Reducting size of JPEG pics

[narroc]

My daughter scan some photos onto a CD, I went to download these on to a net site, however I found the pics were of 450kb up to 2kb in size but the site has a limit of 150kb, How can I reduce the size to allow them to be downloaded??

[pangea33]

I am not completely clear about what exactly you're trying to do. It sounds like you have jpgs ranging from 450kb to 2mb in size, and want to UPLOAD them to a web host. There are a few different techniques to reduce filesize.

1) reduce image size
2) reduce image quality
3) reduce color depth

This requires image editing software, and you will typically get the best results via a combination of these methods. Irfanview (http://irfanview.com) is a good free tool for doing this. You can find some simple instructions here (http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic42363.html)

[Sylvander]

I find that when I "Image->Auto-Balance" [auto changes more than just the brightness] then "Image->Balance" [to manually adjust to suit my judgement] within a photo editor [usually to brighten the image with the "Gamma" slider], the size of the file automatically reduces in size.
I imagine this happens because I'm using a 5 megapixel camera at its maximum precision level, but the image doesn't have that much detail in it.

To upload to a hosting site, I RESIZE the image to 900 pixels wide [800 might be better][using a photo editor prog].
I did that to a handy image right now and it reduced the file from 166kB to 43kB. :)

[pangea33]

Thanks for the specific suggestions, Sylvander. Those are very useful tips, and more helpful than a link.

[Whyzman]

Sylvander, where are you finding the "Image>Auto-Balance?" Is this in Irfanview? Also, are you selecting to maintain aspect ratio when manually resizing?

[Sylvander]

Both of those were done in "Microsoft Photo Editor" [comes as part of MS Office].
And yes, the aspect ratio is maintained.
If I type in a figure for the width, the height alters automatically to suit.
If I do it using the up/down arrows...
As I change the width and watch it zooming through the numbers, the height zooms through appropriate numbers to suit.

My copy of "Adobe Photoshop 5.0" does something similar [at "Image->Adjust->Brightness/Contrast], but not auto, only manual.

[Whyzman]

Thanks for the clarification! My brain was following up with pangea's reference to Irfanview which I immediately opened and could not find the Image>auto balance...

I had just updated to the 3.98 version and thought perhaps they had dispensed with the option...

All is well, my brain can go back to sleep mode! ;)

[narroc]

I down loaded Irfanview and found I was able to reduce the size of the pics, However there some which still did not reduce enough to enable me to post them on a forum, Then there was one which reduced to about 4 kbs and the whole pics when so much out of focus that the faces couldn't be seen, tried to enlarge it back up to a realsonable size but it wouldn't move from the 4kbs. I must have reduced it too much to start with but I can not figure out how to get back up again despite several goes.

[pangea33]

Reducing an image's file size is inherently lossy, because it is accomplished by discarding some of the file details. It's the same way that mp3 audio files can be so much smaller than wav audio files. The goal is to strike an acceptable balance between quality and size.

Once these bits have been removed, they are lost forever. That's why you can't just get an image off the net and blow it up for printing as an 8x10 glossy. Experimenting with a copy of the original image first will help keep this from happening to you in the future.

[narroc]

Oh so that what happens that explains it, I deleted the pic and downloaded it again from the cd, still havn't got it right but will keep expermenting with it.

[jmkeuning]

It is also easy to use Paint (Start - Programs - Accessories - Paint)
Once the image is open, Image - Stretch/Skew
"Stretch" it like 50% and 50% or something, then save it as a different name

[anton muzic]

simple, quick resizing...
http://www.resize2mail.com/

been using it for last 3 months..

cheers