ABC PSP - Tutorial 4

Resize Image /
Undo Tool /
Sharpen Tool

By ©LismibaebisCreations
December 2005

Skill Level: Absolute Beginner using PSP

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

This is part 4 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

Program shortcuts will be given in parentheses

Settings are written out below the screen shots

Needed

Paint Shop Pro X
Free 30 day PSP trial from Corel, available here

Image abc3pict.jpg, available here

(If you have PSP 8 or 9 and do not understand the screen shots, email me and I will send you screen shots for the PSP version you are using).

Preparation

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

1) Start > My Documents

2) Make New Folder

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

From your PSP window, select

5) File > Open (Ctrl + O)

and find the image abc3pict.jpg that you just saved

6) Window > Duplicate (Shift + D)

(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)

Resize

9) Image > Resize (Shift + S)

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.

Recommended image size for email is 400 pixels (Resolution 72.000 Pixels/Inch).
You can say in your email, that a larger image is available on request.

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.

You can also use the drop-down menu and select

Edit > Undo (Ctrl + z)

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)

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

16) Selections > Select None (Ctrl + D)

Sharpen Tool

17) Adjust > Sharpness > Sharpen

I use this Tool after resizing, because the image details can become a bit blurred.
If I am not happy with the result of the Sharpen Tool, I use the Undo Tool.

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?

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

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

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

I would like to thank my Testers at LismibaebisCreations Testers:
Your help, support and patience made this possible