Resizing an Image Using Irfanview
Guide Overview
This Guide will show you how to take a large image, and reduce it in physical size.
The same technique can be used to enlarge an image, but this really has no practical application, as enlarging an image too much, reduces the quality of the image so badly, that it becomes too distorted to view.
Resizing an image, will also reduce the file size of the image, allowing it to occupy less space on the harddrive.
A couple of reasons you may need to do this would be, to send in a E-mail (reduced file size for those using a dial-up connection), or to post on a message board like this one.
A short Flash presentation is available for viewing. I suggest you watch the presentation first, as this will give you an idea of what this Tutorial will cover.
The written Tutorial, will give you a bit more detail about the Resizing operation.
Resizing with Irfanview Video
Tools NeededInstructions
- Open Irfanview, and click on File, in the Toolbar, and select Open.
- In the box that opens, navigate to the image you want to resize, and select it (single Left click).
Now click on the Open button.
- The image will open up in the Irfanview window.
In the Toolbar at the top, click Image and select Resize/Resample....
This will open the Resize/Resample image box.
Here's where you will select the settings that will be applied, to resize the image. - Put a tick next to Set new size:, and select the Units: (pixels, cm, or inches) you wish to use.
- Put a check next to Preserve aspect ratio.
This setting will make sure the reduced image, has the same proportions as the original, so the new image doesn't appear squashed, or stretched. - In the Size Method box, put a tick next to Resample (better quality), and using the dropdown arrow, select Lanczos filter (slowest).
These settings will give you the best image quality possible, for your reduced image. - Now, you'll notice some numbers in the Set new size: box, next to Width:, and Height:.
These represent the size, in the Units: selected, of your original image.
Now's where you will decide, how you want to resize the image.
There are 2 ways to do this (It's your decision, depending on your needs).
By using the Some standard dimensions: box:
Or by entering the dimensions manually in the Set new size: box:
Using the Set new size: option, with Preserve aspect ratio selected, you only need to change 1 dimension, Width:, or Height:.
The other dimension will be changed automatically, to preserve the aspect ratio. - When the settings are the way you want them, click the OK button.
- Once you have the image resized the way you want it, you'll want to save it.
In the Toolbar at the top, click File, then select Save As....
- When the Save Picture As... dialog box opens, pick a place to save the image file (Save in:), name the file (File name:), choose a file format (Save as type:), then click the Save button.
When using the dropdown arrow for the Save as type:, JPG - JPEG Files will give the smallest file size.
Easy enough, huh?
