Before I upload any photos to the web (my site, Pinball Revolution, FaceBook etc) I like to reduce the file size. This makes downloading/viewing the image faster for everyone, not to mention is a little easier on the pocket books for guys that run the sites like this. (bandwidth usually equals $$$) This is how you can do it to. For basic editing/cropping/resizing I swear by an open source program called Paint.net. It opens way faster than something like PhotoShop, and has way better features than something like MS Paint.
1) I’ve uploaded a portable version of the open source program Paint.net to my space. You can get it here:
http://tim.stasis.org/www-sites/PinRev/
Create a folder anywhere on your computer, and call it paint.net. Extract the executable into your folder.
2) Open Paint.net, and then open the photo you want to resize.
3) Click on the IMAGE drop down on the top of the program, and select RESIZE. Change pixels to the size you want. (the less pixels you make it, the smaller the file will be)
I usually make the longest side of the image 1000 pixels.
4) Save your photo as a jpeg. Add some compression. I usually try to keep it at 80% to 85%. If you compress it too much you will really start to notice a loss in image quality.
As an example I’ll use a photo I took. I’ll reduce the image from 4272 x 2848 pixels to 1000 x 667 pixels, and save the image with 80% compression.
The file size is now 50 times smaller than the original. Your photo is small enough to upload onto forums, email etc!
I don't know how long I'll leave those files on my server, but I'll leave them there for at least a few weeks. If you find that by the time you get around to trying this out the files are off of my site, just search PAINT.NET, and you'll find it.
1) I’ve uploaded a portable version of the open source program Paint.net to my space. You can get it here:
http://tim.stasis.org/www-sites/PinRev/
Create a folder anywhere on your computer, and call it paint.net. Extract the executable into your folder.
2) Open Paint.net, and then open the photo you want to resize.
3) Click on the IMAGE drop down on the top of the program, and select RESIZE. Change pixels to the size you want. (the less pixels you make it, the smaller the file will be)
I usually make the longest side of the image 1000 pixels.
4) Save your photo as a jpeg. Add some compression. I usually try to keep it at 80% to 85%. If you compress it too much you will really start to notice a loss in image quality.
As an example I’ll use a photo I took. I’ll reduce the image from 4272 x 2848 pixels to 1000 x 667 pixels, and save the image with 80% compression.
- - Original = 4,211 kb
- Reduced copy = 92 kb
The file size is now 50 times smaller than the original. Your photo is small enough to upload onto forums, email etc!
I don't know how long I'll leave those files on my server, but I'll leave them there for at least a few weeks. If you find that by the time you get around to trying this out the files are off of my site, just search PAINT.NET, and you'll find it.
