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Archiver > TMG > 2003-01 > 1041440566


From: Richard Brogger <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] I need help with the size of my photos linked to thewebsitecreated by Second Site
Date: Wed, 01 Jan 2003 11:02:46 -0600
References: <410-220021223118395662@penn.com>


Brian Milks wrote:
>
> Hello!
>
> I attached a bunch of photographs to my TMG data. I admit I was fairly
> careless about the size when I scanned some of the photographs. The one in
> particular is listed as width: 2185 Height: 2776 Colors: 24 bpp size:
> 4207519 bytes.

Hello Brian,

When I scan a photograph, I often use 600 pixels per inch. This does
yield large image files such as you describe. These files are saved on
CD and are not intended to be used for normal viewing. For viewing on
a monitor, they are just too large. In addition, the larger that a
file is, the longer they will take to load. Or download, as the case
might be.

> What do I need to do to "resize" them to fit better? I am fiddling around
> with Irfanview, but I can't seem to get the size/quality right.

For sake of discussion, I will use the term "resize" to imply inches.
As when I resize an 8 x 10 inch image for printing at 4 x 5 inches.
For monitor viewing, we do not want to use inches. The dimensions of
an image on a monitor are in pixels. An image 2185 wide by 2776 high
is stated in pixels (picture elements) and often written as 2185 x
2776. For monitor viewing I need to "re-sample" that image to say 800
x 600.

I no longer have Irfanview on my computer. I can't help with that
software. Some image software can batch resize image files. Some can
also do batch conversions to a common file type such as JPEG. Those
with such software can use it to good advantage.

When the object is a common photograph and it is intended for viewing
via a monitor, I recommend COPYING those files to a new folder. I will
call it 'fullscreen'. Also copy the entire 'fullscreen' folder content
to a second new folder called 'web_size', prior to doing any
conversion. Using whatever means available, convert the files in
''fullscreen'' to JPEG format. Do not include objects with text or
lines. JPEG can give those jagged lines.

As you convert to JPEG, re-sample the image. If you intend for others
to view the image on their monitor, you should allow for those with
monitors set at a 800 x 600 pixel screen area. You may choose other
screen area settings but I will continue using the assumption that 800
x 600 is full screen. If an image is tall, I limit the height to 600
pixels while maintaining the proportions. If it is wide, I limit the
width to 800 pixels. This may result in an image that fills the screen
in only on dimension but to change both dimensions would distort the
image.

The need to view images full screen is limited. A common daily use for
images in TMG5 is the Image Window. Another use might be in a chart
and limited to about the size of a passport photo. While TMG can use a
large image and make it small, doing so can slow the opening of
Exhibit Log and, in general, cause unneccesary problems. A way around
these problems is to have a folder with small images and use that for
normal use. I will call this folder, 'web_size'.

I will convert and re-sample the image files again but this time it is
those in the 'web_size' folder. This time to say 150 x 150 pixels.
Again, 150 pixels is the limit and usually applies to just one
dimension.

Avoid re-sampling JPEG images because the JPEG format is lossy. Always
return to the file saved by your camera or scanner. If that is in JPEG
foramt, so be it, it is the original file and the best that you have.

Opening and closing *.jpg a million times will cause no additional
loss. However, opening *.jpg and using "Save" or "Save as..." will add
to the loss every time. Thus you should avoid using a copy to make a
new copy that must be saved. You can copy *.jpg to a new file name
without loss but you can not save *.jpg to a new file name without
loss. I hope that this makes sense because the distinction is
important.

If you loaded your image files from:
C:\Program Files\The Master Genealogist\pics
you can make new folders named:
C:\Program Files\The Master Genealogist\fullscreen and
C:\Program Files\The Master Genealogist\web_size
However, Exhibit Log will continue to look for image files in the
"pics" folder and load what is found. To load the small image files
from the "web_size" folder, you can use Windows Explorer and make some
changes. C:\Program Files\The Master Genealogist\pics can become
C:\Program Files\The Master Genealogist\rem-pics. C:\Program Files\The
Master Genealogist\web_size can then be renamed as C:\Program
Files\The Master Genealogist\pics. When Exhibit Log or the Image
Window looks for John_Jones.jpg in the "pics" folder, it will load
that file, regardless of the size of the file. Each reader will have
to make allowances for their actual path names.

With a bit of file renaming, the user can select the folder with the
image files that are sized for the task at hand. I do not have Second
Site yet, so I can not be sure, but I see no reason why this system
will not work with SS. Having folders with different size files is
just one possibility. Some might convert all image files to grayscale
and have a 'grayscale' folder. A user might find it advantageous to
have many folders, all with the same image and file name, but with a
special purpose for the files in each folder. The main point is that
we are not stuck with a one-size-fits-all image file.

Richard Brogger
>
> Brian Milks
>
>

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