller files and hence faster download of images. Some of our files are 30:1 compression - it's a bit 'lossy' but you probably can't tell!

JPEG files need 16-bit HiColor graphics mode to look right. If you use ordinary 8-bit, 256 colours (common for GIF files) the colours of the photos can look very dull, blotchy and not nice.

Windows 95/98:

1. Close down any applications that are running
2. Click on "Start", then on "Settings", followed by "Control Panel" then "Display".
3. See 5 "tabs" across the top. Click on the right hand one, labelled "Settings"
4. See near the bottom left "Color Pallette".
   • If the slot says "High Color (16 bit)" you do not need to change it.
   • If it says "256 Color" then click on the arrow at the right of the slot and select
     "High Color (16 bit)" .
5. Click on "OK". You must re-boot the PC for any changes to take effect.

Alternativeley you can use a utility called Quickres.exe to do the job. This is very powerful and easy to use and is well worthwhile installing in the "Startup folder" - it works only in Win 95/98. It changes the display properties without re-booting.  Download Quickres.exe from Power Toys

Windows 3.1x
This is usually more difficult than with Windows 95:

1. Close down any applications that are running
2. Click on Control Panel
3. Click on System
4. Click on option 1 "Video Display"
   • If your video driver allows selection of graphics resolution follow the instructions, or:
   • If your video driver does not allow selection of graphics resolution, select the appropriate high resolution driver for your display
5. Re-boot the computer to initiate the new driver.

The photos are best viewed with the latest Explorer or Netscape in HiColor

Updated 28th May 1999