How to resize photo for email?

teachret · 06-18-2008, 11:11 PM

Just received my new eeePC with Linux and plan to use it for travel. Would like to download pictures and then share with family through email. While I have resized jpgs with Windows for years, I have not figured it out with Linux. Is there a way to change a 570 kb to a 57kb jpeg with Linux or do I need additional software? And if so, what is recommended and easy? Thank you.

pinniped · 06-18-2008, 11:22 PM

There is probably a better way than what I do, but I open the original in the 'GIMP', select 'save as' choose 'jpeg' and use a "quality factor" of around 32. That can shrink 2MB to 78KB (it really depends on the picture). I find that most times values below 32 give too many artifacts and poor color.

Don't overwrite your originals!

ischi · 06-19-2008, 12:56 AM

Or you could reduce the Resolution ... in GIMP you would do this by scaling the Image, I dont know from the Top of my head but there is a Option "Scale" in the MEnu somewhere, where you can enter the new resolution and then Save as... Or combine the 2 Scale the Resolution and the Quality.

GIMP would be the right tool so.

jschiwal · 06-19-2008, 02:19 AM

If you have an ImageMagick package installed you can use the "convert" program to resize photos as well.

This will resize all jpeg pictures in the current directory.

Code:

for photo in *.jpg; do
   convert -resize 25% "${photo}" small-"${photo}"
done

You could instead use "-resize 100x" to resize the photos to a width of 100 pixels, yet keeping the aspect ratio.

Using "-resize "500x>" will reduce the size of pictures that are more than 500 pixels wide, but leave smaller pictures alone.

The ImageMagick package installs html based instructions in /usr/share/doc/ImageMagick-<version>/www or /usr/share/doc/packages/ImageMagick/www, depending on the convention that is used in the eeepc.

nx5000 · 06-19-2008, 05:02 AM

you can also play with the quality. jpegs size decrease very quickly for a small quality decrease, which is not noticeable by a human.
For a compression level of 90:
convert -quality 90 -resize 25% "${photo}" small-"${photo}"

I use convert
-geometry "50%x50%"
but there is also -scale and now I see that there is resize also.. not sure what the difference is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jschiwal

-resize "500x>"

Thanks for the tip, that's interesting!

tredegar · 06-19-2008, 05:56 AM

If you are using KDE, there's a beautiful set of scripts called KIM (Kde Image Menu) by Charles Bouveyron.

KIM is a "front-end" to imagemagick: In konqueror R-click in an image file - Actions- KIM Convert (between formats) / Resize (filename is renamed as filename-resized), even publish as html, flash animations etc. It is perfect, and easily customisable / extensible. I like it very much. It is also a good example of how to make your own KDE servicemenus.

Get it here: http://linux.softpedia.com/get/Multi...Kim-2263.shtml

fair_is_fair · 06-19-2008, 08:40 AM

For emailing photos Picasa is hard to beat. It will automatically resize photos with no hoops to jump - just set the size you need.

I know many do not like the linux version because it is essentially a windows app running via wine but it still rocks.

jschiwal · 06-19-2008, 09:03 AM

There is a package of image utilities called ImageMagick. One of the programs, convert allows you to easily convert from one format to another or to resize pictures.

example:
convert rose.jpg -resize 50% rose.png

You can easily convert a batch of pictures:

Code:

#lets create a destination directory
mkdir small

#resize all jpeg pictures in the directory to a width of 256 pixels
for picture in *.jpg; do
   convert "${picture}" -resize -x256 "${picture%.jpg}"-s.jpg
done

If you have ImageMagick installed you may have html documentation installed in /usr/share/doc/ImageMagick-<version>/.

teachret · 06-19-2008, 03:29 PM

Using the information sent out, I was able to plod my way through and was able to take a jpg from 557KB to 84KB. This is what I did:
In Photo Manager R-Click on a picture to resize.
Select---External Tools----Kolour Paint
In Paint Select the pull down file "Images"----Resize/Scale
Choose Smooth Scale, "X" Keep Aspect Ratio, Scroll to 50%, "ok"
Under the pull down for File----Save As---Rename the file (I just put an "e" in front of the name to designate it as an emailable file.) It will ask if you really want to: "Yes"
Thanks for the help. Now my little eeePC will be a great addition to our trips.

tredegar · 06-19-2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Eureka! Resizing Accomplished

Why are you insisting on going through all these commands / clicks / hoops and difficulties?

Just install KIM, and all this resizing is one Right-click-away.

The link is above, here (again) http://linux.softpedia.com/get/Multi...Kim-2263.shtml

I also have an "EEE", KIM is installed: It is brilliant, and if you read the scripts it provides, a good educational tool too.

"You can lead a horse to water ..."

'Nuff said.

nx5000 · 06-20-2008, 02:09 AM

"montage" is also very interesting, you can put several pictures on a webpage. This is the script I use:

Code:

montage -size 400x400  'Photos-2008*'  -thumbnail 200x200   -font /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/TTF/Vera.ttf         -set caption '%t' -bordercolor Lavender -background grey40      -gravity Center      -pointsize 9  -density 144x144  +polaroid  -resize 50%            -set label ''  -background white  -geometry +1+1  -tile 5x            index.html

+polaroid is a very nice effect