Debisty Designs

Description: Learn how to resize an image using the Transform Tool and other image resizing functions. Also covered are the "i" button which displays the properties of an image, as well as copying an image into a new work space, and a brief overview of saving an image.

My terms of use for this tutorial are simple....What you create using this tutorial is yours to do with as you please. A link back to this tut is appreciated but is not a requirement. The tutorial itself along with the images herein are copyrighted to me and all rights are reserved.

1		Standard Mode vs Basic Mode PhotoImpact 10 has two work modes, Basic and Standard. Basic Mode features a simplified workspace with larger buttons and the most common functions whereas the Standard Mode displays all of the functions. We will be using the Standard Mode in this tutorial. To check your mode, click Workspace on the Menu Bar. If the Standard Mode is greyed out, that means you are already in the Standard Mode. If not, click Standard Mode now. Warning: If you switch from Standard to Basic Mode, and you have custom settings, you will lose all your custom settings.
2		Opening an Image On the menu bar, click on File/Open and search your hard drive for an image that you'd like to use for this tutorial. I'm using a photograph of marigolds.
3		Resizing Using Image Size On the menu bar, click on Adjust/Resize. "The Active image" (1) shows the image's current height, width, and resolution. We are working with the base image (there are no objects), so in the "Apply to" area (2) you should have Base image selected. Ensure that there is a check mark in the "Keep aspect ratio" box (5) to avoid distortion. Because the "Keep aspect ratio," is checked, you only need to change either the "Width" or the "Height" in the "User-defined" area (4) and the image will resize accordingly. My personal preference is to use Percent, but you will see other resize options by clicking on the downward facing arrow next to the Percent box. "New image" (3) will indicate the new size of your image in pixels. Click on OK when you have made all the necessary alterations.
4	(Fig 1) (Fig 2) (Fig 3) (Fig 4)	Resizing Using the Transform Tool Open an image as described above in Opening an Image section of this tutorial. On the tool bar, click on the Transform Tool to activate it. (Fig 1) On the attributes bar, make sure Keep aspect ratio padlock is in the locked position. If it isn't, click on it to lock it. (Fig 2) Place your cursor over one of the bounding boxes (little squares) on one of the sides of your image. Click and hold down your left mouse button then drag the bounding box in towards the center of the image until you have a desired size. (Fig 3) To check the size of your image, click the small blue "i" in the circle in the lower right-hand corner of your PI screen. This is how to display photo/system properties. The first screen that opens gives a lot of information about your image and if you click on the File Info button you will see the size of your image in the Attribute box.
5	(Fig 1) (Fig 2) (Fig 3)	Resizing Through the Layer Manager Open an image as described above in Opening an Image section of this tutorial. In the menu bar, click on Selection and ensure that Preserve base image doesn't have a check mark next to it. If it does, then click on it. We need to do this to be sure that we have a plain background. Below the tool bar click on the far right little square to ensure that your background colour is white. (Fig 1) Right click on your image and click on All. Right click again and click on Convert to Object. By doing this, you have turned your image into an image object....An object is something that's movable. Activate the Layer Manager by clicking on the appropriate icon in the access bar. (Fig 2) The Layer Manager will show a plain white base image and an image object. The image object should be already selected and ready to work on. Ensure that the Keep Aspect Ratio padlock is in the locked position and then click on the numbers representing the pixel size height of your image next to the letter "H". Type in a different number and see how it affects your image. There won't be any need to click on the numbers next to the "W" which represents the pixel size width, it will adjust automatically. (Fig 3)
6	(Fig 1) (Fig 2)	Resizing Through the Image Properties Open an image as described above in Opening an Image section of this tutorial. In the menu bar, click on Selection and ensure that Preserve base image doesn't have a check mark next to it. If it does, then click on it. We need to do this to be sure that we have a plain background. Below the tool bar click on the far right little square to ensure that your background colour is white. (Fig 1) Right click on your image and click on All. Right click again and click on Convert to Object. By doing this, you have turned your image into an image object....An object is something that's movable. Right click on your image and click on Properties...An object properties panel will open. Click on the Position & Size tab. Ensure that there is a check mark in the Keep aspect ratio box and then alter the number in the height box to see how it affects your image. The width will adjust automatically. When you have entered the desired height, click on OK.
7	Copying the Image To copy this image into another work space or new image, right click/Copy. Click on your already opened work space or new image to activate it, then right click/Paste. You can again resize the picture using the Transform Tool, or distort it, which is a topic for another lesson and not discussed here.	Exercise Resize an image of your choice to 200 pixels in height. If you remember to keep the aspect ratio, the width will adjust automatically.
8		Saving the Image Finally, you're going to want to save your image so on the menu bar, click on Web/Image Optimizer. When the image optimizer opens you will see your final image size in the title line (1). Choose to save your image as a JPG (2). Decrease the quality of your image slightly by dragging the pointer toward the zero slightly...Not too much!!! (4) You will see the original size and the optimized size above the preview windows (3). When you are ready, click on Save As (5).