A "real world" issue to tackle.

[Jean Painter]

Several of you have given great explanations of the resizing/resampling issue.

Here's a "real world" problem that I need to apply this to.

I'm a realtor and need to submit listing photos to an online MLS. The MLS has the following requirements:
The photo
file must be no larger than 35K
should be a 2 to 1 ratio (twice as wide as it is high)
should be at 100 dpi resolution

What would be the best way to achieve these specifications?

Thanks so much!
Jean Painter

 

[Tony Collins]

Hi Jean

re your real world issue.

I am assuming that the images will be displayed on screen - you said 'online MLS'

If you assume you want your image to fit on an 800x600 resolution screen, you probably want you picture to be no more than 700 pixels wide. If they want 2 to 1 ratio, that makes it 700x350 pixels. Most cameras take pictures that are not 2:1 ratio. This means you will first have to crop the image by cutting off the top or bottom (or a little of both) to make it 2:1

Assuming the image is now larger than 700 pixels wide, you will have to resize it.

There for in you software, select resize image (or equivalent)

Select 700x350 pixels,
select 100 dpi

Alternatively you coule selec 7inches x 3.5inches and 100 dpi which would have the same effect.

You may also want to consider slightly smaller (say 600x300 - or 6inch x 3 inch) to be more certain it will fit on screen with 'favoutite' bars shown in the browser.

Have fun

Tony Collins

Several of you have given great explanations of the resizing/resampling
issue.

Here's a "real world" problem that I need to apply this to.

I'm a realtor and need to submit listing photos to an online MLS. The
MLS has the following requirements:
The photo
file must be no larger than 35K
should be a 2 to 1 ratio (twice as wide as it is high)
should be at 100 dpi resolution

What would be the best way to achieve these specifications?

Thanks so much!
Jean Painter

 

[misha]

You would also need to experiment with JPEG settings to fit the file under 35K - that's a pretty low limit. If they do not specify the exact resolution, you may either make the picture smaller (say, 400x200) or use higher JPEG compression, which might sacrifice some quality. I'm a bit puzzled why they would care about the dpi - are they going to print the pictures?

Misha

re your real world issue.

I am assuming that the images will be displayed on screen - you said
'online MLS'

If you assume you want your image to fit on an 800x600 resolution screen,
you probably want you picture to be no more than 700 pixels wide. If they
want 2 to 1 ratio, that makes it 700x350 pixels. Most cameras take
pictures that are not 2:1 ratio. This means you will first have to crop
the image by cutting off the top or bottom (or a little of both) to make
it 2:1

Assuming the image is now larger than 700 pixels wide, you will have to
resize it.

There for in you software, select resize image (or equivalent)

Select 700x350 pixels,
select 100 dpi

Alternatively you coule selec 7inches x 3.5inches and 100 dpi which would
have the same effect.

You may also want to consider slightly smaller (say 600x300 - or 6inch x
3 inch) to be more certain it will fit on screen with 'favoutite' bars
shown in the browser.

Have fun

Tony Collins

Several of you have given great explanations of the resizing/resampling
issue.

Here's a "real world" problem that I need to apply this to.

I'm a realtor and need to submit listing photos to an online MLS. The
MLS has the following requirements:
The photo
file must be no larger than 35K
should be a 2 to 1 ratio (twice as wide as it is high)
should be at 100 dpi resolution

What would be the best way to achieve these specifications?

Thanks so much!
Jean Painter

 

[Johnny]

I'm a realtor and need to submit listing photos to an online MLS. The
MLS has the following requirements:
The photo
file must be no larger than 35K
should be a 2 to 1 ratio (twice as wide as it is high)
should be at 100 dpi resolution

What would be the best way to achieve these specifications?

Hmm, those are interesting requirements. You want to give your sellers (and buyers) enough of a picture so that they can get a taste of what the house is like. You are limited however to the size of the file and the resolution. I think Misha hit it on the head. I would think that they want to images to be printable plus keep the file size down. You can take 1600x1200 and resize it down to be a 4x6 but at > 260 dpi. File size does not change in this case (of resizing).

You now are working with some constraints. I would try setting the camera in HQ or maybe even SQ mode. The SQ mode will allow you to use lower resolution (which translates into physical size of the image considering 72 dpi images) without having to muck with jpeg compression too much (to get the physical size within requirements). What sizes (dimensions) are other realtors posting already? Are they really big or really small? Are the MLS listings on private websites are they in public view? This would help me see what others are posting. You have to balance image size with image quality (what good is a 1600x1200 if the image quality is poor - you do both your sellers and buyers a disservice). Unfortunately, I do not have an official formula to give you. I can offer some suggestions.

I would try SQ first and see what it offers. I would then try HQ and see what it buys me. I am also assuming that you are using wide angle (to get everything you can into the shot). You can offer detail shots of things (baseboard moldings, faucets, carpet nap, etc). Those shots I would use HQ and crop the heck out of them. Anyhow, after I take the pictures, I would resize them considering 100 dpi. Then I could crop them to have the 2:1 ratio. Then I would use the right jpeg compression to give me the image size (35k and under). If it turns out that you use too much compression (and you get lots of jpegs artifacts), I would start over again with the 100 dpi'd image and recrop. It will take some fiddling at first. You just got to fool with it until you get something you like. (DON'T BE AFRAID TO EXPERIMENT!) Also, take a look at what other realtors are doing (for image size and dimensions). They might have already done some homework for you. ;-)

As for as editors go, personally I use Micrografx's Webtricity. It is geared for doing graphics for the web. It is about 2 years old (and end of lifed by Micrografx) but not a bad application to work with. It can be had for like $50 (check buy.com). Within it, I use Picture Publisher to do my work. (you can buy PP separately for like the same money but with Webtricity, you get more stuff). It nicely allows you to do what you are requesting (resize an image and also play with crop sizes and/or aspect ratios). When you save, it offers a slew of image types to save under and a boatload of compressions. When you use the slider for compression, it tells you the resulting image size and how fast it would take to download via 28.8 or 14.4 modem - ok, it's a little dated!. There is also a button you can use at that point in which you can view the newly compressed image and see how bad jpeg artifacts are.

I just got the .8x Wide Angle lens (thanks to my sweetheart). I am in the process of getting a 46-55mm step up ring. When I get the chance, I will take some pictures with it and let you know how things look. It might be a worthwhile investment for doing real estate photographs.

Johnny