Best way to make images smaller?

[richardyoung]

I've got a question. After I take the photos and upload them to my computer, the size of the image is typically 450K or so. How can I make this size smaller but still keep the quality (or at least a similar quality) to the original? I'm mostly asking because I want to upload all of them to a server but there are too many and they're too big currently.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

-RY

[KCan]

My method is:

1) Make sure to backup original pics in safe place (on 2 Hard drives, CD , etc ...)

2) resize to reasonnable pixel size for PC screenviewing (is it your goal?), i never go bigger than 1024 wide, 800 pixel wide is often plenty for net.

3) compress jpg with a high rate , make several test to set your choice. IMO , down to 40% is still very good for PC viewing.

This way insure you each pics much under 100k per pic.

[richardyoung]

Great, thanks! However, do you use a program to do this or how would it work exactly?

Thanks again!

-RY

[JimC]

Download Irfanview from http://www.irfanview.com (it's free). Make sure to download the free plugins, too.

You'll find the resize options under the Image, Resize/Resample menu.

I use the Lanczos option for both upsizing and downsizing.

For multiple photos at once, you can use it in batch mode. See the instructions from Slipe in this thread:

http://www.stevesforums.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=29487&forum_id=2

"You can batch resize with Irfanview. Start with File>Thumbnails and it will make thumbnails of the whole folder. In the thumbnail view select the images you want to resize by holding the Ctrl key while you select them. Or just go Options>Select all. Right click on any highlighted thumbnail and "Start batch dialog with selected thumbs". You can resize the whole folder and store it in a different place so you don't destroy your originals. I have some pretty sophisticated graphics software but prefer Irfanview for that sort of thing."

[KCan]

another very popular is ACDSee:

http://www.acdsystems.com

It's not free, but you can download a trial version

[Onyx]

Switching from RGB to Lab colour mode (makes little difference on web pics) saves you some bytes too.

[Klaus DK]

I agree... shift to LAB MODE! Thenresize in very small steps, until you reach the wanted dimension i.e. 800 x 600 pixels, save in JPG no less than 40% as this will show pixelation. Sometimes it can be a good idea to use 2 x 15% of unsharpen mask as the last operation!

Regards

Klaus

[drz01]

Powertoys for windows XP has a applet that can resize pictures while keeping the original. It can do this in batches also. Get it here http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/d...powertoys.mspx

And here is a shot of the aplet

[KCan]

drz01 wrote:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/d...powertoys.mspx

Thanks , I did not realize that microsoft XP has those toy/tools

[mwood]

It can also help to keep the file down by croping any unwanted/unneeded image area from the photo.