posted on August 23, 2001 05:24:53 AM
OK, I went out and bought a pretty cool camera the Olympus d-510, the problem is it takes the pictures tooo big and Auction Watch wont accept most of them, I have read the manual and can not figure out how to downsize these babies. I did come across the cruncher software but that seems to take forever. Does any one have any suggestions??? Thanks
Jen
Jen
posted on August 23, 2001 06:19:27 AM
Hi tjbrocean...
What you need is some image editing software. I use Paint Shop Pro which is available on the Web as shareware. I've been using it forever so it's more than paid for itself long, long ago but it might be a little pricey if all you need it for is to downsize your images. I'm sure that there are less expensive alternatives and perhaps someone will be along with a suggestion.
I would imagine the process you would go through would be similar in most image editing programs. first, you will need to open the image in the program. Somehow it should tell you how large your image is in pixels. Something like 850 x 600 or the like. That is width times height.
First I crop the image to remove all the unwanted extra around the item. In PSP there is a rectagle shape on the toolbar that I can click on and resize around the area of image I want to keep. Then I go to the drop down menu at the top under IMAGE and select CROP. It does away with all but what I've selected.
Then, I RESAMPLE the image. I don't know all the particulars but in PSP and in some image editing software, RESAMPLE is better for your JPG image than RESIZE. I use the CUSTOM SIZE radio button and decide how wide I want my image to be. Usually, I will size the width from 300 pixels up to 650 pixels...most often in the 300 - 500 range. If you don't want people who have laptops or still have smaller monitors to have to scroll, and to keep the file sizes down, try to use something less than 650 pixels wide. It also depends if you want to use the image on the bottom, side or top of your description (an image with the text to the side will have to be smaller than one at the top or bottom of the description). Make sure the MAINTAIN ASPECT RATIO button is selected and when you size the width, the height will be automatically sized appropriately to the image.
Then, save the image with a unique name. In PSP, the program automatically compresses the JPG to the percent that I have specified under PREFERENCES -- FILE FORMAT PREFERENCES. This will make the file smaller and quicker to load but too much compression affects the quality of the image. I have mine set at 40%. Also, be sure you only save the image once as a JPG or the compression will kick in again and the image quality will severely deteriorate (if you save it twice at 40% compression, the image will actually be 80% compressed).
There's a learning curve to good image editing but I'm convinced I get consistently higher bids because of the quality of my images. Just the other day someone bought a book I was selling and wrote in part in an e-mail, "I really liked your book. The visuals inspired my creativity."
Any time you spend learning to improve your images will be time well spent (and can translate to money in the bank).
And if you are taking a picture of anything reflective (like a mirror or a kettle) be sure you don't have any unwanted images of a fat naked guy in the reflection!
posted on August 23, 2001 06:34:29 AM
Every digital camera I have ever used (and I have used lots) had a setting for the quality of the image. The camera usually displays the number of photos you can take at a particular setting. For example, on cameras of about 2 megapixel, the highest quality works out to about a meg per image. So if you put in a 32 mb card, you will see a number close to 32. You press the quality button and the number doubles to around 64. This means you can now take 64 photos but they will have about half the pixels. Press it again and it goes to about 128. The more images, the smaller the photos will be. Experiment and you can find the optimum setting.
posted on August 23, 2001 06:47:25 AM
I have an Olympus but not the same model as yours. Assuming the programs are similar: You have the Camedia software that came with it installed, right? I happen to send my pics to another editting program where I play with them and they are resized but you can resize your pics by going to IMAGE, then RESIZE. Try entering 480 as your largest number (called "half screen" size on the software I use) and check "maintain ratio". You can also go to EDIT, then OPTIONS, then JPG and pick your compression quality. NOTE: I have not used this with regard to auctions so do not know how they will show. My sis just got an Olympus and I helped her with re-sizing pics for e-mails, etc. Good luck!
posted on August 23, 2001 09:12:28 AM
Do you have a setting on your camera that says fine. If you do you use that, but the images are still to large so you need a software program to reduce the size. I use Photosuite and it works just fine and Very easy to use. I got that soft ware program with my scanner. Do you have a scanner? Do you rezise those images, if so use that program. There is a drop down box that you can select scanner or camera. I imagine that you got a software program with your camera also and if you did read the instructions how to download it. They seem hard but the're easy. Good Luck
posted on August 23, 2001 09:13:04 AM
We use the resize option in our Olympus camera software and it works just fine for auctions. No one seems to have problems with our pictures anyway.
