Using IrfanView to Crop, Resize and Compress an Image

This page will show you how to crop, resize and compress an image, using the popular (and free for private use!) image editing software IrfanView. ( For more information on IrfanView, or to download a copy, go to this site: http://www.irfanview.us/) Note that the techniques demonstrated here should be available to you in just about any image/photo editing program.

You will want to CROP an image to remove unwanted and/or distracting portions from your image.

You will want to RESIZE an image so that you can fit the image to the viewer's screen.

You will want to COMPRESS an image so that it does not take a long time to download to the viewer's computer.
(For more information on the how compression works and why to do it, please visit this link: How to Get Better Images on Your Auction Listings.)

Step 1 Open the file by selecting FILE then OPEN then "navigate" to the correct file folder and pick the image you want to modify.

Step 2 Set the viewing window so that you can see the entire image.  Note that the image is only being resized on your screen for viewing purposes, this does not change the size of finished image!

Step 3 We are going to CROP the image to remove excess foreground, background, sides, etc.

substep 1: Select only the area of the image that you really want - by dragging a 'frame' around the part of the image you want.   You do this by clicking at one corner, and then dragging to the diagonally opposite corner.

substep 2: Crop the image by selecting the menu item EDIT then CROP.

Step 4 We are now going to RESIZE the image for optimum viewing on an 800x600 screen - this is probably the most common screen setting for most viewer's PCs.

substep 1: Select Image then Resize/Resample.

substep 2: Specify the resize.  Be sure that 'Preserve Aspect Ratio' is checked.   Then specify the desired image width.  If the original image is larger than you want (as you can see, my original image is 1354 wide - way too big) then specify a new width - in this case I selected 735 which I have found to be a good size - it almost fills the width of the screen.   Because the Preserve Aspect Ratio box has a check, IrfanView calculated the new height of the image for me - so it will not be distorted.  I do not recommend that you 'stretch' an image to a size larger than its original size - you probably wouldn't like the results.

Step 5 We are now going to Save the image. But as part of the save operation, we are going to COMPRESS the image so that it will be a smaller file and thus download to the viewer much faster.

substep 1: Select FILE then SAVE AS

substep 2: Specify

Where to save it.
What type of image (JPG) - when you select JPG, the JPEG/GIF Save Options panel on the right will automatically appear.
How much to compress it, i.e. set the 'quality' of the image
What name to give it.  Hint:Do not replace your original so that if you change your mind you can start from the beginning.  Multiple saves will ruin an image, and you can't 'undo' compression.
Save it.

About "Save Quality": Here is where you have to strike a compromise - if you don't compress, the image's file size will be too big and it will take a long time to download.  If you compress too much, the image will not look as sharp and clear (but it will download very quickly - but who cares if the image is poor?)
In this example, I have selected 80 as a starting point.  Hint: Until you get a feel for it, put the compression factor (or image quality number) in the file's name so that you know what setting you used.  Then save the file several times with different settings until you find out what works best for the combination of camera, scanner, subject and your personal needs.

If you are finished with IrfanView, click FILE then EXIT.

Results: Our original file was 435KB in size, and way too big to use.
The result file is the size we want - only 54KB - a good size for use in an auction.

Here is the finished image, exactly as it would appear on the auction page...

Good luck with your auctions.
NKTower

Step 1	Open the file by selecting FILE then OPEN then "navigate" to the correct file folder and pick the image you want to modify.
Step 2	Set the viewing window so that you can see the entire image. Note that the image is only being resized on your screen for viewing purposes, this does not change the size of finished image!

Step 3	We are going to CROP the image to remove excess foreground, background, sides, etc.
	substep 1: Select only the area of the image that you really want - by dragging a 'frame' around the part of the image you want. You do this by clicking at one corner, and then dragging to the diagonally opposite corner.

	substep 2: Crop the image by selecting the menu item EDIT then CROP.

Step 4	We are now going to RESIZE the image for optimum viewing on an 800x600 screen - this is probably the most common screen setting for most viewer's PCs.
	substep 1: Select Image then Resize/Resample.

	substep 2: Specify the resize. Be sure that 'Preserve Aspect Ratio' is checked. Then specify the desired image width. If the original image is larger than you want (as you can see, my original image is 1354 wide - way too big) then specify a new width - in this case I selected 735 which I have found to be a good size - it almost fills the width of the screen. Because the Preserve Aspect Ratio box has a check, IrfanView calculated the new height of the image for me - so it will not be distorted. I do not recommend that you 'stretch' an image to a size larger than its original size - you probably wouldn't like the results.

Step 5	We are now going to Save the image. But as part of the save operation, we are going to COMPRESS the image so that it will be a smaller file and thus download to the viewer much faster.
	substep 1: Select FILE then SAVE AS

	substep 2: Specify Where to save it. What type of image (JPG) - when you select JPG, the JPEG/GIF Save Options panel on the right will automatically appear. How much to compress it, i.e. set the 'quality' of the image What name to give it. Hint:Do not replace your original so that if you change your mind you can start from the beginning. Multiple saves will ruin an image, and you can't 'undo' compression. Save it.

	About "Save Quality": Here is where you have to strike a compromise - if you don't compress, the image's file size will be too big and it will take a long time to download. If you compress too much, the image will not look as sharp and clear (but it will download very quickly - but who cares if the image is poor?) In this example, I have selected 80 as a starting point. Hint: Until you get a feel for it, put the compression factor (or image quality number) in the file's name so that you know what setting you used. Then save the file several times with different settings until you find out what works best for the combination of camera, scanner, subject and your personal needs.
	If you are finished with IrfanView, click FILE then EXIT.

Results:	Our original file was 435KB in size, and way too big to use. The result file is the size we want - only 54KB - a good size for use in an auction.