Head Roller
09-23-2008, 09:30 AM
Resizing Photos with PhotoShop
Posting images on the web and in your albums can be a bit of a challenge these days because our digital cameras have such hi resolution capabilities. In addition to resolution, raw images are now able to hold huge amounts of meta data which also increases the size. Most forums, this one included, have to set some sort of limit on file sizes to keep sites from getting bogged down with excessive data transfer. Generally, size restrictions are both pixel size (for example, 800 x800) AND file size (for example 200kb). Often, if you work with just one or the other, you will end up with either an image that fits the pixel size restrictions, but is over the file size, or you get an image to fit into the file size restrictions, but the display size is tiny.
For those of you with PhotoShop, you can really optimize the size and quality of your posted images by using its Crop tool and Save For Web options. Here is how:
Open your image in PhotoShop. If you are interested, you can go to File--> Image Size and pull up the dialog box. This will tell you what size of image you are starting with.
http://www.learnairbrush.com/images/UPDATES/sept_08/resize/018.jpg
Here you can see that the raw image is HUGE. Pixel size and file size are not the same thing, but that is another article for another day. You can see here that we are waaaay over any limit on pixel dimensions. Resolution is another thing we should hit on as well. Computer screens (generally) only display images at 72 dpi. Images with higher resolution will end up displaying much larger on screen than you may expect.
Ok, enough boring background geeky info (Lord knows I am full of it! LoL). Let's get on with resizing!
My favorite tool to start the resizing process is the Crop tool.
http://www.learnairbrush.com/images/UPDATES/sept_08/resize/019.jpg
Once you activate the Crop tool, its contextual menu will show across the top of your screen. Here you can set the size and resolution of your final image. I have set it at 800 x 600 and 72 dpi. The double arrow between the width and height toggle the 2 settings so you can easily crop both portrait and landscape oriented images.
NOTE: You can save settings that you use all the time in the tool presets.
http://www.learnairbrush.com/images/UPDATES/sept_08/resize/019b.jpg
Simply hit the arrow next to the Crop tool in the menu and you will see a drop down menu. Click the "new" icon on the right side of the drop down and it will add your current setting to the presets. You can see it here at the bottom of the list.
Once the tool is set, it is time to crop!
http://www.learnairbrush.com/images/UPDATES/sept_08/resize/020.jpg
Now, simply drag the crop tool across your image. It will retain the proportional dimensions. You can drag it anywhere, you do not have to just crop the whole image. You can use this tool to create close-ups or to get rid of unneccesary background "noise". Until you double click within the selection box, you can continue to pull the handles to get the crop "just right". When you are happy, double click!
Now your image is 800 x 600, or whatever the pixel dimensions that you chose. This does not ensure, however, that the image will fall within the file size dimensions. In fact, most of the time it will not. This is because of all the extra data that is included in the file. In order to get this image to a more acceptible size, use the File --> Save for Web option in the menu.
http://www.learnairbrush.com/images/UPDATES/sept_08/resize/021.jpg
Now you will see a new window with a bunch of options and tabs. I like to hit the 2-up tab along the top in order to get the original image and the "new" resized image side by side.
http://www.learnairbrush.com/images/UPDATES/sept_08/resize/022.jpg
Getting a closer look at the tools on the right hand side, you can see how much control this feature offers:
http://www.learnairbrush.com/images/UPDATES/sept_08/resize/022b.jpg
On the right you can choose if you would like the file to be saved as a jpg or gif. Generally a jpg will produce a better quality, smaller image when the original file is a photograph. Gif is a better option for line art, simple images with few gradients or anything transparent. The quality settings are where you will gain or lose file size. Most of the time, a high quality setting of 60% will produce little if any noticable quality loss, while getting the file size down. As you move the slider or change the quality settings, you will notice that the image on the right will preview what the image will look like, and it will also display the resulting file size along the bottom.
You can mess with these settings til you get what you want. I generally just leave it at the settings you see here.
One other thing of note. You can continue to work with the pixel dimensions here as well. Click the Image Size tab to display the width and height options. You can make changes here, and hit the apply button to change the dimensions.
When you are happy with your preview image, hit the Done button, and save the image to your computer. You can now attach your nice-sized, good quality image to a thread or post them in your album!
