I've been uploading some of my color work, and have been wondering if I should upload the full-size images (They're about 2500 x 3200 px) or keep downsizing them to 1280 before uploading. I know there are tags for hi_res and such, but I'm not sure if it's necessarily a good idea to post higher resolutions, especially that large.

15000x15000 up to 80 MB is the max upload size. We almost always prefer the biggest size/best quality possible*, so feel free to upload the larger ones if you are willing to. :)

By the way, on your settings page there's a setting called "Image resize mode". If you haven't already I'd recommend changing it to either "Show reduced samples" or "Dynamically resize images". Some find it easier to browse with those enabled.

*As long as it isn't artificially upscaled of course.

Big sizes are fine, don't worry.

basically bigger = better

Downsizing a large image is easy. Upscaling a small image and keeping quality is not.
Plus, 4K resolution is becoming more popular. Consider that a 1280x1280 image would be less than 20% of a 4K screen. By uploading the largest possible version, you ensure the post is future-proofed to a degree.

aurel said:
And every mobile device user will downvote the shit out of you :p

they wont.

aurel said:
And every mobile device user will downvote the shit out of you :p

Actually, I find most large images to scale perfectly fine on my phone. They appear much less garbled than you'd expect.

It's not the size but how you use it. :3

I posted an 8000x8000 image the other day.

Bigger is always better. Especially when the level of detail in a piece warrants it.

It's best to go with the biggest size possible that an artist makes available. As an archive of sorts, it doesn't do much good to propagate inferior versions of images to e621 when better versions are readily available.

Anyone who complains about overly-hi resolution images just probably doesn't know about the 'Image Resize Mode' setting and should be politely reminded of it.

chdgs said:
Anyone who complains about overly-hi resolution images just probably doesn't know about the 'Image Resize Mode' setting and should be politely reminded of it.

Count me as someone who does know and think it works well up to about 13000x13000, and poorly beyond that.

Fortunately, most huge images aren't quite THAT huge. There are only a few dozen on E6, IIRC.