title: Are there limits to how tall/wide CSS Sprite-maps can be?
body: <p>Let me start off by stating that I realize the arguments against doing CSS Sprites for large images. I even asked <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7108497/why-not-sprite-larger-images-that-are-page-content">a question</a> about why that could be considered a bad idea (and added an <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7108497/why-not-sprite-larger-images-that-are-page-content/7148933#7148933">answer of my own</a>). Now that we've had that talk... </p>
  
  <p>I'm going to be making a large CSS Sprite-map. For the process of making this sprite-map, it behooves me to know what (if any) limit exists for the height and/or width of a sprite image in order for browsers to properly process it.</p>
  
  <p>The ultimate reason behind this question is a debate over whether to lay out the sprite images in a grid or in a single row/column. For example: is it necessary or beneficial to do 4000 x 3000 instead of 400 x 30000?</p>
  
  <p>Edit: The sticking point here isn't about what size images can be, but rather what size browsers can process for sprites. Given the lack of detail thus far, I'm moving forward with generating the single-large-column sprite. I'll post details of my experiences as an answer once that is complete.</p>