Lesson 1 ?

[slophotos]

I had just posted this question (or as much as I remember of it) prior to the crash.

In the past, I learned to start editing by resizing the image (making a copy first of course). I was instructed to deselect the "resample image" option so that the top area becomes locked. I then changed the resolution to 300 and then rechecked "resample" image and changed the pic to the size I wanted, such as a 4x6 (only it always defaulted to a 4.5x6). I then closed that and got the crop tool and cropped the image to a 4x6.

Scott taught a different way to go about this. What is the difference between the two methods and why use one over the other? It seems like maybe I am losing pixels doing the first method? Particularly if I then try to crop to the specific size?

Basically, what I want to do is take a pic (I almost always take in a super high quality with a resolution of 2048x1536) and then choose the size I want, which is often not a traditional size and involves cropping and enlarging the cropped area. I do this because I am a scrapbooker and I want a certain size photo to fit in a particular spot on my page, but I want the quality to remain.

Also, I can't figure out why when I specify to crop to a certain size and do so that when I go to print I get a box that says it will be cropped.

I have combined several questions here as I've tried to recreate my original question. I hope it all makes sense.

Thanks,

Slo

[Wendy]

Slo,

I remember replying to your original message ... but at the moment I still can't get into the training so am unable to check it out.

Hopefully someone else will be able to help ... :)

Wendy

[Spyder]

You're right Wendy, I had posted this in the wrong area. Must be time for bed. Oh well.

[Wendy]

I think that the last message may be in the wrong thread :)

Wendy

[Xanthus]

Slo,

If you leave the resample feature checked while resizing, you will lose data, since your image will be physically resized - permanently.

If, on the other hand, you uncheck resample, your image data remains intact, and can in fact be changed back later! No data loss.

Cropping an image down with the crop tool is permanent. However, you indicate that you work on a copy - so you're doing fine.

I conclude a couple things. One is that your images are 3.2 megapixel at 3:4 ratio, therefore you probably are using a digicam. You cannot perfectly resize that to a 4x6 print size because that is a 2:3 ratio, which is usually a photo taken with a D-SLR. That's why you have to use 4.5x6, which is a 3:4 ratio. Otherwise the cropping is needed.

Using the method you describe earlier upped the resolution, but resulted in cropping that threw out data. If you try to print onto a page that is outside of your aspect ratio, you will either have to crop or reduce your image to fit.

Here's a little blurb on aspect ratios:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/what-is-aspect-ratio/what-is-aspect-ratio.htm

-George

[slophotos]

Thanks Xanthus for your reply. I'm not sure that I fully digested what you were telling me in relationship to my questions. I also looked at the link you provided, thanks.

So, I still wonder why some professionals teach to first copy, resize with resample deselected to put in 300 resolution, then reselect resample and change the image size which does make it 6x4.5 and then you go to crop and crop the image to 4x6 often enlarging only a portion of the photo. Versus how Scott teaches which seems easier. What is the advantage and disadvantage to the two methods and is there a reason I'd want to use one over the other?

Also, I thought if you crop an image to a specific size using either a ruler or the preselected crop sizes you could then change a 6x4.5 to a 4x6 and control the cropping yourself instead of when it is printed it is then cropped for you?

Is this making sense? My goal is to be able to choose my own print size and have it print the size I think I set it at without the printer saying it has to be printed.

It seems this should be easy, but I get confused.

Jodi - unfortunately the site crashed before I was able to read your reply. I think I worded my questions better the first time.

[GaryK]

Slo

Have you tried printing them, to see if they are in fact cropped? Also if you are printing using the picture packages it could be that your whole package is cropped a bit because of your printer margins or the page size/package combination.

As far as the resampling goes, I'm never sure why you would want to lose pixels if you don't have to. There are people far more knowledgable than I am about this subject around here, maybe they could shed some light. I think if is is expained to a me about a billion more times, I might sort of start to get it. :lol:

Gary.

[slophotos]

Thanks again Gary -

Oh, yes, I have experimented quite a bit with printing. I seem to get more consistent results using the method taught by Scott, but not always. I can't figure out why sometimes it seems to work out and other times it doesn't when I seem to have taken the exact same steps.

One thing I am noticing is that when I resize my photos as Scott suggests and then zero in on my crop that the image quality is staying better, which would make sense given I didn't lower my resolution. Another related question to this is when I resize a photo, then my resolution is often going to about 340, which is higher than what I usually read of a max 300 resolution and that is often not needed.

I've never been a huge fan of mysteries and this is definetely one to me. I want to be able to follow a format that I know will produce decent quality prints (usually taken at 2048x1536 and sized to 4x6's) at the size I select without unvoluntary cropping. Sounds easy enough...

Others experience?

Slo

[Jill]

OK, I'm just now able to start these classes and I can already tell that it will be worth my time.

I'm fairly new to PSE3 and I just got a new camera. I looked at my image size and it's 48 inches by 32 inches. Is this too big?? I don't know why this image size is confusing me. I'm waiting for the lightbulb to come on but..... why care what size it is?? Should I change it to an 8 x 10??


Thanks in advance.

[Mary]

The key thing I picked up from the first lesson or 2 is that most digital cameras pass the pictures through to your computer at 72dpi so they are HUGE in dimensions.

What I am doing now is following the NO RESAMPLE caution and changing to 300 dpi before I work on a copy of my photo. This automatically takes the dimensions of the picture down because it is squeezing more pixels into the same space.

At 72 dpi the pixels are spread out but at 300 dpi they are more condensed so you get a sharper image. Resizing at the high dpi is better.

Hope I got that right :)

[Jill]

Mary,

That helped me A LOT. Thanks!

[Wendy]

Mary,

Yes you got it right :)

Wendy

[AllThumbs]

On the same topic of resizing - What if saved image is 4 x 6 and you want to go up to 8 x 10? If you deselect the Resample Image option and then change width or height, the resolution decreases correspondingly. In this case, would you want to at least keep the resolution you have and if so should you keep the Resample Image option on?

[Jodi Frye]

yes indeed unchecking resample will decrease the resolution. Resampling adds similar pixels that aren't already there. This really is never a good route to take. It's best to leave resample unchecked unless you absolutely have a good reason to do so. You wont be able to get an 8 X 10 from a 4 X 6...it's more like a 12 X 8 so you'll need to crop. If your 4X6 image has a resolution of at least 300 then you should be OK to get an OK 8 X 10 print at a ppi of 150. Anything less than that really wont be satisfying...grainy mostly. How much weight does you 4 X 6 carry ? I mean, what is the resolution ?

[GaryK]

Hi allthumbs and welcome to the forums.

The way I understand it is, if you resample up, you are adding made up pixels. Elements actually has to decide what it thinks the pixels should be. This may or may not work (quality wise) depending on your picture.

There seems to be a lot of concern about resolution (maybe rightfully). Truth is though, you won't get more pixels than your camera allows without making them up.

As long as you have your original image untouched. Try a few different settings/resolutions/resampling on a copy, print them out, see what YOU like, and if you can tell the difference.

Gary.

[Wendy]

Gary,

That is a great suggestion ... all too often we get tied up about the best way of doing things but sometimes just trying it out can be the best way :)


Wendy

[GaryK]

Wendy,

I think sometimes we get specked to death :lol:

Gary

[Jodi Frye]

It is the way of the geek young Luke...

[GaryK]

I'll use the farce...master. :wink:

[Jodi Frye]

Yes, use the farce Gary, use the farce ! ;)