How to Resize Photo File Sizes

You can reduce the size of your photos using Windows 7's Paint program.

A photo's file size is dependent on the resolution of the image and the compression algorithm it uses. The easiest way to reduce the file size is to compress the image by saving it in JPEG format. Alternatively, you can reduce the resolution of the image, if you do not need the image to be printed at large sizes (for instance, if you are just posting it to a website). Windows 7 offers the means to do this through its included Paint program.

Instructions

1. Open Paint by clicking the "Start" orb, "All Programs," "Accessories" and then "Paint."

2. Click the dark blue "Paint" button at the top left, and select "Open." Alternatively, you can press the Ctrl key and "O" simultaneously. Navigate to the photo you wish to resize using the Explorer-type window that opened up, click on the file and press "Open."

3. Click "Resize" on the "Home" tab. Make sure "Maintain aspect ratio" is checked, so you don't distort your image. Click either "Percentage" or "Pixels," depending on the resize method you desire. Enter the appropriate figures in the fields below your selection.

   If you choose Percentage, you will enter a percentage of the original size in one of the two boxes ("Horizontal" or "Vertical") below, and the other will automatically change. As and example, entering "50" percent in one of the boxes will reduce the resolution to half the original size.

   If you choose Pixels, then you can enter specific sizes. Just be sure to enter values smaller than the original ones, or you will increase the size, which also degrades the quality. You only need to fill in one of the below fields to have the other one automatically adjust. That automation is caused by maintaining the aspect ratio, which you checked earlier.

4. Click the dark blue button again at the top left, hover your mouse pointer over "Save as" and choose "JPEG Picture." Choose a different file name, and click "Save." Between the reduced resolution and addition of JPEG compression, your file size should be significantly reduced.

References

• Microsoft: Resize a Picture Using Paint