Resizing Images

I noticed a number of people don't know how to resize their images, and so I tried to put together a bit of a basic guide. If you have any further questions, comments, suggestions, or corrections please do not hesitate to post! This guide may be updated further as new ways are discovered, or based on request/questions.

Reminder: Forum Sets and images posted on the forum may not exceed 325px in height and 450px in width.

Remember to always use Save As to prevent losing your original.

PAINT AND SIMILAR PROGRAMS[/B][/U]

Paint will NOT preserve transparency. Similar programs may, though. In order to preserve a transparent background make sure you save it as a PNG file.

[Spoiler=By Saving the Image]

Locate the image, right click on it, and hit Save Image As. [IMG]http://i54.tinypic.com/2hgzn2q.png[/IMG]

Open Paint or another image-editor and open the newly saved file.

Locate the option to Resize the image. If you are using an older version of paint, it will be here: [IMG]http://i55.tinypic.com/280kuj4.png[/IMG] Make sure that you do it through the Stretch/Skew - changing the attributes of it will cut off a portion of your image.

You can choose to use percentages and keep resizing it until it looks right, however I prefer to use pixels because then I know it will be within the size restrictions. To avoid the image from being stretched or scrunched, make sure you have Maintain Ratio Aspect selected. [IMG]http://i54.tinypic.com/15i2a2r.png[/IMG] Tip: Change the larger dimension of the image to the maximum size. Do not touch the second size box, as it will automatically change it for you. i.e. if the image is larger vertically change that size to 325 and the image will be within the maximum size.

Once the image has been resized, save and upload it. [/spoiler] [Spoiler=With a Pre-Saved Image] Note: This procedure is more or less intended for people who have an easier time locating the image on their computer through their files rather than through the program.

Locate the image on your computer.

From either the thumbnail view or the image preview right click and select Open With and then Paint or another image-editing program. [IMG]http://i51.tinypic.com/szzdig.png[/IMG]

Locate the option to Resize the image. If you are using an older version of paint, it will be here: [IMG]http://i55.tinypic.com/280kuj4.png[/IMG] Make sure that you do it through the Stretch/Skew - changing the attributes of it will cut off a portion of your image.

You can choose to use percentages and keep resizing it until it looks right, however I prefer to use pixels because then I know it will be within the size restrictions. To avoid the image from being stretched or scrunched, make sure you have Maintain Ratio Aspect selected. [IMG]http://i54.tinypic.com/15i2a2r.png[/IMG] Tip: Change the larger dimension of the image to the maximum size. Do not touch the second size box, as it will automatically change it for you. i.e. if the image is larger vertically change that size to 325 and the image will be within the maximum size.

Once the image has been resized, save and upload it. [/spoiler]
[Spoiler=With Printscreen] Note: This is the more complicated way to save and resize an image. It does, however, allow you to do so without first saving the image on your computer. This will also work on images that cannot be saved -- ie, flash. Using this method will -not- preserve transparent backgrounds.

When the image is on your screen hit the PrtSc button on your keyboard. This will not show or do anything visible, but it has captured your screen.

Open up Paint, or another image-editing program. Paste the image onto the canvas. This can be done various ways, depending on which version you are using. So long as you have the Select Tool active, you should be able to right-click and then hit paste in every version/program. [IMG]http://i52.tinypic.com/xnrf2g.png[/IMG]

Using the Crop Tool or the Selection Tool place a box around the image that you wish to resize. Right click and select Crop. It may require you to first deselect the entire image -- you can do this by switching tools. [IMG]http://i56.tinypic.com/wvvdkg.png[/IMG] This will remove everything but what is in the selection.

Locate the option to Resize the image. If you are using an older version of paint, it will be here: [IMG]http://i55.tinypic.com/280kuj4.png[/IMG] Make sure that you do it through the Stretch/Skew - changing the attributes of it will cut off a portion of your image.

You can choose to use percentages and keep resizing it until it looks right, however I prefer to use pixels because then I know it will be within the size restrictions. To avoid the image from being stretched or scrunched, make sure you have Maintain Ratio Aspect selected. [IMG]http://i54.tinypic.com/15i2a2r.png[/IMG] Tip: Change the larger dimension of the image to the maximum size. Do not touch the second size box, as it will automatically change it for you. i.e. if the image is larger vertically change that size to 325 and the image will be within the maximum size.

Once the image has been resized, save and upload it. [/spoiler]

[B][U]GIMP

GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. You can download it at gimp.org.

With Pre-Saved Images

1. Open the image through File and then Open. The preview will show if the image has a transparent background as seen here: [IMG]http://i56.tinypic.com/jfvnrs.png[/IMG] 2. Use the Rectangular Selection Tool to select the area you want to be shown -- this can be used to get rid of any extra space. Right click and hover over Image and select Crop to Selection. Alternatively, you can try out the Auto-crop and Zealous crop, which will allow you to skip the selection part or to crop it further.

Under Image select Scale Image. By default it is in pixels and linked ratio. This means means that when you change one measurement it will automatically update the other so the image does not stretch or skew.
Select Scale.
Go to File and Save As.

To use this with printscreen or by locating your image first, check the beginning of the paint guides.

[B][U]ONLINE RESIZERS[/B][/U]

There are plenty of online options to resize your image if you do not have an image-editing program, or prefer not to use them.

[Spoiler=Pic Resize] For this example, I used pic resize.

Locate the image you want to save online, right click on it, and hit Save Image As. [IMG]http://i54.tinypic.com/2hgzn2q.png[/IMG] Note: see the guide on using paint with printscreen if you need to first save it with printscreen.
Go to the website, hit Browse locate the image you just saved and then Continue.
Choose to change to Custom Size and select Pixels for the width and height measurements. This is not necessary, however it is a lot easier to ensure the image falls within the size limit.

Tip: Change the larger dimension of the image to the maximum size. Do not touch the second size box, as it will automatically change it for you. i.e. if the image is larger vertically change that size to 325 and the image will be within the maximum size. [IMG]http://i51.tinypic.com/1zb5bx3.png[/IMG] In order to preserve transparency save it as a PNG file.

Hit I'm Done, Resize my Picture! This will bring you to a new page. Select View Image and the resized version will be opened in a new window. [IMG]http://i51.tinypic.com/1pzfyv.png[/IMG] For this particular site you need to save the image on your computer and upload it to another place. It will automatically clear your image after about 20 minuets. [/spoiler] If you know of another online resizer, particularly one that is an image host as well, please let me know.

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS

Relevant Guides ForumText and Signature FAQs sCodes Guide to sCode

Image Hosting Sites Tiny Pic Photobucket Image Shack

Note: I realize some of the images are not as helpful as they could be. I apologize for this, but I cannot do better at the moment as my printscreen key does not actually work and so I am using the On-Screen Keyboard.

If you purchase a commission from an artist always make sure you get the transparent version if possible. It is rather difficult to remove a background from an image.

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Resizing Images

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