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"How To" Tutorials Using Freeware
Basic Photo Editing With Free Photo Editor - resize, reduce file size and crop pictures
Finding Files Using Agent Ransack - a freeware file searching program that is fast and easy with some nice features
Recovering Deleted Files Using Recova - A pretty handy freeware file recovery program

 

 

Basic Photo Editing Using Gimp

Learn how to resize, crop pictures and reduce file size

 

Gimp is not a free PhotoShop.  PhotoShop is a very powerful tool that is also quite expensive and takes more time to learn.  If all you need to do is to resize some photos, crop them or reduce the file size or format - GIMP is free and will do all of that and much more.

 

It is also important to note that you should only perform any of the actions below on copies of your original photos.  This is done just in case you make a mistake, you then still have your original photo.

 

Download and Install GIMP on your computer

Download and install the latest stable version of  GIMP

 

Open your photo using GIMP

Once installed, open GIMP and click File / Open. Now use the explorer tool to find the photo you wish to manipulate

 

Resize your photo with GIMP

  1. At the very bottom of the window with your picture displayed by GIMP, note that the size your are viewing may not be 100%.  If you are working with a picture you want to be able to view on your monitor without scrolling, it is best to set this to 100%.  This way, when you are done, you are looking at the finished product, not a scaled down version of it.  This can be done by highlighting the current number and typing "100" (without quotes) and hitting <Enter> on your keyboard.

 

  1. In the window with your photo, click Image / Scale Image.  You will then see the following window:

 

  1. Modify the number within the Width field to the size you want and then click inside the Height field and it will automatically change to keep the same width/height ratio.  You can also do this by changing the Height field and then clicking in the Width field. When you are done, click Scale.

Note:

If you only wish to change the Width or Height, but not both and are not concerned about distorting the image, this can be done by clicking the chain link to the right of the Width/Height fields.  This unlinks the two and they can be changed independently.  Once again, this will distort your image if the change is anything but slight.

 

Crop your photo with GIMP

 

  1. Open your photo within GIMP and set it to 100% as described above.  Click on the window selection tool that is boxed in red in the image below.

 

 

  1. Place your cursor in the spot that you want to be the upper left hand corner of your picture and then hold down your left mouse button.  Drag this down and to the right until you have captured the area you wish to keep.

  2. Click on Image / Crop to Selection.  This will remove all of the original picture that was not in your selection.

  3. You can undo any this action by clicking Edit / Undo Crop Image.  This must be done prior to saving the new image.

 

Saving and Reducing your photo's file size with GIMP

You may want to reduce a photo's file size so that it is faster to email or upload to a social networking site or web server.

 

  1. When you are done working with your photo or have just opened a photo and wish to make its file size smaller, click on File / Save As.

  2. A window opens to allow you to rename the file if you wish.  Rename the file and click Save.  If you do not alter the file name, you will need to click Replace next.  It is best to rename your file so that if you reduce the file size (and picture quality) too much, you can start over.

  3. Next, the window you see below will open.  You can move the sliding bar or type the number in the Quality field.  I have found for images that are to be viewed online you can go down to around 70 and still maintain a decent picture quality.  Once the Quality is set to where you want it, click Save.

 

 

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