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pharm · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 9423 Location: Never quite sure

Please post both an overall view and a 100% crop.

Overall view of your image:
(This is necessary to evaluate general things like lighting, composition, etc.)

1. Open your image in your photo-editing software. (Assuming that you're using Photoshop or Elements).

2. Click on Image/Image Size.

3. Change the pixel dimensions so that the longest side (the one with the largest number) is 500 pixels or less. For instance, if your image is 3000 x 2000 pixels, you'd change the 3000 to 500. Make sure the "resample" box IS checked.

4. Hit "Ok".

5. Save this image WITH A DIFFERENT NAME than the original (otherwise, you'll overwrite the original and you don't want to do that). Quality setting can be 7-10 or so.

100% Crop:
(This is necessary to evaluate things like noise, sharpness of focus, fringing, etc.)

1. Open your original image.

2. Zoom in to 100% (usually on the top border of the image, you'll see a %.)

3. Method A: Create a new image by clicking on File/New. Make the image 500 by 500 pixels. Click on the image you want to crop and drag it onto the 500x500 screen. You can then move the image around until the part you want to show is displayed. Only a 500x500 px image will show as the larger image is dragged around. When you've selected the part you want, flatten the image. Perfect size and selection every time. (Technique provided by triceratops, used by permission, all rights reserved, no loitering allowed, must be 18 or accompanied by parent or legal guardian).

Method B: Open your original image. Duplicate the background layer. Go to Image/Canvas size and change it to 500 x 500 pixels. Click on the "Move" tool and move the image around until you have the section you want as your crop. Flatten the image. (Technique provided by davidcrehner).

Method C: Open the image you want to show.
Go to preferences then select grid line every 100 pixels, subdivisions=1, units=pixels.
Go to View/Extras/Grids. Turn on the extras and grids, select the rectangular marquee tool and pick an area 5x5 boxes in the grid, (aka 500x500 pixels).
Select the 5x5 box that you want to show of the image and copy (Ctrl C) then open new image (Alt F, +N)and paste (Ctrl V), save as (Alt F, +A) , and you're done! Not only that you will not have to do the front end stuff ever again! Just turn on and off the extras as needed! (Technique provided by jeffbanke).

4. Save this image WITH A DIFFERENT NAME than the original (otherwise, you'll overwrite the original and you don't want to do that). Quality setting can be 7-10 or so.

To Attach your images:

Post your text, then look below the box where you typed your text. There's a button that says "Browse". Click on that and find the image you want to attach to your post. Click "Open" or just double click it.

Click on the "Add Attachment" button and wait a few seconds. If it attached, you'll see the name of the image in green letters near the bottom of the page. If you don't see it there, it might be that the image file size is greater than 256 K. (If that's the case, you'll have to resize/resave the image before it'll post but if you followed the directions above, you shouldn't have this problem.)

Click the "Preview" button and make sure your post looks the way you thought it would. If not, you can change it. If it looks good, click "Submit".

Final notes:

You can add up to 3 images per post. If you need to add more, simply post the first three, then reply to your own thread by clicking on "Post Reply" and then add three more, etc.

After you submit your post, look at it in the thread. If you don't see it, DON'T repost it! Instead, Click on "Forum" at the top of the page, then from the list, click on "Critiques/Tips/Tricks" and look again. Chances are you'll find it now.

jps · Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 12094 Location: Denmark

this is worth an article?

jeffbanke · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 6:14 pm

Oh Yea!

pharm · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 9423 Location: Never quite sure

Workin' on it. Did I forget anything?

pharm · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 9423 Location: Never quite sure

Testing something: Done

triceratops · Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 7933 Location: The other Nevada

I still like my way of making the 100% crop without any hit or miss guessing. It works in PS, but I don't know about other programs.

Start with File/New. Make a blank screen 500 by 500 pixels. Then open the image you want to crop at 100% and drag it onto the 500x500 screen. You can then move the image around until the part you want to show is displayed. Only a 500x500 image will show as the larger image is dragged around. Flatten the image and you're done. Obviously save with a different name. Perfect size and selection every time.

pharm · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 9423 Location: Never quite sure

triceratops · Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 7933 Location: The other Nevada

No sweat. Go for it. I didn't apply for a copyright. LOL

pharm · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 9423 Location: Never quite sure

jeffbanke · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:22 pm

OK if you want another way to accurately pick your 500 pixels, try this.
Open the image you want to show,
Go to preferences then select grid line every 100 pixels, subdivisions 1, units pixels.
Go to view, extras, grids, turn on the extras and grids, select the rectangular marquee tool and pick an area 5x5 boxes in the grid, (aka 500x500 pixels)
select the 5x5 box that you want to show of the image and copy (Ctrl C) then open new image (Alt F, +N)and paste (Ctrl V), save as (Alt F, +A) , and your done! Not only that you will not have to do the front end stuff ever again! Just turn on and off the extras as needed! :)

davidcrehner · Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 4839

Can't you just change the canvas size to 500x500, and then drag the image around (with that black arrow tool... duh... not sure what it's called)?

triceratops · Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 7933 Location: The other Nevada

jojanna · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Posts: 21

I just copied this method to the letter(or at least I thought I did) but my 100% crop pic is just a copy of the same pic at the same size.
Which bit am I going wrong on(and thanks so much for your paitence photo gurus)
Open image, resize to longest side 500 pix, ensure is at 100persent, open new file 500 by 500, use move tool to drag image into new file, now I have two copies of the same thing!
Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..........?

triceratops · Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 7933 Location: The other Nevada

jojanna · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Posts: 21

Thanks triceratops, I think I've got it now, have had a go and put up some pics for destroying :)