Converting .bmp

Is there any way to convert .bmp to a smaller file without loosing color? I'm no software wizard, and don't want to buy a program. All I have is Paint to play with, and converting to .gif kills the color, but is the only way I've found to make the files small enough to upload here. Thanks

 

Save it as a jpeg file, it creates small files with out too much loss on resolution.

 

Thanks, but for some reason, this is not an option for me. When I click "save as" I can only choose from 4 different .bmp, or .gif. I'm no 'pooter whiz, but am I missing something?

 

I can't remember if there was a version of paint without jpeg support back in windows 95/98 days??? I know it's an option for me on windows 2000 and xp...

But ideally, I think you should really look into getting a better image editing program.

My recommendation for a great program with budget in mind is the Corel Graphics Suite... even the older versions are great and it includes both CorelDraw (vector editing and page layout, pdf export, etc.) and Corel PhotoPaint which is an awesome image editor matching photoshop 99% for a fraction of the price.

Others like PaintShopPro but I haven't used it having used Corel starting with version 3 and now at version 10 (haven't upgraded to 11 yet)

 

P.S. and if you're on a really tight software budget, you can find older versions that are still a world ahead of Paint in features (e.g. the ability to set the jpeg compression value visually for maxium size to quality) for very little $$. For example:

http://www.directdeals.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=OEM-PHOTOPAINT8

(note this is not a recommendation as I just found this price by searching in google)

 

Thanks Jeff, anything would be better than paint. Will Corel smooth the "jagged" lines out that you get with paint? I went in pixel by pixel and faded the lines into the background on a few of the drawings in my gallery. Very tedious and time consuming!

 

Yes indeed, there is a point here that you may need to know, the problem is that if you render your models let's say 1000X500 that's it that is the largest size of your picture if you try to scale it or enlarge it it will became jagged, you have to render in sizes that you know that you are going or wanted to print, there is a way to count your pixels but i really don't know i always ask a friend that knows about that but in general my renders are quite large to be able to print at least in 11X17 wich is in the 3000X2000 size, i belive that te only way to "repair" those jagged images is to render again in a larger resolution.

good tip...go to ADOBE and download the free Photo Album Starting Edition, great software for free and capable to save your pictures in a pdf and save other formats.

now, go to your bookstore or magazine store and look for the magazine called "DIGIT" it has a "free" (just for the price of the magazine) version of CANVAS V7 is a full version, is like CorelDraw and if you need to do some basic editing to your pictures this the software that you may need, don't miss it.

good luck