dhaywood

I recently tried to upload some jpeg files to my local photography meetup group. I couldn't upload some because the files were to large. I use a MAC and I am looking for a good program to reduce the file size to enable uploading to some websites. Now, before some of you scream about searching the archives (as you always do) I have. I was unable to locate anything useful.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Just use iPhoto and change the size there. Don't all Macs come with iPhoto?

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

dhaywood,

There are a couple of things we need to know about your system in order to provide specific support.

1. We know you have a Mac.
2. We don't know what editing software you have installed to edit images.
3. We don't know what the maximum size of images are acceptable at the destination.

Keep in mind that file size can be composed of two elements;
a. The physical size of the image (in pixels Height and width).
b. The resolution of the image in DPI (dots per inch)

Before anyone jumps on the DPI and PPI issues, the final destination will "Print" the images on some device, and that printing device will use DPI as a value to reproduce the digital image.

Based, solely on experience with limited information from you, my best guess is to re-size your digital images to 1024 x 768 Pixels, and 300dpi resolution.

You mentioned your local photography group, one of the more popular methods to display digital photos to a large group is through a digital projector. This device has some limitations on the physical size it can project accurately.
1. The physical size of the reflective screen in feet.
2. The physical distance between the reflective screen and the digital projector in feet.

Michael G

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Most post processing programs have a Save As... function that will also allow you so set the DPI or Resolution as necessary thereby reducing the file size. It should be an easy fix, but keep us posted!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I believe Picasa (by Google) has a Mac version - and it's free. Very easy to use the export function and change the jpg file size to several options. Even better, the setting stays that way 'til you change it, so if you have 5 to do, you don't need to keep adjusting the option.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

So sorry, but I AM going to jump on the PPI/DPI issue. ANYTIME you are referring to digital file, the ONLY correct term is PPI.

DPI is for how many DOTS per inch a printer lays down to print pixels. A file can be set at 180, 240, 300, or 360 PPI and a 1440 DPI printer will still lay down 1440 dots in every inch.

If you size an image for projection at 1024x768 (which is probably correct for a LOT of projectors) you could set the PPI at 78, 312, or 264 and it would look exactly the same on a screen. Because the projector only cares about the X by Y dimension. In fact, ALL digital devices look only at the x by y - projectors, laptops, iPads, etc.

Only for printing does the PPI setting affect image quality.

I JUST LOVE correcting the PPI/DPI thing every time I see it. That and the it-will-never-die 72PPI resolution myth.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

No screaming about searching the archives, but how about screaming, about telling us what software you DO have. With a Mac you do have iPhoto, but anything else? You may have what you need since this is a very basic function of most any software.

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

CaptainC,

I am going to have to disagree with your statements DPI vs PPI.

All imagery sent through a computer device and displayed on a visual monitor is "Printed" to the screen. It has been that way for near 75 years. RADAR screens printed enemy aircraft and warships on glass cathode ray imaging screens, and our antique Microsoft keyboards still have the key, "Print Screen".

PPI comes from Picture Element, and is the measure and photon sensitive device used to convert photons to electrical energy.

DPI as you stated is the number of dots per inch a paper printer can imprint ink onto a page.

If you take a good standard photo image of say 4 x 4 inches save it at 0 (or near 0) compression as a .jpg file, at 300 DPI, and print it you should get a reasonably good printed copy at 4 x 4 inches.

If you take that same original image and save it as a .jpg file with 72dpi, and print that image you will see a nice 4 x 4 inch picture, but the print quality will be rather poor.

When we decrease the file resolution we remove a lot of the details contained within that file, digital data. In the early 1990s most of us were on dial-up internet connection with a bandwidth speed of around 24,000 Bd. To attach an image to an e-mail, or web page would take up to several minutes to download and render to the computer screen.

Today many of us have Fiber-Optic T-1 internet connections and the same file will download in the blink of an eye. However, because of the inception of "Cloud Computing" much of the ultra high bandwidth is being eaten up by the Cloud. In that regard it is still important to keep internet files as small as possible, and that means reducing the image resolution to the minimum acceptable level for modern computer monitors.

It does not matter that the monitors we have on our desktops can reproduce ultra high resolution photographic images. What matters is how we get those image to the monitor.

Have a very good week, :-)

Michael g

jeryh Loc: Oxfordshire UK

I found that the best way to do this simply was to create a size of your own- I use 4"X5", send this as a JPEG- it works every time, with no problems as to bandwidth etc.

psbeehler Loc: INDIANA

Photo bulk is a MAC app that will batch resize, watermark etc. use it all the time to resize images quickly for the website I post to :)

Dano Loc: North Carolina

You may want to give PDF Shrink a try. It's the easiest solution I've found and they offer a free trial. I think the full version is around $35... but well worth it.

http://www.apagoinc.com/prod_home.php?prod_id=36

Good luck!

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

Type" reducing image file size" into SEARCH

Dano Loc: North Carolina

Oops! Sorry about that dhaywood... I was thinking pdf not jpg. A mind is a terrible thing to lose!

For jpg's, when file size is the issue, you may want to try Imagewell (if quality is your main concern, I'd opt for exporting from a photo editor like iPhoto, Photoshop, or Elements). Even though Imagewell doesn't do batch processing, it's a really handy and FAST utility for managing the size of images. You simply drag an image to the application, use a slider to adjust the size, and drag it out to wherever (such as an email or upload screen). It also allows for some simple editing and is great for converting other file types to jpg.

jcarlosjr Loc: Orange County

Oh,

I hear the strains of "myth of 72" sneaking into this thread.

GPS Phil Loc: Dayton Ohio

I use PIXresizer, and have for years. it's free and works well. I reduce all my e-mail images to 50%.

Phil