Happy Re-Sizing!
Posting images on the web and in your albums can be a bit of a challenge these days because our digital cameras have such hi resolution capabilities. In addition to resolution, raw images are now able to hold huge amounts of meta data which also increases the size. Most forums, this one included, have to set some sort of limit on file sizes to keep sites from getting bogged down with excessive data transfer. Generally, size restrictions are both pixel size (for example, 800 x800) AND file size (for example 200kb). Often, if you work with just one or the other, you will end up with either an image that fits the pixel size restrictions, but is over the file size, or you get an image to fit into the file size restrictions, but the display size is tiny.
For those of you with PhotoShop, you can really optimize the size and quality of your posted images by using its Crop tool and Save For Web options. Here is how:
Open your image in PhotoShop. If you are interested, you can go to File--> Image Size and pull up the dialog box. This will tell you what size of image you are starting with.
http://www.learnairbrush.com/images/UPDATES/sept_08/resize/018.jpg
Here you can see that the raw image is HUGE. Pixel size and file size are not the same thing, but that is another article for another day. You can see here that we are waaaay over any limit on pixel dimensions. Resolution is another thing we should hit on as well. Computer screens (generally) only display images at 72 dpi. Images with higher resolution will end up displaying much larger on screen than you may expect.
Ok, enough boring background geeky info (Lord knows I am full of it! LoL). Let's get on with resizing!
My favorite tool to start the resizing process is the Crop tool.
http://www.learnairbrush.com/images/UPDATES/sept_08/resize/019.jpg
Once you activate the Crop tool, its contextual menu will show across the top of your screen. Here you can set the size and resolution of your final image. I have set it at 800 x 600 and 72 dpi. The double arrow between the width and height toggle the 2 settings so you can easily crop both portrait and landscape oriented images.
NOTE: You can save settings that you use all the time in the tool presets.
http://www.learnairbrush.com/images/UPDATES/sept_08/resize/019b.jpg
Simply hit the arrow next to the Crop tool in the menu and you will see a drop down menu. Click the "new" icon on the right side of the drop down and it will add your current setting to the presets. You can see it here at the bottom of the list.
Once the tool is set, it is time to crop!
http://www.learnairbrush.com/images/UPDATES/sept_08/resize/020.jpg
Now, simply drag the crop tool across your image. It will retain the proportional dimensions. You can drag it anywhere, you do not have to just crop the whole image. You can use this tool to create close-ups or to get rid of unneccesary background "noise". Until you double click within the selection box, you can continue to pull the handles to get the crop "just right". When you are happy, double click!
Now your image is 800 x 600, or whatever the pixel dimensions that you chose. This does not ensure, however, that the image will fall within the file size dimensions. In fact, most of the time it will not. This is because of all the extra data that is included in the file. In order to get this image to a more acceptible size, use the File --> Save for Web option in the menu.
http://www.learnairbrush.com/images/UPDATES/sept_08/resize/021.jpg
Now you will see a new window with a bunch of options and tabs. I like to hit the 2-up tab along the top in order to get the original image and the "new" resized image side by side.
http://www.learnairbrush.com/images/UPDATES/sept_08/resize/022.jpg
Getting a closer look at the tools on the right hand side, you can see how much control this feature offers:
http://www.learnairbrush.com/images/UPDATES/sept_08/resize/022b.jpg
On the right you can choose if you would like the file to be saved as a jpg or gif. Generally a jpg will produce a better quality, smaller image when the original file is a photograph. Gif is a better option for line art, simple images with few gradients or anything transparent. The quality settings are where you will gain or lose file size. Most of the time, a high quality setting of 60% will produce little if any noticable quality loss, while getting the file size down. As you move the slider or change the quality settings, you will notice that the image on the right will preview what the image will look like, and it will also display the resulting file size along the bottom.
You can mess with these settings til you get what you want. I generally just leave it at the settings you see here.
One other thing of note. You can continue to work with the pixel dimensions here as well. Click the Image Size tab to display the width and height options. You can make changes here, and hit the apply button to change the dimensions.
When you are happy with your preview image, hit the Done button, and save the image to your computer. You can now attach your nice-sized, good quality image to a thread or post them in your album!
Happy Re-Sizing!