If you have noticed that some images or backgrounds online seem fuzzy or especially distorted; if you have tried to download a graphic file or upload one - only to find the filename changes; it is probably due to the settings in your browser preferences. This is how it works and why this is happening:

In order for images to be reduced to a file size which loads reasonably quickly they must first be compressed, and a certain amount of image quality is inevitably lost. AOL's browser preferences allow AOL users to check a box for additional compression of an image in order for it to load faster. Now, if you take an image which has already been heavily compressed and compress it further, the result will be a pretty ugly looking picture. If you wish to change your browser's settings in order to see clearer images, you can follow the instructions below. Images will load somewhat more slowly if you do this, but the visual quality of your internet experience will greatly improve. The choice, of course, is yours.

• On your AOL toolbar, click "My AOL" and then click on "Preferences".

• In the Preferences menu box that pops up, click on "Graphics". In the Graphics Viewing Preferences box you will see a little box at the bottom which allows you to set the JPEG compression quality; the higher this number is, the worse the quality of images will be. Set this number as low as you are comfortable with (the best setting of course, would be 1). Then click on
  "OK".

• Next, click on the little square box on the Preferences menu that says "WWW". When the AOL Internet Properties box appears, click on the "Web Graphics" tab. Uncheck the box that asks if you want web graphics to be compressed. Click "Apply" then click "OK".

• Now, to make sure that your new settings are applied, close AOL and any other active windows, shut down your computer and restart it.
  
  

• Now take a peek at how images online are supposed to look. If it's too slow for you or you don't like it, you can always change it back!