ABC PSP - Tutorial 04

Resize Image / Undo Tool / Sharpen Tool


By LismibaebisCreations
December 2005
Revised April 2021

Skill Level: Absolute Beginner using PSP
This is Lesson 04 of a series of tutorials for the absolute beginner with PSP.
It is recommended that you complete the tutorials in numerical order, as each new one will build on the knowledge gained by the previous tutorials

This tutorial is my own creation, any resemblance to another tutorial is purely coincidental

Program shortcuts will be given in parentheses

Settings are written out below the screen shots



Needed

Paint Shop Pro - I used X2
(Tutorial will work with other PSP versions, some adjustments might be necessary)
Free 30 day trial from Corel, available here

If you have another PSP version and do not understand the screen shots, email me and I will try to help you, I have several PSP versions from PSP 8 (the old Jasc version) to PSP 2020.


Image abc3pict.jpg, available here



Preparation

It is easier if you put all your work in the same folder.
Saving your work in "Documents" has the advantage that it's safe in case you need to go back to an earlier System Restore Point.

1) Write "This PC" in the Windows "Start"

Screenshot

Find "Libraries" and "Documents"
How you find it exactly will depend on the program you use, I have been using Directory Opus for many years in preference to Microsoft's File Explorer.

2) Make New Folder
How to do it depends again on the program you use. With Directory Opus it is very simple.

Screenshot

3) Name the Folder "ABC Tutorials"

4) Download sample image (abc3pict)
With your mouse, right-click on the image and save to your new ABC Tutorials folder

Screenshot

From your PSP window, select

5) File > Open (Ctrl + O)

Screenshot

and find the image abc3pict.jpg that you just saved

6) Window > Duplicate (Shift + D)

Screenshot

(We now have 2 images open, the original and a copy)

7) Close original picture
(we will work on the copy)



Rulers

8) View > Rulers (Ctrl + Alt + R)

(I like to work with the rulers visible at all times)

Screenshot


Resize

9) Image > Resize (Shift + S)

Screenshot

Settings:
Width = 200 Pixels
Height = 267 Pixels
Resolution = 72.000 Pixels / Inch
Resample using = Bicubic
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Resize all layers = Checked
ok

At the top of the resize screenshot, you can see the original width, height and resolution of the image that you have open.

The recommended setting for images viewed on the computer is 72.000 Pixels/Inch.
For printing your image, the recommended resolution is about 250.000 Pixels/Inch.
The higher the resolution, the larger your file size is going to be, so unless there are special requirements, it is good to use 72.000 Pixels/Inch for your work.

As you can see in the screenshot, Lock aspect ratio and Resize all layers are checked. I usually choose resample using Bicubic.



Undo Tool

The Undo Tool is a very handy tool and I use it all the time.

Screenshot

You can also use the drop-down menu and select

Edit > Undo (Ctrl + z)

Screenshot

This is useful as it tells you which command is being undone

10) Undo Resizing


Another way to resize, which is especially useful if there is a big size difference between the original size and the new size:

11) Edit > Copy (Ctrl + C)

12) Image > Resize (Shift + S)
Settings:
Width = 250 Pixels
Height = Will adjust itself
(write the new height down)
Resolution = 72.000 Pixels / Inch
Resample using = Bicubic
Lock aspect ratio = Checked
Resize all layers = Checked
ok

13) File > New (Ctrl + N)
Settings:
Width = 250
Height = The number you wrote down
Units = Pixels
Resolution = 72.000 Pixels/Inch
Raster Background = Checked
Color depth = RGB - 8 bits/channel
Color Transparent = Checked
ok

14) Selections > Select All (Ctrl + A)

Screenshot

15) Edit > Paste Into Selection (Ctrl + Shift + L)

Screenshot

16) Selections > Select None (Ctrl + D)



Sharpen Tool

17) Adjust > Sharpness > Sharpen

Screenshot

After resizing an image, it is usual to sharpen it by either using Sharpen or Unsharp Mask.
Adjust > Sharpness > Unsharp Mask. I have saved a few different settings over the years. There is not one setting which is perfect for every image. The one I use most is:
Radius = 1.00
Strength = 47
Clipping = 5
Luminance only = Checked

I have "Preview on Image " checked whenever possible and so can adjust to my liking before applying an effect.

Screenshot

18) Image > Resize (Shift + S)
Settings:
Lock aspect ratio = UNchecked
Width = 1000 Pixels
Height = 200 Pixels
Resolution = 72.000 Pixels / Inch
Resample using = Bicubic
Resize all layers = Checked
ok

What happened here? smilie

With the Undo Tool we can undo the mistake in resizing and by working on a copy of the saved original image, we still have the original image available to use again.

19) Use the Undo Tool Screenshot

Close down both your images, we do not need them anymore.



Suggestions for future ABC Tutorials are welcome


I hope that you found this tutorial helpful.
If you have any questions, please email me: Lismibaebi at gmail.com


A special "Thank you" goes to my Tester Group who helped me to get this tutorial first released in 2007.

smilie




Link to previous ABC Tutorial Link to main Linking page of website Link to next ABC Tutorial


Back to top