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View Full Version : PC image resizing and compressing software?


Evoir
11-07-2006, 07:30 PM
I have a client that needed a forum and wanted to post pictures. He didn't tell me that all of his pictures were huge files!

So, now all of a sudden, I am advising him about image compression software. He's PC and I am Mac. :) Ugh.

I know and love Fireworks. I've been using it for years. I find it really easy to use, intuitive etc. He thought he had it, but cannot find it. So, now we are faced with purchasing a 5-User licence for Fireworks, which, even with a non-profit discount, gets really expensive ($800).

Then, I realized that maybe there is shareware out there, or even much cheaper software. I saw these mentioned here on the forums:
Paint Shop Pro (http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CorelCom/Layout&c=Product_C1&cid=1159304981925&lc=en), Adobe Photoshop Elements (http://google-cnet.com.com/4014-5_9-32069024.html)

Here is the thing. I'd like something that simply resizes images. Like, your digital camera dumps the photos, and you want to export them all at 400 x 300 pixels for the web. (I don't want to ask them to shoot a smaller file size, because they also get digital prints sometimes.)

On my Mac, I have iphoto. I keep all my pictures there and I choose Export=>Format (JPG, TIFF or PNG)=> size (preserving aspect ratio if you want). That's all I need. Can you advise me toward any software like this for a PC?

Kevin
11-07-2006, 07:33 PM
ImageMagick will do it for free:
http://www.imagemagick.org/script/binary-releases.php#windows

Use convert -geometry

Evoir
11-07-2006, 07:35 PM
Ok, Picassa (http://picasa.google.com/) looks interesting.

sheila
11-07-2006, 07:40 PM
From the thread The 46 Best-ever Freeware Utilities (PCs) (http://www.aota.net/forums/showthread.php?t=21915)

This site has some free image editor (http://www.techsupportalert.com/best_46_free_utilities.htm#21) suggestions.

Evoir
11-07-2006, 07:46 PM
Picassa looks exactly like what I am looking for. Has anyone used it? (Thanks Sheila and Kevin. I will look into those too.)

NoahM
11-07-2006, 08:11 PM
I have used Picassa, but mostly for image management, and now with the new version, sending images. So far it has been like many of the google apps, very easy to use and no real problems. It would probably do a great job but may not have the ability to batch like Fireworks or the granular control, but it doesn't sound like you need that.

Evoir
11-08-2006, 04:03 PM
Turns out there is an add-on to Windows that allows you to select and right-click an image to resize it. The PC guy downloaded it and it works like a charm. No additional software needed. :)

Although, Picassa looks really nice.