Software to Change Photo Resolution

Photo resolution can mean different things in different circumstances, as there are several units of measurement. Megapixels refer to the maximum number of pixels in photos taken by a camera. When talking of photos themselves, resolution is discussed using pixels or dots per inch.

Definition

Image resolution refers to the quality of the image. Since digital images are comprised of millions of pixels, digital image resolution can be measured in pixels per inch. But when you want to print an image, check the printer's resolution, measured in dots per inch. Use a resolution of 72 pixels per inch if you want to send a photo by email or put it on the Web. You'll need a minimum of 300 pixels per inch to print at photo quality.

Types of Software

You can use full-featured image editing software programs to change the resolution of images, including Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, or Corel's PaintShop Pro Photo. Other programs can resize and change the resolution of a batch of photos quickly, such as Picture Resizer, Fotosizer and PhotoELF.

How To

The "Image Properties" menu in photo editing software is usually the place to change the resolution. Or look for a menu option that says "Resize Image" or "Scale Image." If you have a low resolution image, increasing the resolution will decrease the actual printed size of the image.

References

• Microsoft: 3 tips for printing digital photos at home
• Science Buddies: Digital Photo Resolution
• Microbus: Image Resolution, size, and compression:--What does it really mean?

Resources

• DigitalPhotos101: Photo Editing Software Reviews
• Free Download Manager: Resolution change software