Heya DJ and Showit Web users,
I just had this sort of epiphany about Showit Web and I am wondering why Showit is displayed in a horizontal format. I mean, it squishes portraits and/or stretches landscape oriented work. Why not have it square so everything comes out of equal size? It just seems to make more sense technially and aesthetically, right?

Hi Ryan,

I might not be understanding your question, but I think you can make your slideshow square if you want. Just set the pixel dimensions the same for each measurement and have the images fill the frame.

Show it doesn't distort my images in anyway, so I'm not sure what you mean by that. Do you have a show you can direct me to?

I sent in some feedback just today to have the pages, capped at particular dimensions as there are many widescreen monitors out there and once you go full screen, the page looks funny. SIS should have a maximum page size which keeps aspect ratios proper.

Just my opionion.

I agree and we are adding this in Sweet.... I'm also not totally understanding what is getting squished but post something up and we'll figure it out. The main reason for a horizontal display is because that fits computer monitors better.

Interesting, I just changed the display ratio for the embed code and it seemed to accomplish what I was looking for, but the native format is still 6:9. The problem here is that it will appear different when I directly link to the slideshow than what I end up putting on my blog. It seems sort of silly to have a native 6:9 horizontal display format for the slideshow when almost everyone is going to be using a mixture of horizontal and vertical images. It would be awesome to have the option to choose the native display format for the slideshow rather than just the embed code.Good to hear! (I wrote my last response as you were writing) I totally hear it fitting monitors better but I don't think many people are using monitors which would struggle with 600x600 display.That said, I think I figured out part of my problem insofar as if you want the images to appear properly at 400x600, you'd better make sure the images are originally larger than 400 on the long side when horizontal. Oops.So, I am an idiot, but an idiot who would love a native square format option.

Ryan, I may just not be understanding your question, but I've seen square Showit shows before. Also, if you want to eliminate any hint of background showing through, you can manually increase the image size on that particular slide to be bigger than the slide show frame on the starting and ending points of the zoom effect. Does that make any sense? It's Friday and I'm just looking forward to going to the aquarium with my fam so my head's not on straight.

BTW: Are you in Brooklyn? Brooklyn ruuuuuuulz.

Thats great news DJ...

I dont have too much of an issue with the background images etc, but I noticed that my title bar at the top stretches but the links in the bar stay in the same place....ie they dont move in the same proportion to how it looks on my square monitor...

Not too much of an issue if you are adding in the size limiter..

Brooklaaaaaaaayn! It does. I just shot a henna party with Punam Bean last night and it was on the 11th floor of a building RIGHT NEXT to the Brooklyn Bridge. Wow. Sometimes I forget how much I love this city. I think Punam said it best, "I just forget how beautiful it is...you know...with the smell and everything." Hah!

I've figured out out to change the display ratio on blogs, but it can be really hard to figure out how that is going to display in the end because the native ratio for display and, more importantly, building the slideshow is a 6:9 ratio. I think DJ caught my drift and seems to be wanting to add that functionality. Imagine being able to do panos with it? I REALLY want to get a widelux camera and I would love to be able to use the scans in a a slidshow which is oriented for that and not have to guess what it is going to look like. Yum Widelux...if you haven't seen Jeff Bridge's book, GO GET IT! So good.

Sounds like two different conversations going on here and crossing paths for Showit Web and Showit Sites.

As far as sizing in Showit Web, it is one of the first things you choose when creating a show (Panoramic, Horizontal, Square or Custom in the size drop down box). It defaults to panoramic because 4:3 is the default aspect ratio of most cameras. Also, an interesting note is that viewing things wider than taller is actually more pleasing to the eye because our eyes are spaced apart so we take in more horizontal information than vertical. This is why movie screens are wide and there has been a big move to wide screen televisions and computer screens.

As far as what DJ was mentioning on Showit Sites, a coming update will provide the option to specify a fixed size for the site instead of scaling to fit the whole page. Currently Showit Sites scales to fit the browser window meaning that the background image does not stay directly proportional to the content because there is no guarantee of the browser size, it could be tall or wide.

All the content of a Showit Sites page scales to fit but still maintains positioning with the other elements of the page. The fixed size option will allow you to lock this background size but means that your site won't be taking advantage of the cool scaling of a full size site. This is a good thing to keep in mind as you design your site, background images should be used in such a way that they are not locked to the content and can scale and crop based on the window size. If you want to lock your background, make it a layer on the page instead of the background and use a solid color as the background. This will cause it to scale but leave the solid color around the image when the browser window does match the aspect of the site. A good way to test this is to preview the site and then drag the corner of the preview window, scaling it wider or taller to see how it all works. We are working on some tutorials to explain this concept and will have some better help in place soon. Thanks,

Todd

Wow...yep, I am a butthead. So, I basically have everything I need here and I cancel my request. I have never used that particular feature because I never wanted to. So, this whole thing is moot for a dozen different reasons. Thanks Todd. I do agree that horizontal fits our natural eyespace better but it also changes the relationship between horizontal and vertical photos in a way I am not too keen on. I do have the option and it's included. Right-o!

I am thrilled about the prospect of using Showit Sites after seeing Jasmine's website. Thanks again Todd...I owe you a beer or refreshment of your choice.

I guess I was the guilty one for the two discussions.....sorry about that. Thanks for the headsup anyway Todd.