Mac user needs iHelp sizing an image with iPhoto.

01/20/2007 12:05:16 AM · #1

I have a 5.5 Mpix file that I want to upload for a current challenge and can not get it sized to the 150 Kb regulation size and keep the 640 max size per side. I am using simple editing with iPhoto V 4.03, just to crop and adjust contrast and brightness.
I set "constrain" to 4X6, crop and then export to "pictures" with "size" set at 640 and let the software set the other dimension.
When I check it in the "pictures" file it is 260Kb, which is oversized for the rules. I have no problem when uploading to my portfolio using this tecnique to size them to 640 long side.
My question is this. If I keep sizing it down when I export to "pictures" until it is within the 150Kb limit, will it be full sized in the challenge page, or will it be thumbnail sized?
I am running OS 10.3.9 on an early single processor Powermac G5, and have Aperture, but will have to upgrade to OS 10.4 before I can use it. The info file with the image that I want to resize says it was modified with Quicktime 7.1.3 software when I edit in iPhoto.
Before the question is asked, no , I don't have or use Photo Shop yet, as I am not a pro, and generally do not need to tinker that much with my images. : )
Help would be greatly appreciated.

bucket

Canon EOS-30D

01/20/2007 12:24:09 AM · #2

I am going to offer a couple of ideas, but I hope someone who knows more will offer better help...
I have a mac, but haven't used iPhoto to send in a shot...
what happens if you use the email under Share?...use the medium format and I thinkit should be under 150...if However you do it, once you have sized it down to under 150 then whatever size you send in will be the one used...the site takes care of the thumbnail for you.
For what it is worth, I don't think you need to be a pro to use photoshop..I use CS2 and have used photoshop to grow and learn with...you can start off learning simple things and grow with it...I think you might enjoy the tinkering!
hope any of this helps, and someone else comes along who has more definite answers..good luck!

Message edited by author 2007-01-20 00:24:46.

01/20/2007 12:35:51 AM · #3

bucket, I will see if that will work. That would be just too simple if it works.
30 sec later: Created email with "med" size, and still get 260 Kb when I drag it out of the email to "pictures" file. Created email at "small" and then it's 80Kb, which I feel may be way low on resolution as it's only about 1/2 the reg size for the entry.
Should I just try trimming it down while exporting to pics, until it gets to 150 Kb?Doing it that way, 450X300 gets it to 140Kb.
I am concerned that it will be a lot smaller than the other images in the challenge voting pages if I trim it below 640 long side before I upload it.

Message edited by author 2007-01-20 00:41:00.

bucket

Canon EOS-30D

01/20/2007 01:05:53 AM · #4

you will just get nailed for having a smaller pic for sure...most people won't give your shot the time of day, and I don't think it would be a worthwhile exercise...
I suggest you try send a pm to

scalvert...he is very good with macs, and very helpful...
(hope he doesn't mind me offering his help..)

01/20/2007 01:12:31 AM · #5

Yes, I have seen his posts in the "learn" threads. I will wait a while and see who posts as I have time before the challenge ends. I would prefer to not bother

scalvert with this as I feel sure that he is busy.
I read thru a lot of the tutorial threads, and all of those seem to deal with PS on Windows.
Thank you for offering advice on this.
I made a major mess out of the second of my challenge entries, and would like to get it right this time.

Message edited by author 2007-01-20 01:17:59.

scalvert

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/20/2007 01:13:28 AM · #6

... and what if I happen to post...?

01/20/2007 01:16:06 AM · #7

Wow! That was quick!

scalvert

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/20/2007 01:17:10 AM · #8

Hang on while I type up a suggestion...

asimchoudhri

01/20/2007 01:27:56 AM · #9

you can use imagewell , a free program, to resize the original to the size you want. it will allow you crop, set the pixel size, and with that information you can alter the degree of compression to get the desired file size. it will also add simple borders. it may not use compression algorithms as good as photoshop, but it's free and farily flexible. give it a shot!

asimchoudhri

01/20/2007 01:30:47 AM · #10

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

[...]I am running OS 10.3.9 on an early single processor Powermac G5, and have Aperture, but will have to upgrade to OS 10.4 before I can use it. [...]

depending upon the urgency for you, you may wish to wait until leopard (10.5) comes out before you upgrade... odds are it will come out this spring, and would mean you wouldn't have to pay for two upgrades. just a thought... if you need tiger over the next few months, then the double-upgrade may be worth it.

scalvert

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/20/2007 01:31:48 AM · #11

Answer... forget iPhoto for resizing. It just wasn't made to be so specific (though there may be a 3rd party plugin to allow it). I'm a long time PS user, so I've never had the need to try anything else. For you, I just did.

If you don't have PS or the much cheaper PS Elements, I suggest you export whatever you need from iPhoto and use Graphic Converter for resizing. It probably came with your Mac, but you can download it, too.

Open your file in GC and go to Picture> Size >Scale...
Change the resolution to 72 dpi, and then change the longest dimension to 640px (you'll notice that it has to be in that order). There are 11(!) different algorithms to choose from when scaling, so you may need to play with them for best results. Sharpening afterwards is usually a good idea, too.
Once you scale the file, go to Save As... and choose JPEG/JFIF. Hit the Preferences button and uncheck "add resource fork" (no reason to waste space on that stuff for DPC). Click OK, then click the Options button and on the right side you'll see "Reduce quality to reach filesize (type in 150kb). At the bottom where it says embed, uncheck everything, then hit OK. Done... and it was easy as 1,2,384529. ;-)

I had not tried this until just now, so there may be an easier way, but the important thing is that it works. Graphic Converter offers many powerful editing tools, too. You can also try Gimp (a free Photoshop alternative) or just open the file in Preview, hit Save As... and use the quality slider (although that would be trial and error since there's no indication of the resulting file size).

Hope that helps!