Topic: How to resize images for posting

[Brian Skalinder]

How do I resize images so they're smaller and display better within a forum posting?

Download and install software
Download and install freeware Irfanview (www.irfanview.com).


Resize a single image

In the Irfanview main window

[01] Open an image.
[02] Go to Main Menu: Image | Resize/Resample.

In the Resize/Resample Image window

[03] Change dimensions (640x480 should be fine, make sure Preserve Aspect ratio is ticked).
[04] Set the DPI to 72.
[05] Press the OK button.

Back in the Irfranview main window

[06] Go to Main Menu: File | Save As.
[07] Save the image as a different filename than the original.  That way, you maintain the original image for safekeeping.

Repeat for each image you want to resize.


Resize multiple images at the same time

If you have a whole bunch of images to resize, you can do it in a batch process.  A batch process is just a way of applying the same changes to multiple images all at the same time, without having to apply the changes manually to each individual image.

In the Irfanview main window

[01] Go to Main Menu: File | Batch Conversion/Rename.

In the Batch Conversion window

[02] Select the files you want to resize. *
[03] Press the Add button.
[04] Click the Set Advanced Options button.

In the Set For All Images window

[05] Select the Set New Size radio button.
[06] Set the resize dimensions accordingly (640x480 should be fine)
[07] Set DPI to 72.
[08] Press the OK button.

In the Batch Conversion window

[09] Batch Conversion window:
[10] Set the Output Directory.  Create/Pick a different directory than the one in which the original images are stored, that way you won't overwrite them and will have the originals for safekeeping.
[11] Press Start.

* You may want to resize your images in 2 batches: first, all those in portrait orientation, then all those in landscape orientation.  Resizing dimensions are specified in width x height.  For portrait oriented images, the new dimensions would be 480x640.  For landscape oriented images, the new dimensions would be 640x480.

That's it!  Pretty simple.