Tech: free software for reformatting images?

Subject: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 10:54 AM

I need to reformat an image or two that are too large (memory-wise) to upload, and decrease the memory size. Is there some free software that will do this for me?

I've tried to google this for myself, but because I don't know the technical terms for it, have got very confuddled!

Thanks

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: gnomad
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 11:03 AM

I want freeware is a site I have found useful on a few occasions when I wanted a particular job sorted. I keep it bookmarked.

Fastone is on there, and looks as if it will fit the bill, but I haven't tried it myself.

Otherwise I'm sure one of our resident guru's will have more ideas shortly.

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: gnomad
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 11:07 AM

Of course that would be FastStone, and gurus don't need no steenkin' apostrophes.

Proofread!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: Piers Plowman
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 11:12 AM

You can use ImageMagick to convert and manipulate images. GIMP would be another possibility.

If you're using a "lossless" format, such as PNG or GIF, you could probably reduce the size considerably by converting it to a "lossy" format such as JPEG. The results should still look good and this would be preferable to reducing the size by reducing the resolution.

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: Nick
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 11:13 AM

If you have XP the Power Toys Image Resizer is dead straightforward - just a right click and resize - Image resizer

If not Irfanview

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 11:23 AM

You say 'too large to upload': does that mean you want to put them on a website, or send them as email attachments? What file format are they in at the moment? What resolution? Dimensions in pixels/inches/millimetres? What image viewing/editing software do you already have?

When converting to a lossy format like jpg there will inevitably be some image degradation. Safest to use the 'save as' option to make a reduced-size copy, keeping your original intact in case you need it again.

There are any number of free programs that will do various jobs, but it's horses for courses. The more specific you are, the better the advice you are likely to get.

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: Bill D
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 11:35 AM

To enlarge on Malcolm's questions, can you see the extension for the image? If it says .bmp or .tif, it is the original, uncompressed size.

That is almost never needed for online viewing. Any of the programs mentioned will give you options for reducing images to a reasonable size by converting them to .jpg. (the most common format)

Usually a size of 800X600 or above...up to 1200X1000 or so will do.
You can make several copies in various sizes (saved with slightly different names)and decide which looks best.

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: Piers Plowman
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 11:42 AM

From: Malcolm Douglas - PM
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 11:23 AM

"When converting to a lossy format like jpg there will inevitably be some image degradation. Safest to use the 'save as' option to make a reduced-size copy, keeping your original intact in case you need it again."

I definitely agree that making a copy is a good idea. One could convert to different formats and compare the results. One way JPEG achieves compression is by reducing the number of colors in an image. Even with photos, with lots of different shades, the results are very good. For scanned images of drawings, for example, where the variations in color may be artifacts of the scanner, JPEG is a good choice. Under some circumstances, it might be preferable to reducing the size.

If it's just for transmitting per email, one could just compress it with `gzip'. Browsers nowadays also seem to automatically uncompress compressed images, too. It works with compressed PDF files, at any rate. Of course, this will depend on the browser, but I suspect most will.

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 12:17 PM

When I say 'size', I mean 'file size'. Reducing the dimensions of the image is one option (and will almost certainly be necessary if it is to be mounted on a web page), compression is another. Depending on what Sue wants to do, either or both may be options.

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 12:59 PM

OK. The pic I want to use is a Jpeg and 1.76 MB. I want to upload to Myspace, and their max limit is 600 kb. So I just want the thing shrunk so I can upload it, nothing else.Don't want to know any of the techy stuff today - just need a simple idiot-proof way of doing it for now, I haven't got time to learn for myself this week. I've been trying to do that today and getting frustrated.

I have Vista.

Many thanks to all above for help so far.

Sue

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 03:05 PM

Assuming you're using Windows of some variety, you almost certainly have "Paint." Look in Programs (Start|Programs).

Paint should be able to open your original .jpg.

You want your file size 600/1,760 its original size

600/1760 = 0.51

Take the square root of 0.51 = 0.71.

In Paint, choose Image|Resize/Skew and set both of the horizonatal and vertical sizes in the resize box to 70%.

Save As using a new filename (to keep from changing your original in case you want to do something different with it later). Make sure .jpg is selected for the file type. Your new image should be close to 600 kb.

The exact filesize you get may vary, as there is no control over the amount of compression the program uses for .jpg files. They appear to be only "slightly compressed." The "paper dimensions" (in inches) don't matter at all for web postings, as the browser will resize to show the pixels in the file at "screen resolution." (1" x 1" at 300 dpi displays exactly like 3.12" x 3.12" at 96 dpi.)

