Ageless Wings wrote:

Paul, Kevin, et al...

The best way to shrink a file/picture down is to use your favorite graphic
editing program (Photoshop, etc.) Make the picture 96 dpi (any resolution
higher than that will not be used to display the picture, and the file size
is wasted, as well as the time to send it and the space to store it). Then
reduce it's size to 4 inches to a side or slightly less...this is a good
size to view on a computer monitor and not lose any detail...96dpi, around 4
inches (400dpi) square, or less. In jpeg this will produce a file of from 10
to 40 kb, depending on the color and detail.

But, if you don't have any graphic programs, or never use them, I think I've
found a great, very easy to use alternative from a surprising place...and
it's already on your computer if you have Windows.

Use Windows Paint. It allows you to shrink the file both in display size and
file size in one step. Then will start an email message for you with the
file already attached!

To do it in Paint:

Open Paint.  Then Open the picture file you want to email.  It will be
displayed in it's full size, just as the person who receives it will see it
when it arrives on their computer...you will see immediately if it's too
large for the monitor, and checking the "Image>Attributes" will tell you how
big the file itself actually is on disk. Your goal is to get the picture
down to a decent size for viewing AND the file size below 40kb for quick
sending and so as not to take up too much space on a disk drive.

To shrink it, to get the just mentioned characteristics, is an easy, one
step process in Paint.

Go to "Image" in the menu bar, select "stretch/skew" and change the percent
in the stretch section from 100 to what you think will work...say 33%. Use
any number at first, it can be changed if you don't like it.  Be sure to
change both the vertical and horizontal to the same number. It will
immediately shrink the resolution and the size to the new setting.  If you
don't like it, "undo" it and select another percentage.

When done (you may have to save it as a jpeg if it isn't already, and reopen
it), while in paint and the image still on the screen,  just select
"File>Send"  and it will open a blank email for you, with the photo already
attached, and the size of the photo marked in KB.  Just type your message
and send.

As an example, I just tried this with a photo of a moose I picked at
random...it prepared a 98 KB bmp file as a 9kb jpg, and opened a blank email
message with it already attached, in about 30 seconds.

I don't know if paint will pick up on email programs other than Outlook
Express or Outlook, but at least you will have the photo file in a size that
is easy to send, retaining the detail, and will keep Paul happy, your phone
line less busy, and any future CDs Paul makes with emails and attachments
included, will be able to hold more material!

Harley

 
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