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 FAQ’s
Topic:
Banners & Graphics
What
is a banner ad?
A banner is a graphical advertisement on the web. Companies, organizations,and
people like you use banners the same way they would use
a billboard, newspaper ad, or any other form of advertising. It's
simply the web's version of advertising. Just like anyone can
take out a newspaper or radio ad, anyone can use banners on their
site to advertise something. The CBE uses banners from all kinds
of Cigar related web sites to “advertise” or cross promote other
Cigar web sites. Here's an example of an actual banner in the
exchange exactly as it would display in your web page:
What
does banner “resolution”mean? What does 468 x 60 mean?
Graphical images on the web are measured in pixels. Pixels are the
tiny little dots you see on your screen. 468 x 60 means that the dimensions
of a banner are 468 pixels wide by 60 pixels high. Though it seems
like a strange size, it is the industry standard. You will need to
know these demensions if you create your own banners. Here's an example
of what 468 x 60 means:
What
is the difference between “gif”and “jpeg” banners?
A “gif” file is one of many types of graphical images on the web.
Gifs have a maximum of 256 colors. They can be used to create animated
banners. Graphics can save quite a bit on file size if you are only
using a few colors on your banner. However, if you want to have a
banner with lots of colors, but a gif file will be too large (in terms
of size) for the banner exchange, you might want to use a “jpeg.”
A “jpeg”or
“jpg” is another type of graphic that is commonly used on the web.
Jpegs are a “compression” type of graphic, which more simply means
that you can use a picture with 16 million colors on it, and it will
be roughly the equivalent in file size to a gif. Jpeg banners cannot
be animated, but allow you to use very vivid colors in your banners.
For more information about the difference between these two graphics,
read C|NET's
graphics 101 tutorial.
What
kind of banner can I use?
With our system, you are allowed to use .gif banners, with an industry
standard size of 468 x 60 (in pixels). Banners can be up to 12k in
file size.
Your
web page said my banner is too big. What can I do?
If our software won't allow you to upload a banner, it's either because
the file size of your banner is above the allowed 12k (12,000 bytes)
or because it is not exactly 468 x 60 pixels in measurement. We suggest
trying one of three things:
- Using
a graphics editor, try saving your banner using less colors and
be sure to examine image information for its exact dimension.
- To
reduce image file size, try some of our favorite online
graphics optimizers (makes them smaller), like GifWorks
3.0. It's 100% free, and a great tool to use for shrinking banners.
- Create
a new banner that is slightly smaller than 12k.
How
do I make a banner?
We have set up an entire area in our Tools
area for banner creation. There you will find utilities and free resources
for making your own banners, including free Online
Banner Creators, tips for banner
design, and banner blanks. Or,
you can start from scratch with your favorite graphics editor.
I
don't know how to make a banner. Will you make one for me?
Yes. Since we are not in the business of making banners, we charge
$100 per banner. Rest assured you will get a ad specifically designed
to meet your needs. We will work with you through samples, rough-drafts,
and when you are satisfied, you will have a banner to your expectation
and satisfaction. If you are interested, please contact
us.
I've
made a banner, how do I send it to you?
We would prefer that you upload it by using the “Banner Management”
option in the drop-down menu of the Member’s Section. It’s fast, it's
done using the browser and it checks to make sure your banner is the
right size. If for some reason that doesn't work, you can e-mail it
to us as an attachment. Please send it to
.
Where
can I find blank banners so that I can make my own banner?
Please check out our material on Banner Creation in the Tools
Section.
What
is a graphics editor?
A graphics editor is a computer program that allows you to create,
edit, and save graphics all of all sorts. It is a valuable tool for
many different things, including banner construction. Like all software
programs they cover the entire spectrum in terms of quality, price,
and usability. Two of the most popular are Paint
Shop Pro by JASC Software, and Photoshop,
by Adobe Software. These are both Shareware programs, which allow
you to try them before you buy them. There is also a great freeware
graphics editor called IfranView.
We suggest a freeware program such as this if you don't want to buy
a graphics editor.
Do
I have to have a graphics editor to join?
Of course not, but you do need a banner. You will be able to earn
credits without a banner, but you will not be able to display your
CBE banner anywhere until you create one, and upload it to the site.
Why
hasn't my banner be approved yet?
It can be up to 48 hours before your account is activated.
Here's why:
When
someone joins, we usually give them a day to add the HTML code to
their site. Also, we give people a day or two to create a banner for
their account as well. Once you have uploaded a banner and added the
HTML code to your site, then your site is close to being activated.
We'll review your site, making sure it stands in agreement with our
Terms and Conditions. If it does,
we'll approve your banner, and it will begin to show on other sites.
You'll receive an e-mail notifying you that your banner has been activated,
and under "Banner Management" in your account, the banner
will be displayed.
If your account falls into any of the following situations, it will
not be activated, until you make the necessary changes:
- No
banner uploaded to your account
- No
CBE code found on your page
- Your
web site shows no evidence of being a Cigar related web site within
one page click
All of
these requirements must be made before we can activate your account.
You can fulfill these requirements whenever you want (i.e. someone
is making you a banner and it won't be ready until next week), but
it can take us up to 48 hours to activate your account. If you think
your account activation has been overlooked, please contact
us.
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