If the above doesn't get you very close to the filesize you want, I'd recommend re-opening your original and tweaking the "70%" to something in the direction of the change you want. (You might want to go with 50%, which should give you 1/4 of the original filesize, just so you don't push the "legal" limits of MySpace. They may accept uploads of larger files, but they'll compress them additionally in most kinds of posts, so they'll look like **** anyway.)

NO NEW PROGRAM NEEDED - although if you're going to do much of this sort of stuff almost anything is better than Paint.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: bruceCMR
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 03:20 PM

Check out irfanview for resizing (etc) pics - it's free.

Stick it into google and you'll find one of the many download sites.

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: HuwG
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 03:44 PM

You can also decrease the file size of an image while

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: HuwG
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 03:54 PM

Agh ! Hit send by mistake!

You can decrease the file size of an image while retaining the image size of a .jpg file, by reducing its image detail, the DPI setting. This is 96 for many images, and this rarely needs to be increased for most purposes. Most free imaging software (I use IrfanView) will let you play around with images to find the optimum setting.

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 06:16 PM

I use
xnView another free program, I also have GIMP but find it too complicated for general use.

I keep all pics (scans & digital photos) in their original size & also resize for different purposes. My folk club site uses 3 sizes of pics (max widths of 370, 180 & 70) & I 'Save As' these sizes, renaming the file with original name plus a letter or the width.

I also upload pics on MyOpera.com (free site & better than Flickr) & it's easy as the site offers smaller sizes. Mudcat members pics are on MyOpera. Wot a shame MySpace doesn't offer the same option.

Good luck

sandra (not technically competent but I do have a friend I call my Personal Help Desk!)

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: Nick
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 07:07 PM

Another easy way in Vista

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 07:11 PM

Data compression will *not* help. JPEG is already a compressed format, and its compression is nearly as good as it can possibly be. You need to either reduce the size (in pixel width and height) or the quality.

On the Mac, Graphic Converter will do the job.

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 08:21 PM

Wow Nick, that's great - so simple! tried it and it works.

Only thing now is that Myspace STILL won't let me upload the pic (I'd assumed it was cos it was too big). Anyone else having Myspace problems like this?

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: Bernard
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 08:25 PM

Picasa from Google... it's free and well supported.

It has lots of useful editing tools including cropping, red-eye removal, rotation (to sort out cock-eyed pictures) and file resizing - specifically for email purposes, but is fine for MySpace and the like.

My dad's 85 and uses it with his digital camera without giving me too much earache!!

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Oct 08 - 01:25 AM

It's not free, but Microsoft Office Picture Manager comes with most editions of Office 2007 and Office 2003 (under "tools). This utility compresses and resized pictures very easily. More on Office Picture Manager here (click)

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: GUEST,LDT
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 11:02 AM

Try GIMP
http://www.gimp.org/
or if you are wanting to host picture to post in a forum then photobucket has a way of auto reducing them.

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: Bernard
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 02:35 PM

Hmmm... Microsoft Office Picture Manager ain't a patch on the old Microsoft Photo Editor that it 'replaced'... I still keep it on an old PC because it does a lot of jobs (resize, rotate, gamma, brightness, contrast, sharpen, soften, smudge, the list goes on) quickly and simply... I think Office 2000 was its last incarnation.

Picasa does a lot of those things, except PhotoEd could reduce brightness, contrast and gamma as well as increase... very handy.

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: Bill D
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 02:55 PM

The Gimp is a pretty high level for simple resizing...it is a HUGE download, and not an intuitive set of menus & concepts, but if you want to really get serious about graphics and are willing to learn, it rivals Photoshop.

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: Zen
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 06:24 PM

I've tried most of the free ones and Photofiltre is the one I use on an almost daily basis.

Zen

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 08:50 PM

IRFANVIEW!!

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From:
Date: 25 Oct 08 - 10:18 AM

I highly recommend IRFANVIEW as it is very simple to use. XNVIEW is also easy to use and can be very useful for other things too.

Subject: RE: Tech: free software for reformatting images?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Oct 08 - 10:28 AM

A second vote for Picassa, from Google. They also have photo sharing space online now. (I've never used that aspect of it). I use Picassa to make contact sheets from folders with images, I don't use it to edit photos (I use PhotoShop for that--worthwhile if you can afford it).

Picassa download

SRS