Help with resizing

[Marilyn Speck Ballard]

I have started having problems with down sizing my images down to avatar size or 100x100 pixels. They are so out of focus, they're awful. I re scaned some 4x5 and 5x7 cards and even they are distorted when I try to make them small. I've tried HP, MGI, Paint, and Adobe. What's wrong?

Also, won't 100x100 make a rectangle disproportionate?

Appreciate your help.

Marilyn

[Richard Saylor]

1. Crop the image so that it's square.
2. Resize it to 100x100.
3. Sharpen the image.

(It shouldn't be too hard to find the cropping and sharpening tools on your software.)

I think it may be possible to use an image which is not square, as long as its longest side is no more than 100 pixels, but I'm not sure.

*************

Now I'm sure. The avatar you are now using is not square. Okay, just resize the longest side to 100 pixels after setting the software to constrain the aspect ratio. If you don't see how to do this, just email me the length and height of the image (before resizing) and I'll work it out. (The length and height can be in inches, pixels, or whatever.) After resizing, sharpen it.

[Marilyn Speck Ballard]

1. Crop the image so that it's square.
2. Resize it to 100x100.
3. Sharpen the image.

(It shouldn't be too hard to find the cropping and sharpening tools on your software.)

I think it may be possible to use an image which is not square, as long as its longest side is no more than 100 pixels, but I'm not sure.

*************

Now I'm sure. The avatar you are now using is not square. Okay, just resize the longest side to 100 pixels after setting the software to constrain the aspect ratio. If you don't see how to do this, just email me the length and height of the image (before resizing) and I'll work it out. (The length and height can be in inches, pixels, or whatever.) After resizing, sharpen it.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/07-Oct-2004/35425-New_Kid100x100.jpg

Well, that's really strange. When I brought up the image that I thought I had, after resizing, it looked like an abstract painting with fuzzy and broken little squares, and I thought it wouldn't work. ( I'm trying to set up a new project for Christmas cards. Look in the watercolor and acrylics forums) I hadn't thought about sharpening the image, but it looks ok here. It's hard to know, since what I was seeing, isn't what uploaded. Now I'll get back to work. (This is like going to the dentist with a toothache, it doesn't look like a problem.)

Thank you so much for answering, Richard

Marilyn

[nafa]

Is it possible that you are trying to reduce a large image to avatar size during the scanning process? If so, many possibly wrong setting for the scanner could lead to you abstract results.

[Marilyn Speck Ballard]

Is it possible that you are trying to reduce a large image to avatar size during the scanning process? If so, many possibly wrong setting for the scanner could lead to you abstract results.

Thanks for replying.

I scan, approve, and adjust the broken lines to crop the image. When it goes to the HP gallery, I click on it to take to the image editor to resize, etc., and crop. When it's resized to 100x100, even the saved thumbnail image in the gallery looks fuzzy. I thought it wouldn't show up clear when it's is used as a link to enlarge and view. When I enlarged it on the editor, that's when I saw it as an abstract image.
I guess I panicked, after doing all this painting and preparation. ( I get so frustrated with my computer and I've grown used to expecting problems, but sometimes I'm about ready to throw up my hands, at least until another day.)

I realize that once an image is downsized so much, that it can't be restored, so that's why I thought mine wasn't going to work. I have much to learn.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Marilyn

[fairydreams]

Always remember, when resizing very large -> very small to do so in increments, rather than in one operation, e.g. 75% or 50% each time.

[Richard Saylor]

Always remember, when resizing very large -> very small to do so in increments, rather than in one operation, e.g. 75% or 50% each time.
That's interesting. I always thought the opposite.

[Leslie_Ann]

Marilyn, you might have better luck resizing with the marquee square if you are using photoshop because the cropping tool also messes with your pixels which might explain the blurry end results. The marquee is the first tool on the bar beside the little arrow. Click on it then drag your mouse to make a square over your rectangle image. You can just do that by eye to get an close enough perfect square.

After you make the selection go to the third choice on your menu, "Image" and on that scroll down list, select crop, and your image will crop to the square.

Then go to your image size on that same Image menu and get the pop up to resize it to 100 X 100.

To make sure it sizes without any distortion, leave "constrain proportions" checked off. Select the largest dimension, change that to 100 and the second will resize proportionally.

