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11 messages

Tech: Resizing a picture for an avatar ?

08 Sep 10 - 06:29 PM (#2982707)
Subject: Tech: Resizing a picture for an avatar ?
From: Murray MacLeod

I have become a sponsor on a forum which allows me to post an avatar whose maximum size is 150 x 50 pixels, or 6.8 kb, whichever is smaller.

I have resized the picture which I wish to use to 150x50 pixels, but it still takes up over 12 kb, which the forum software will not accept.

I have looked at the avatars of other sponsors, and even with the maximum 150 x 50 pixels, they seem to be able to get their pictures under 6 kb (with no loss of resolution).

How do I achieve this ?

All advice gratefully received...


08 Sep 10 - 06:34 PM (#2982712)
Subject: RE: Tech: Resizing a picture for an avatar ?
From: GUEST

I upload my images to Flickr.com. They have an option to download a small square image back to my computer. I use that.

If your image editor has an option to save at a reduced resolution, try that?

rags


08 Sep 10 - 06:34 PM (#2982713)
Subject: RE: Tech: Resizing a picture for an avatar ?
From: GUEST

You may be able to use less bits per pixel. Alternatively, export it as a .jpg file with a greater level of compression.

Richard


08 Sep 10 - 06:51 PM (#2982723)
Subject: RE: Tech: Resizing a picture for an avatar ?
From: Murray MacLeod

I checked out Google for avatar resizing programs, but they all seem to produce a square image, which is not what I want. I need it 150 pixels wide (vertical height will work out at about 30)

I will try the compression thing, thanks.

I use the Panasonic Photofun Studio for editing, which is probably laughably elementary, but it was what came with the camera.

Hopefully I can get it to do what I want.


08 Sep 10 - 06:55 PM (#2982726)
Subject: RE: Tech: Resizing a picture for an avatar ?
From: GUEST,olddude

Murray
PM me your email, I will do it for you when I get back on saturday
Dan


08 Sep 10 - 07:24 PM (#2982748)
Subject: RE: Tech: Resizing a picture for an avatar ?
From: Murray MacLeod

Dan, I appreciate your offer, however I have managed to stumble my way through it by shifting the compression slider bar to 80% (trial and error) and this gives a pic size of just over 6kb, which the website has accepted. (If you go to the Acoustic Guitar Forum and search for posts by murrmac123 you will see my creation ...)

Thanks to Richard btw who advised the compression thing.


08 Sep 10 - 07:29 PM (#2982753)
Subject: RE: Tech: Resizing a picture for an avatar ?
From: Bill D

What did you use to reduce it?

I would use Irfanview, a well-known free image viewer and editor.

First you would 'crop' the image to the approximate shape you want, and you have done that, but it would be better to use the original image and set the shape. Then you would resize it to 50X150, using the 'retain aspect ratio' setting changing the DPI (dots per inch) if necessary to reduce it to the 6.8kb.

Any standard image editor will have similar settings, maybe with slightly different names or locations.


08 Sep 10 - 07:48 PM (#2982761)
Subject: RE: Tech: Resizing a picture for an avatar ?
From: Murray MacLeod

The Panasonic Photofun Studio has its own built in resizing tool, which I use a lot for Ebay listings, but I have never had to use the compression thing before, I just alter the dimensions..

I will check out your link, Bill, thanks, it may well be that I will come up with a better image by doing it your way.


08 Sep 10 - 10:20 PM (#2982849)
Subject: RE: Tech: Resizing a picture for an avatar ?
From: The Fooles Troupe

One can use a jpeg - but I had most luck when working using gif files - one can reduce the number of colours which can also massively reduce the file size.


08 Sep 10 - 10:45 PM (#2982861)
Subject: RE: Tech: Resizing a picture for an avatar ?
From: Bill D

I hope it helps, Murray. Irfanview is good to have, anyway.


09 Sep 10 - 01:56 AM (#2982896)
Subject: RE: Tech: Resizing a picture for an avatar ?
From: Gurney

I had the same problem with TradeMe, our version of EBay.

Microsoft paint fixes the issue. Just get the picture onto paint, from the toolbar at the top select Image-- Stretch/Skew, and retype from 100% to whatever size you want. I use 30%.