Quicker load time of images on my home page with Shockwave 3D Slideshow Script

[CookieMonster]

1) Script Title: Shockwave 3D slideshow script

2) Script URL (on DD): http://www.dynamicdrive.com/dynamici...wave/index.htm

3) I am using this script on my homepage. I know how to use a pre-loader script for images on other pages, but what do I do when I need to have about fifteen photos in this slideshow on my homepage? I have reduced them in size somewhat, but, beyond that, how do I get them to load quicker on my home page? Thanks! :-)

[Beverleyh]

Images are some of the worst culprits for web page weight gain, which inevitably impacts upon speed and performance.

Tips for improving the impact of images on speed;

- reduce image quantity
- reduce image size/dimensions
- use the right format (jpeg for photos, png-8 for few colours and 1-bit transparency, png-24 for alpha-transparency)
- optimise, optimise, optimise (individually, using something like Optimizilla http://optimizilla.com/ to squeeze out every last byte from banner/showcase pics, and then, run ALL images through smush.it just to be sure)
- put important images in hidden <img> tags high up in the markup for faster download (CSS background images load slightly slower than those appearing in <img src="">)
- cache (as much as possible) and gzip (as much as possible except images and PDF)
- defer image loading on images that do not appear "above the fold" http://www.feedthebot.com/pagespeed/defer-images.html (and all the other stuff about minimising render-blocking resources - loads of great info here: http://www.feedthebot.com/pagespeed/ )

Also use a service such at GTmetrix http://gtmetrix.com/ to help you troubleshoot other performance issues.

For further advice and specific help, please provide a link to your page.