Map Decoration

Hi, I've started to graphically design my campaign and all is going fine; I am using Dundjinni to design and had a query before I really launch into it. In terms of loading in graphics for my players, who's connections vary from pretty fast to pretty slow, is it better to put in the finer points of decoration and objects into the dundjinni design or is it less download intensive to design a pretty bare dundjinni design (just the floor map) and then populate it with roll20 assigned objects, pre-play? Basically, which approach is likely to benefit us in terms of playing not downloading? (NB I know that I can use PNG's for detail but a larger file size or JPG's for smaller file sizes but are liable to compression)

My rule of thumb is generally, "If I'm not going to move it, put it on the map image," which I sometimes break for things that I'm going to repeat in other places.

Generally speaking, you want the fewest number of individual images possible. The more images, the more things have to load, and the more work the computer has to do, slowing things down. Which means that The Aaron's principle is sound; if you're not going to move it, it should not be an independent image. Ideally, you'd make your entire 'map' externally and then import it to the map layer of Roll20. Sometimes that's not possible, or it's easier to make the map in Roll20 itself. In which case, yes, put the images on the map layer, to 'flesh out' the more basic map you already have. If you try to make a large, highly-detailed, item-intensive map entirely on Roll20, you're going to run into lag and loading issues. If you make most or all of your map externally, then import it into Roll20, you're going to have better response times. Your mileage (pixelage?) may vary. -Phnord (Just A Phnord, not THE Phnord... I'm available in six-packs and larger quantities by special order.)

Hello Gavin. Aaron and Phnord are very correct on the image usage and there is not much to be added other than if you have not read the roll20 wiki page about best image practices, take a look: <a href="https://wiki.roll20.net/Image_Best_Practices_for_Roll20" rel="nofollow">https://wiki.roll20.net/Image_Best_Practices_for_Roll20</a>

Suggestion have a "flatten" feature that merges all items or selected items on the map layer. All out of votes or I would submit it...

(...though it could totally be a strategy for optimization on Roll20's end, particularly for players that can't access the map layer directly, and could be updated using dirty rectangles...)

Thanks for the replies - I've decided to put the decoration into the external design as suggested and add stuff through roll20 just when needed or that which needs to be manipulated. The only decision I have to go with now is jpg or png!