We get numerous questions about how to compress pictures so they are less than 200KB for the forum and sometimes we get pictures that are so big they require scrolling to see it all.

My solution to these problems and all picture editing is to use a program that is hidden in Microsoft Office. It is powerful but simple and better than the default Windows Photo Viewer or Paint.

For windows users here are the steps you need to use it: (if you have a Mac – sorry can’t help)

1. Make sure you have the program –
- a. Use Windows Explorer and find any photo file (usually in your picture folder)
- b. Highlight the photo file and right click.
- c. Place your pointer on “Open with” – don’t click
- d. If one of the programs is “Microsoft Office Picture Manager” your Good To Go
- e. If not you can go back to sleep

2. Next you need to associate all picture files with the program
- a. Press the start button on the lower left
- b. Choose Control Panel
- c. Next click on Default Programs
- d. Then Associate Files – it will take a few seconds to populate the list
- e. The list will show extensions, description, and current default.
- f. Highlight any extension that has Windows Photo Viewer as the current default and click “change program”
- g. Windows will show you the choices that work for that extension.
- h. Chose MS Office Picture Manager and press Ok
- i. Do this for all the programs that use Windows Photo Viewer or Paint.
- j. When you’re done just close the windows

3. Now you’re ready to use MS Office Picture manager for your photos
- a. When you click on the photo files they will automatically open in MS Office Pict Mgr
- b. There are three simple choices at the top of the work area
- -i. Rotate left or right
- -ii. Edit
- -iii. Auto correct
- c. Edit is the powerful button
- -i. Crop gets rid of unwanted empty space
- -ii. Resize allows you to make the picture bigger or smaller ( I use about 500 pixels for the forum)
- -iii. Compress allows you to lower the KB count. ( you can see the original and new count near the bottom)
- -iv. Saving the file and reopening it will allow you compress it a few times if you want. (I always do a “save as” under a different name so I don’t mess up the original file – and do not save when I exit the program.)

The instruction book that came with your digital camera probably tells you how to do it using your camera's software (mine does). If you've lost the book, you can probably find a PDF of it online. On the iMac, I've used both the camera software and the free resizing websites. Both are OK.

Never knew that was there... Works good. I have been using a freeware program Image Resizer that also works well http://www.imageresizer.com/ Allows you to resize various formats. John

Well I just downloaded that image reziser.So now to fiqure out how to use it.

Microsoft's resizer is the easiest of all to use.

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=211477

Of course there are others if you want to do it the hard way. ;)

Image resizer - select JPG, set slider to better,
Pixels 600 or less. on left side browse your pc for your pictures, select one or more and click resize. Pictures will be resized and renamed with mini- in front of old name. John

To Steve Jelf:

If you have a Mac, resizing pictures very easy in Preview (a standard Program that is loaded on all Macs). I use it all the time.

You can open a photo file in Preview two different ways. First method: when in Finder, click on the photo file and the file should automatically open in Preview. Second method: click on and open Finder first, the go to "File" on the toolbar and locate and open the picture file.

Once the photo has opened Preview, click on "Tools" in the toolbar and then click on "Adjust Size." You can adjust size by dimensions by percentage (height and width) or by resolution or both.

I usually do it by percentage and adjust the size until it is 200 KB or less.

Preview has other image editing features/tools which you can use to manipulate the photo such as adjusting color and cropping.

Everything you ever wanted to know about Preview:
http://www.macworld.com/article/132468/2008/04/workingmac2504.html

An easy way to reduce photos. Right click on photo...'send to mail recipient'...send the mail to yourself. Your inbox will receive photos with 50 or so kb. Save the photos with a different file name than original so you will have both large and small for later.

With the MS program, right click picture. Click Resize. Done.

EASIEST WAY OF ALL

I've used this program to resize pictures for about 10 years - its incredibly easy.

Go to http://www.rw-designer.com/picture-resize

About halfway down the opening page is a line that says "•Download PhotoResize400.exe and place it on your desktop."

Download it to your desktop. Any picture you drag and drop on the photoresize icon will now be resized to 400 pixels wide (about 1/2 page). If you change the NAME of the program to photoresize1000, it will resize pictures to a full page width. Thats it - just that simple.

Resized pictures are placed in the same folder as they came from - does not destroy the original photo. Mt daughter is a graphics designer and uses this hundreds of times a day. Simple and works perfectly.

Cheers
schuh