Hope this made sense! :)

[Marilyn Speck Ballard]

Marilyn, you might have better luck resizing with the marquee square if you are using photoshop because the cropping tool also messes with your pixels which might explain the blurry end results. The marquee is the first tool on the bar beside the little arrow. Click on it then drag your mouse to make a square over your rectangle image. You can just do that by eye to get an close enough perfect square.

After you make the selection go to the third choice on your menu, "Image" and on that scroll down list, select crop, and your image will crop to the square.

Then go to your image size on that same Image menu and get the pop up to resize it to 100 X 100.

To make sure it sizes without any distortion, leave "constrain proportions" checked off. Select the largest dimension, change that to 100 and the second will resize proportionally.

Hope this made sense! :)

Leslie, thank you for trying to help me, but I'm just about as confused as ever. I have HP, Paint, MGI, and Adobe 6. The photoshop you speak of, is Adobe? I've copied all the helps about resizing, but they talk about everything else, but actually resizing. I will copy your letter and try to walk through it. I don't want a square picture though. I'd like for it to look about 5x7, when it is clicked on to for a larger view. Most all of my paintings are rectangle. I will try to find what you are talking about. Usually, the task I want to do is grayed out or in "Spanish" :wink2:

Marilyn

[nafa]

Marilyn,

When you tried down sizing but want the image to "I'd like for it to look about 5x7, when it is clicked on to for a larger view", could you be trying to create thumbnails? Perhaps if you explain your intended use for the reduced images, you can get more specific advices.

[Marilyn Speck Ballard]

Marilyn,

When you tried down sizing but want the image to "I'd like for it to look about 5x7, when it is clicked on to for a larger view", could you be trying to create thumbnails? Perhaps if you explain your intended use for the reduced images, you can get more specific advices.

Hi, Nafa

Yes, sometimes thumbnails, but mostly just simply uploading an image for a new thread so the smaller details can be viewed.

I've not been able to get the thumbnails to appear, when I upload them from the "Manage attachments" system, so I go back and click on Quick links to upload the images the regular way.

When I resize the images in my gallery to the recommended 500 x 600 pixels, and upload to WC, the dialog says they are much too big, even though, in my picture gallery, they sometimes show the size as being under 100kb. (Does color affect the pixel count? Also, I can scan a picture several times and get a different count each time.)

Every time I resize them, the pixels deteriorate. These are jpg. Should I work with tif or gif until they reach the size I want and then change to jpg, to compress them for WC? Where's the little icon for crying? I jus' wanna paint. :( :D

Thanks, Marilyn

[nafa]

Marilyn

JPG is a "lossy" format, so repetitive loading/saving will result in loss of image detail for sure. In contrast, TIFF, GIF and PNG are lossless formats. PNG is probably more space efficient for color images, but unfortunately not supported by Corel Painter.

I visited your site and copy your snowman image into Painter. After resizing the canvas to the size of your thumbnail (in one operation), I have confirmed that your thumbnail has less details than mine.

Since I just did a straight-forward resize but managed to retain more details, I would surmised that your loss of details came from your resizing process.

To further investigate, you may wish to pick an image and reduce it in two ways:

- one single operation
- your usual method

Then compare the two reduced images to see which one serve you better.

Good luck.

[Leslie_Ann]

Marilyn,

Yup! I mean Adobe Photoshop. I'm not a Painter user but PS has an awesome feature called "Save for Web" Right under "Save As" In that box you can really compress your image size. You'll see on the right a scaling choice where you can lower it in percentage. Try lowing it to 85 percent. You shouldn't see a change in the quality of your image, but you will see a change in the size of it pixel-wise. :)

If your scanner saves and image as a TIFF, it would be OK for you to keep it as a TIFF until you get to the point where you "Save for Web" and you will see the option to save it as a jpeg.

I sort of do the same thing when doing layouts from mags and brochures in terms for keeping it as a high quality RGB TIFF until I need to change it to a CMYK eps. It's nice to work in the best quality image for as long as possible. Once you lose pixels, you can't restore them effectively.

