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[Gluestick]

How do I change the size of my photo's file so I can use it as my avatar here? Step-by-step instructions would be awesome. Thanks

 

[gregr]

This Reefkeeping Magazine article will walk you through the steps of resizing an image with Irfanview [free] or Photoshop [very not free]. Holler if you need clarification on anything.
Greg

 

[Gluestick]

Isn't there a way to do it on your computer without using an outside program?
Great pic on your avatar, btw gregr! What is that? Blenny of some sort?

 

[TWallace]

Looks like a Red Spotted Blenny. I only knew that because I just ordered one in the hopes it will help with my bryopsis/hair algae problem.

I'm sure that you can resize images using MS Paint which you probably have if you have a PC. I never use it so I can't offer advice on how to use it. I use Photoshop.

 

[gregr]

Thanks and yep- Red Spotted Blenny.
I don't know if there is any built-in Windows program that'll do it but Irfanview is very simple, there's a tutorial [above link] and best of all it's free.

 

[reeferman06]

when I use Irfanview and sizeit down to fit th avatar which is 150 by 150 pixels, it always saves as a bitmap image, even when I change it back to jpg and try to upload it, it says "The uploaded file is not a valid GIF or JPG file. Please ensure that it is and try again."

 

[gregr]

Not sure what method you're using but once you've resized it in Irfanview (image>>resize/resample) click on file>>save as and two boxes open. The big box on the left side of the screen is where you name the file and below that there is a "Save as type" drop down box-- that's where you select jpg as the file type. Then on the right you set the compression level-- around 60 should work but if that makes the file size too big go back and do the whole thing again with 50 and if that's still too big [unlikely] try 40 and so on.

 

[reeferman06]

it says the file is too big, what is the maximum size in pixels? last time i checked it was 150 by 150, and thats what I changed it to!

 

[T Man]

Re: Avatar

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8331039#post8331039 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gluestick
How do I change the size of my photo's file so I can use it as my avatar here? Step-by-step instructions would be awesome. Thanks

Hey Glue! I have XP and this works for me......

1) right click on picture and select EDIT
2) then select VIEW
3) select STRETCH/SKEW
4) asks what PERCENTAGE( try 50%, and expiriment)

It will then resize the pic to within the allowed 50kb, it just takes a little practice, there is also an "undo" function so you can keep trying until you get it right.
After I resize my pics, I SAVE and CLOSE the photo and click on the desktop and just touch the mouse to the pic and it drops down the properties of the file and see how close I get to the 50kb.
My question is, how do I change my avatar? I've snooped around my profile and such but all that I come up with are those crumby kiddie avatars.........and how about the caption over our avatars? How do I manipulate that? TinMan

 

[gregr]

reeferman- the max size is 150x150 pixels but there's also a file size limit (8.192k). There are two parts to resizing a file for internet posting- the first one you've already figured out and that's shrinking the dimensions of the image. The second part is compressing the file. In Irfanview, when you select 'save as' and choose jpeg as the file type, two boxes pop up- the one on the right has a slider and that's the compression side of things. Generally you can go down to a compression level of 60 with minimal quality loss so that's a good place to start. If the file size is too big then try 50 and so on.
Tinman- go to 'My RC' and select 'Edit Options'. Down at the bottom click on the Change Avatar button and a new page pops up-- scroll down past the premade avatars and click on the browse button to use a custom avatar that's on your own computer (from your own picture). Again, picture must be no bigger than 150x150 and 8.192k. For the caption over the avatar- go to 'Edit Profile' and about halfway down there's a Custom User Text field- that's where you change that.
Hope this helps,
Greg

 

[bkelley02]

Greg,

I have elements and I'm trying to do this but keep failing miserably. Any ideas on what the steps are to create one?

 

[gregr]

Have you got the picture resized (dimensionally) so that the biggest side is 150 pixels? If you're that far there's just one more step- that's compressing the file. I've not used Elements in ages... does it have a 'save for web' option (probably under the file menu)? If not click on 'file' and 'save as' and a box should pop up that allows you to choose where you want to save the file (you can rename it too) and also asks you how much you want to compress the picture- probably on a sliding scale of 1-10. choose 6 and save the file. Then find the file in windows explorer, right click and select properties and see how big the file turned out to be- if it's bigger than 8.1k go back resave the file and set the compression to 5.
Or... if you want I'd be happy to resize it for you- greg@gregrothschild.com.

 

[bkelley02]

Thanks Greg. I'll give it another try and see what kind of mess I can make. If I can't get it to work, I'll send it to you if you don't mind.

Thanks,

Brian

 

[bkelley02]

Thanks again Greg!! I finally got it to work!

 

[gregr]

Awesome!

 

[fla_spearo]

gregr- I dont see a browse button at the bottom?

 

[gregr]

You need to reach the 100 post milestone before you can have a custom avatar

 

[fla_spearo]

thanks gregr - this is 31