Resize your digital camera images and
preserve the megapixel
It's important to maintain the high quality of your images (resolution) when you modify
them. Resolution is described by the quantity of megapixel, and more is better.
Megapixel, resolution, is the reason you bought your digital camera. Once you take
pictures with your camera you need to download them to your computer (or external
hard drive). Once downloaded, you should archive your images, rename them, and
resize them for printing or for the Web or to send to family and friends.
Change the image quality setting on your digital camera
Find the setting on your digital camera called ‘Image Quality’ and set it at the highest
possible setting.
My 10 megapixel digital SLR Rebel XSI camera’s function for image quality is called
simply ‘Quality.’ I have 12m 4247x2848, the lowest option I have is 3.4m 2256x 1504. I
always set my camera on the highest setting 12m 4247x2848.
Fewer higher quality images is better than a bunch of lower quality images
The highest image quality setting means fewer pictures on your memory card. A lower
quality setting means a lot more pictures. Buy another memory card if you want to take
more pictures or buy several. They can be inexpensive.
Other digital camera options that will impact the number of photographs you can take
on your digital camera is the type of digital image output. Most of you will take pictures
using the JPEG option. You may also have TIFF and RAW options. JPEG is the
smallest file size but the image degrades every time you use it, move it, download it, or
save it. The other images are larger file sizes so this is the tradeoff.
Refer to your digital camera user manual if you can’t find this option on your camera. If
that doesn’t work take it to a local camera store and see if they can assist you.
Use good photo editing software and keep image quality integrity
All photo editing software is not created equal. The software that came bundled with
your camera may not give you the options you need. The ability to change resolution
manually is the reason I believe Adobe Photoshop Elements (or CS3 or other
PhotoShop editing programs) is a cut above the rest. Most Adobe PhotoShop
programs allow you to manually resize images, these functions may be in a different
locations, however.
Adobe Photoshop Elements has a low price is geared toward photographers.
Resolution recommendations
Resolutions is expressed in dpi (dots per inch) and as a quantity of megapixel.
For printing = 300 dpi or higher
For the Web or to send to family and friends through e-mail = 72 dpi
Remember, what you see on the screen in Adobe Photoshop is not the actual size of
the picture. You have to manually resize the image.
Example: resizing your images and keeping your megapixel
1. Open Adobe Photoshop Elements
Before you try any of these resizing techniques make a copy of your image. Goto 'File'
pulldown menu and select 'Save as'
2. Goto ‘Image’ pulldown menu, select ‘Resize’ then ‘Image Size’
3. Uncheckmark 'Resample Image'
Deselecting ‘Resample Image’ allows you to proportionately resize
width and height and resolution as all three are connected
In this example, only width and height are connected
This second image is correct. You want width, height, and resolution connected
4. Change your width height and resolution!!!!
Try changing your resolution to 300 dpi. Notice the width and height get smaller. 300
dpi is the lowest recommended resolution for printing. I would not print with a lower
resolution. Do your pictures print well? What is their width and height at 300 dpi?
Most digital cameras allow you to size your images down to a perfect 6x4 or 4x6. Let's
try that:
preserve the megapixel
It's important to maintain the high quality of your images (resolution) when you modify
them. Resolution is described by the quantity of megapixel, and more is better.
Megapixel, resolution, is the reason you bought your digital camera. Once you take
pictures with your camera you need to download them to your computer (or external
hard drive). Once downloaded, you should archive your images, rename them, and
resize them for printing or for the Web or to send to family and friends.
Change the image quality setting on your digital camera
Find the setting on your digital camera called ‘Image Quality’ and set it at the highest
possible setting.
My 10 megapixel digital SLR Rebel XSI camera’s function for image quality is called
simply ‘Quality.’ I have 12m 4247x2848, the lowest option I have is 3.4m 2256x 1504. I
always set my camera on the highest setting 12m 4247x2848.
Fewer higher quality images is better than a bunch of lower quality images
The highest image quality setting means fewer pictures on your memory card. A lower
quality setting means a lot more pictures. Buy another memory card if you want to take
more pictures or buy several. They can be inexpensive.
Other digital camera options that will impact the number of photographs you can take
on your digital camera is the type of digital image output. Most of you will take pictures
using the JPEG option. You may also have TIFF and RAW options. JPEG is the
smallest file size but the image degrades every time you use it, move it, download it, or
save it. The other images are larger file sizes so this is the tradeoff.
Refer to your digital camera user manual if you can’t find this option on your camera. If
that doesn’t work take it to a local camera store and see if they can assist you.
Use good photo editing software and keep image quality integrity
All photo editing software is not created equal. The software that came bundled with
your camera may not give you the options you need. The ability to change resolution
manually is the reason I believe Adobe Photoshop Elements (or CS3 or other
PhotoShop editing programs) is a cut above the rest. Most Adobe PhotoShop
programs allow you to manually resize images, these functions may be in a different
locations, however.
Adobe Photoshop Elements has a low price is geared toward photographers.
Resolution recommendations
Resolutions is expressed in dpi (dots per inch) and as a quantity of megapixel.
For printing = 300 dpi or higher
For the Web or to send to family and friends through e-mail = 72 dpi
Remember, what you see on the screen in Adobe Photoshop is not the actual size of
the picture. You have to manually resize the image.
Example: resizing your images and keeping your megapixel
1. Open Adobe Photoshop Elements
Before you try any of these resizing techniques make a copy of your image. Goto 'File'
pulldown menu and select 'Save as'
2. Goto ‘Image’ pulldown menu, select ‘Resize’ then ‘Image Size’
3. Uncheckmark 'Resample Image'
Deselecting ‘Resample Image’ allows you to proportionately resize
width and height and resolution as all three are connected
In this example, only width and height are connected
This second image is correct. You want width, height, and resolution connected
4. Change your width height and resolution!!!!
Try changing your resolution to 300 dpi. Notice the width and height get smaller. 300
dpi is the lowest recommended resolution for printing. I would not print with a lower
resolution. Do your pictures print well? What is their width and height at 300 dpi?
Most digital cameras allow you to size your images down to a perfect 6x4 or 4x6. Let's
try that:
This would be a huge image
on your screen: 59.33 inches
width and height is 39.556
Resolution is fine for the
Internet as it is 72 dpi but the
image is too big to be
practical on a Web site
on your screen: 59.33 inches
width and height is 39.556
Resolution is fine for the
Internet as it is 72 dpi but the
image is too big to be
practical on a Web site
My 10 megapixel camera with
the highest quality setting
can print oversized prints at
14 width and 9.5 inches at 300
dpi.
the highest quality setting
can print oversized prints at
14 width and 9.5 inches at 300
dpi.
If you size this to a 6 width by
4 height you get an image that
can print nicely and fit into a
photo frame.
You can pick any size you
want, remember, if you want
to print it using an ink jet
printer you need to watch
your size
4 height you get an image that
can print nicely and fit into a
photo frame.
You can pick any size you
want, remember, if you want
to print it using an ink jet
printer you need to watch
your size
Width and height stay
proportionate. If you shrink
resolution width and height
get bigger, if you increase
resolution, width and height
get smaller
You can't make up resolution,
it is the megapixel in your
camera. It is important to be
able to use to effectively
proportionate. If you shrink
resolution width and height
get bigger, if you increase
resolution, width and height
get smaller
You can't make up resolution,
it is the megapixel in your
camera. It is important to be
able to use to effectively
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