I ensure that my member's signature are no bigger than 400x340.

However, in the past people have come along with signatures that take up half the screen.

__________________
Host your forum with a reliable, stable host from just $2 per month!
Are you running a bigger forum, or a network of sites? Get a VPS from just $6 per month!

At the end of the day, doesn't your member's enjoyment of the forum matter? I'm seeing so much 'I'm not a fan of thus, and I don't allow so, and this makes the flow better'... but if members had more personal freedom and expression, wouldn't they enjoy being on your board more?

Just a thought, coming from a very very limited forum as far as personal freedoms... I just felt scrunched and it ultimately wasn't an enjoyable experience.

I agree MissMoke...I also agree that signature images can be overwhelming and distracting at times...however I realize that it makes my members feel better. They like to use images in their signature...they want to use images in their signature. What I've simply done is set limits on the size...so nobody comes in with signatures that are 500px tall (I hate forums that allow this)...signatures that are within certain size limitations are not too intrusive imo.

__________________
...some super-sweet signature

Member satisfaction is important but you have to set rules and when you do, stick to them. Ryan mentioned that he doesn't like images that are too big so he has set a guideline for his members to stick to. If one or two people came around and wanted something bigger, he shouldn't budge on this.

I feel the same way in regards to banner images in signatures. If a few people want to use them, that doesn't mean it has to be allowed. Of course if a good amount of people are screaming at you to allow them the ability to do something, then you do owe it to them to at least consider it.

__________________
Mark Blair
NowParenting - "Parenting Discussion Community"
HostHideout - "Where Professionals Discuss Web Hosting"