reducing picture size

[lowrie333]

Hi, i am currently having problems reducing picture size for pics to go on a web page. They are pics of animals which have quite a lot of detail. When i reduce them to an exact size (which is about 25% of the original) they go very pixelated. I have tried a few things and cannot seem to get them any sharper. I am currently using ms photoediter which i have no previous problems using. Is there any better free software that would help? Am i doing something wrong? Help!

[Buenchico]

Try using Irfanview. It's a superb (free) image viewing and manipulation program, which deserves a place on everyone's PC:
http://www.irfanview.com/

Open your image in Irfanview. Then go to Image > Resize/Resample.

Check that the bottom right-hand corner of the panel shows the usual default setting of 'Resample' (rather than 'Resize'), using the Lanczos filter. (Resampling will give a better quality image than resizing). Choose your size and click 'OK'. Then go to File > Save As. (NB: DO NOT USE FILE > SAVE. If you do so, you'll over-write your original file). Choose a suitable name and location for your image.

To reduce the file size further, without reducing the visible image quality, also try reducing the DPI setting (e.g. from 72 to 36) at the same time as you choose new dimensions for your image.

Chris

(PS: My post assumes that you've not got access to Photoshop. If you have, use the File > Save for Web function).

[vthom]

AFAIK, reducing pictures won't get pixilated but its the other way around. Enlarging pictures from their original size will.

To answer you r question, you could try Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro...not sure if they have trial software.

[beso]

When reducing the file size of a photo thare are two different operations and the results are quite varied for the same file size.

You can reduce the resolution meaning that less pixels are used. Or you can increase the compression which mainly averages out the colour information across several pixels.

It sounds to me like you are compressing them too heavily.

[ianmunt]

fast image resizer is very easy to use freeware .http://adionsoft.net/fastimageresize/