Resizing pics

[RingDancer]

I have been in the process of learning my digital camera...an HP Photosmart and not computer smart, but learning as I go...it has a setting with very large pics...In the beginning...(learning stage)this was the setting I used all the time...The pics can be as large as 42. inch x 30. inch for example...Then I have been trying to down size pics...to post small...Then found to use the smaller or smallest setting on the camera...Then when saving to computer...The pics would save as or what I chose was JPG file type...
Then I learned that each time you save your photo...it will become very distorted or blurry...For example...if you crop and then save...and then crop and save again...to try and resize...it will become more and more distorted...

Was wondering if there is a better file type to use for uploading to computer or best to not do any changes to pic...such as cropping to have a better quality photo???

Just wondering who crop pics and file types that still have a clear photo if you chose to crop??? What file types are best???

RingDancer:merrychristmas:

[bbqcook]

RingDancer, there are a few web sites that you can upload your pics and resize. I use photobucket. It seems to work pretty good.
PM sent

[Arkwater]

Its best to use the highest setting on your camera for the best picture. If your using winXP see this page. Its the quickest way to resize for posting purposes. If you use another operating system you can try Irfanview, its not too bad for a free program.

[mtpockets]

2nd that Arkwater



Image Resizer is Easier to work with...

Very Simple to do..

[Metalman]

I always take my pics at the highest resolution and then a simple resize in Photosmart ,,where I just type in pixel width and length . usually 800X800

That gives you a picture this size and quality




and when cropped for an area of interest

your finished product will have about this quality




Metalman

[anne]

For basic resizing I use Photorazor, it is a free download.

[johnj45586]

When working with digital pictures there are a few really important things to consider.
There are two kinds of files to save pictures to. One is uncompressed and the other is compressed.
The uncompressed kind saves 3 bytes per pixel for color and will give large fixed sizes for pictures of a number of pixels wide and high. Uncompressed files have no conversion losses. You can open and save the same image over and over with no changes. .BMP is a common uncompressed format.
The compressed kind may or may not be lossy, depending on the color depth. If it is a 256 color image (graphics mostly) you can use the .gif format and not lose any image quality. But with 16 million colors you have to use something like jpg. jpg files are lossy compression files. Many image processors let you choose several factors of image quality, the simplest being the amount of compression. Your camera may even provide variable compression if it has "high, medium or low" image quality options. The high quality has least compression and least loss of image quality and the largest size.
There are many image processors out there that let you improve the quality, cropping and/or image manipulation. One should have come with your camera. Some come with computer operating systems. Others are available as freeware, shareware and commercial. I use a package called Paint Shop Pro that used to be from JASC software company. They have sold out to Corel now, but the product is still fantastic.
Paint Shop Pro (and some other packages) has a wide variety of file types it can save images in, both uncompressed and compressed. When compressed it can give you choices of how much or little compression.
Another feature - you mention 30x40 image size. This is because some setting in your camera or computer is putting images from the camera at 72 dpi (dots per inch, a.k.a. ppi; pixels per inch). It might be possible to reset this option to 300 or 1000 dpi. The really important information is number of pixels in the image (7.2 megapixel etc.) which also will determine the number of pixels wide and high (3072 x 2304) that would be 42.67 x 32 inches if set to 72 dpi. Old dot matrix printers used to only be able to print at 72 dpi, which was the source of that setting. Why it is still on computers in this modern day of ink jet or laser jet printers is unknown to me.
I would recommend getting a program like Paint Shop Pro because of all the controls and effects available - most importantly the ability to generate and operate on layers, then recombine the layers. Not that helpful for documentation photos like finds, but great fun for all your other photo projects like albums, cards and pictures for friends and family.
So remember, bmp for working photos, jpg for posting photos or sending by email.
:snowman:

[RingDancer]

Thanks on the comments!!! Excellent photo...Metalman...Thanks John...very informative...will have to read and study...I have access to PSP...Thanks for the tips everyone...