Hope I didn't confuse you more. I try and talk in laymans terms because I remember what it was like not to know how to find a folder let alone resize an image!! So , you really are doing great! ;)

[Marilyn Speck Ballard]

Marilyn,

Yup! I mean Adobe Photoshop. I'm not a Painter user but PS has an awesome feature called "Save for Web" Right under "Save As" In that box you can really compress your image size. You'll see on the right a scaling choice where you can lower it in percentage. Try lowing it to 85 percent. You shouldn't see a change in the quality of your image, but you will see a change in the size of it pixel-wise. :)

If your scanner saves and image as a TIFF, it would be OK for you to keep it as a TIFF until you get to the point where you "Save for Web" and you will see the option to save it as a jpeg.

I sort of do the same thing when doing layouts from mags and brochures in terms for keeping it as a high quality RGB TIFF until I need to change it to a CMYK eps. It's nice to work in the best quality image for as long as possible. Once you lose pixels, you can't restore them effectively.

Hope I didn't confuse you more. I try and talk in laymans terms because I remember what it was like not to know how to find a folder let alone resize an image!! So , you really are doing great! ;)

Hi, Nafa and Leslie Ann,

Thank you both for being so quick to offer help! I will have to get back to these later today. I'm happy to know that I may finally be on the right track. Every bit of info helps. I think my aged, overloaded brain can handle only so much at a time, anyway! :D

Marilyn

[Cochisa]

That's interesting. I always thought the opposite.

I agree. When resizing, it keeps it's sharpness when done in one step. I learned this when I resized a photo of my pup. The one that was resized with one step remained sharp, the one that had been resized twice was fuzzy.
I used Irfanview to do it, it has a preserve aspect ratio selection.
It's a free program.

Cochisa

[Marilyn Speck Ballard]

I agree. When resizing, it keeps it's sharpness when done in one step. I learned this when I resized a photo of my pup. The one that was resized with one step remained sharp, the one that had been resized twice was fuzzy.
I used Irfanview to do it, it has a preserve aspect ratio selection.
It's a free program.

Cochisa

Thank you, Cochisa,

I've downloaded Irfanview. Haven't had time to read all the helps yet, and I still haven't found the info about the number of pixels I need to type in, to get under 100 kbs for uploading to WC.

On an image I opened, it reads: 600x427x24BPP ( what is the "24BPP"?)

259.23KB/750.63KB
(What does it mean with two numbers for KB?)

Thanks,
Marilyn

[Jet]

Marylin hi!
I have just recommended Irfanview (http://www.irfanview.com) to another member at the drawing forum...
It is so easy to learn and so pòwerful that you can even scan from inside the program and do all the following procedures in the easiest and fastest way; no need to wait for PS to load and devour chunks of memory from your PC either; It has the most compact and fastest code in the market...

How much are willing to pay for such a breakthrough? ..The price is ...FREE !!

Click on the link above and download it, install it and get it running now; and start getting real productive right away...

You'll love it !

Regards

[Cochisa]

Marylin,
Actually, I haven't had the time to bother figuring out the pixel numbers yet, I just go to the lower selection and tick the 'set new size as percentage of original'. Then save as...
I guess I SHOULD take some time and look into the other method, it might be more exact. However, I set my avatar with the second method. I can't quite remember what percentage I used, I just cropped my baby picture down some and resized. I resized the original crop over again a few tries to get it until it was accepted.
I realize if you are wanting to use a painting for your avatar, you will not want to crop.
I bet Jet can help you figure that one out, and I'll be watching too!
Your very Welcome!
Cochisa

[Marilyn Speck Ballard]

Marylin,
Actually, I haven't had the time to bother figuring out the pixel numbers yet, I just go to the lower selection and tick the 'set new size as percentage of original'. Then save as...
I guess I SHOULD take some time and look into the other method, it might be more exact. However, I set my avatar with the second method. I can't quite remember what percentage I used, I just cropped my baby picture down some and resized. I resized the original crop over again a few tries to get it until it was accepted.
I realize if you are wanting to use a painting for your avatar, you will not want to crop.
I bet Jet can help you figure that one out, and I'll be watching too!
Your very Welcome!
Cochisa

Thank you Cochisa and Jet! :clap:

I can hardly wait until I can get back to studying this. I have lots of questions and I don't understand a lot, actually, most of the technical terms. I have a painting deadline I'm working on now, until then.

Thank you for your quick response.

Marilyn