 Corky J. Dehorty |
File Size I am told when needing to resize an image it is best not to resample. So, how then is the best way to resize an image so it's not so large when transferring to an email?
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Richard Lynch |
It is best not to resize *if possible*. Different media requires different resolutions. Monitors run from about 72ppi to 120ppi (with exceptions). Home printers will require somewhere between 180ppi and 240ppi. Offset magazine printing around 305ppi. If you have an image going to print on the cover of a 12x9 magazine, you are going to need 3660 x 2745 pixels (about 10mp). You put that same image on the web or in an email without sizing and it will be at least 30.5 inches, and likely more. Clearly over-kill. What I try to get people to do is NEVER resize an original, but make purposed images from the original, saved as a separate file. This way, you always have the original full resolution image to make other images from -- and those images can be resized for their purpose. Once you drop them in an email, toss the copies! Otherwise you'll just collect repeats and make a mess and have bunches of files floating around. As you will likely be sizing down significantly (depends on the original resolution), you want to use a resizing method that incorporates some sharpening or sharpen separately. Think 72ppi. 720x576 will pretty much add up to an 8x10... But you'll want to consider the purpose and the person you are sending to as well. I hope that helps!
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Corky J. Dehorty |
I do usually keep my original, but what I have been doing is resampling a copy and then using that. What do you mean by making a purposed image? Is that what I'm doing when I resample a copy? But still, I'm resampling ... is there any other way to reduce the size?
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Richard Lynch |
If you are trying to accomplish something specific like sending a smaller file through the Internet to a service for printing so it gets to the destination with full resolution, you have choices to make with compression and file type, etc. If you are casually exchanging an email with a friend, your choices might be quicker and easier. How exactly do you want to reduce the size? Dimension in pixels? In inches? File size? I've written chapters of books on the subject of file size, resolution, file type, compression... I'm sure we can sort it out. Tell me exactly what you are trying to accomplish. Richard
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Corky J. Dehorty |
I'm talking about resizing to send to friends in email, or making the file smaller, for instance, for Better Photo when I need to submit a picture for my portfolio or a class. I don't have a preference as to what to reduce it to, i.e. resolution, file type or compression. I just want it smaller with good clarity for the reasons mentioned above.
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
If you want to make it quicker to send in an email, and also when the receiver opens the file to have it about the size of what you see in anyone's gallery, then you would resample. If you had a 6000x4000 original you wanted to send, you would go to image size and with resample, change to 600x400. This would reduce the file size from a bunch of Mb to kb. Making it quicker for slow internet connections. It would also reduce the image size, so the whole thing fits on their screen. However, you could reduce file size without resample by saving a copy of it at a lower setting. Instead of highest quality of 10 save as a 4. But if you didn't do anything with the image size, that 6000x4000 would may now be a kb file, but the dimensions wouldn't change, and the receiver may be scrolling back and forth to see the whole image on their screen. Like Eric, I mean Richard said, for viewing on your screen, you don't need too high resolution for a good image.
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Richard Lynch |
"I'm talking about resizing to send to friends in email, or making the file smaller, for instance, for Better Photo when I need to submit a picture for my portfolio or a class... I just want it smaller with good clarity for the reasons mentioned above." That was what I assumed in the first answer. If you have an image that is big and you want to make it smaller at the same resolution, you have to resample (technically called 'decimation'). If you think about pixels as lightbulbs... Say you have a bunch of lightbulbs in a 3x3 foot box, you want to put those bulbs in a 1x1 foot box, they are just not going to fit. Some will need to be sacrificed. Resampling for a purpose is not a sin if you are careful and work from the original. Just don't resize the original, save off a copy, and then -- oops -- resave the original at the smaller size. As it is an email and not more critical work, my first suggestion is the one to go with. And most of what Gregory said, but you may not want to go as low as 4 on the quality for the jpeg if you are already sensitive about the resizing... stick to 7 or 8. If you view at 100% on your screen (see the viewing % on the image window in photoshop or elements) before you send, you will essentially see what the recipient will... Richard
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