I am looking for advice on how to post pictures within the size guidelines of the board without spending a lot of time with trial and error trying to get them to upload. I use Paint Shop Pro and when I upload the pictures they save as JPEG files, but they are too big. When I resize them with the resize option, they shrink to a very tiny size. Any advice would be appreciated by me and my wife. Thanks
Randy, What is the process you use to resize the photos? Does it give you the option of typing in the pixel dimensions, or is it percent based, or ??? I use Photoshop, so unfortunately I can't coach you in Paint Shop Pro. The key thing is that you'll want to resample the image and you want it to keep proportions in tact.
OK, I just did a little search on the web. You want to go to Image>Resize. Once there, click the button next to Pixel Size. You'll want to change it so that either the width is no more than 800 pixels and the height is no more than 600 pixels. The easiest thing to do is just make whatever is a longer dimension 600 pixels. You won't have a problem with sizes then. Keep the Maintain aspect ratio button checked too. That should get you in the ballpark.
Steve has it right, but keep the size a little smaller. 640 x 480 pixels works great on the board. Users can view the whole pic without having to scroll sideways. If you have the "maintain aspect ratio" box checked (you should), all you have to do is type in the first pixel # at 640, the 2nd dimension will default to whatever it needs to be to maintain aspect ratio. I don't use PSP anymore, but used to all the time. If you are using Windows XP, a much quicker easier option is to download the XP image sizer program (free) on the Microsoft downloads site. One on your computer, all you have to do is right-click your image, and the popup will offer an option to resize, click it and you have default size choices, one of which is 640 x 480, perfect!
Another recommendation is to crop the garbage out of the photos. Too often, these huge photos are only 1/3 car and 2/3 sky and ground. Only include what you need and we'll see more "car per pixel." I choose 600, since I don't have a keypad on my laptop and it's easier to hit two "0's". It's just one more way to be, um, efficient - yeah, that the term (ok, some call it lazy).
Another option is a program called "The Gimp". Its open source, free, works with Mac OS, Windows and Linux....pretty much does anything you would want and of course the price is right. Open it using gimp, pick "scale image", then type in the one amount you want (is say 800 pixals) and it will resize the rest automatically. Then you can save it and even use a slider to get the exact file size you want (ie 149K or 800K or whatever) so it will be exactly what you need. Besides, its cool when people ask "How did you do that?" and you can say "I used the Gimp!".... :laugh: later Tim
I've been with Firefox since it was Phoenix. Great program. MozImage is a nice little plugin for viewing those pictures we make with the GIMP, lol. AdBlock is my favorite, though. I don't use that bloated Windoze Crap P either. Debian is great.
Oh, forgot to mention, alter the resolution too. Since it will only be seen on a computer monitor, 72 or 92 dpi will be enough. Anything better will not be noticable on the monitor. Then resize it. This will give you a smaller file size as well as control the actual dimensions of the picture.
