Compression, downsizing of pictures, need help!

[apex1]

Hello to all,

I am annoyed by a real silly little problem everytime I want to upload a picture.
How can I downsize a picture I have taken with my digital camera, in the most efficient way (without loosing too much of the impression it reflects).
In terms of editing pictures I´m a total layman! I use "the Gimp" to edit and "Irfan View" to sight. And I do´nt want to install another program.
I am not at home or in my office, I am in Turkey at present. Although the internet connection here is at a reasonable standard, uploading files takes ages (20 minutes for 300 kb), at least with my provider.
I tried to solve the prob. by: first downsizing to a usable size, say 15%, then reducing the resolution to 60 dpi, then on top reduced the colours to 256. The result is a size within 60 to 200 kb, but the pictures look poor.
Any cheap trick?
Thank you in advance!
Regards
Richard

[apex1]

To give a better description of the result I would like to achieve:
if you look at my Gallery, especially this picture:
http://www.boatdesign.net/gallery/sh...1/ppuser/11121
more than 300kb but poor quality. Now look at that:
http://www.boatdesign.net/gallery/sh...4/ppuser/11121
55kb but bright and clear!
I unfortunately cannot find out, who did compress (manipulate) it.
Every assistance greatly appreciated.
Regards
Richard

[daiquiri]

The first image was saved to jpg format with almost no compression. I've opened it with PaintShop and saved it again with 10% compression factor and it is 80 kb now, nearly same visual quality.
What photo software do you use?

[apex1]

Originally Posted by daiquiri

The first image was saved to jpg format with almost no compression. I've opened it with PaintShop and saved it again with 10% compression factor and it is 80 kb now, nearly same visual quality.
What photo software do you use?

Thank you very much, the software is mentioned above! I´ll look if I have some feature!
edit: No, at least I could´nt find it
Regards
Richard

[whoosh]

there is a much easier solution picasa 3 free from google allows you to instantly easily crop a pic, save sent to microsoft image or otherAlso hit print screen and with picasa open , what is on screen comes up in picasa, crop it and there you have a file to send use do what you will with)

[whoosh]

like so, abt 100 times faster than paint

[apex1]

Originally Posted by whoosh

like so, abt 100 times faster than paint

Thanks Stu, will google that! Problem is, I have just my notebook here and that is packed with Data and program till upper edge lower lip. Just 254 mb left!!!
No way to install another program, and have already two external hd in use! shi....t
Thanks for assistance.
Regards
Richard

[robherc]

You can try saving it to .PNG format, that usually shrinks things up a good bit for me, and most current browsers will read it as well as a .jpg :-) (I'm not completely sure if that format's allowed in here though...will have to check on that)

[daiquiri]

GIMP is a great photo editing software and, incredibly, all for free.
You will find all the instructions here:
http://docs.gimp.org/en/
Read the chapter 6.

[apex1]

Originally Posted by daiquiri

GIMP is a great photo editing software and, incredibly, all for free.
You will find all the instructions here:
http://docs.gimp.org/en/
Read the chapter 6.

Thank you very much! ALL
Regards
Richard

[Rick Willoughby]

I find PowerPoint to be an easy to use means of compressing photos. It is already on most computers. It has a good jpg converter although you cannot alter its compression ratio.

The attached images compare straight from the camera versus same image just inserted in PowerPoint and SavaAs jpg. The ratio in file sizes is about 12 : 1.

If you have a series of photos you can insert them all into PowerPoint and when you SavaAs they will be placed in a folder, each as a jpg image.

PowerPoint is a reasonable tool for quick sketching and image manipulation. It is worthwhile spending a little time to play with these functions if you have not done it already.

Rick W

[Rick Willoughby]

Originally Posted by whoosh

like so, abt 100 times faster than paint

Actually if you have a Mac it is a single mouse click to get any part of the screen.

Rick W

[whoosh]

Originally Posted by Rick Willoughby

Actually if you have a Mac it is a single mouse click to get any part of the screen.

Rick W

mouse click, Rats I do not have a mac

[apex1]

Originally Posted by Rick Willoughby

I find PowerPoint to be an easy to use means of compressing photos. It is already on most computers. It has a good jpg converter although you cannot alter its compression ratio.
The attached images compare straight from the camera versus same image just inserted in PowerPoint and SavaAs jpg. The ratio in file sizes is about 12 : 1.
Rick W

Impressive, Thanks! Yes naturally I have powerpoint on my laptop. I´ll try!
Thanks to daiquiri, I found out now that the "Quality" switch in Gimp is related to compression ratio (or say, I believe it is) and that solves the problem for now! Will make immediately a upload to my Gallery (Red boat, not built at my yards).

Again thanks to ALL of you nice guys !

It is really not a big problem to be a disabled moron, as long as you know whom to ask!
Regards
Richard

[robherc]

Originally Posted by apex1

I found out now that the "Quality" switch in Gimp is related to compression ratio (or say, I believe it is) and that solves the problem for now!

You're EXACTLY right...it was called "Quality" in iPhotoPlus4 (my personal fav. image manip. software of about 12 years ago...rofl.