Friday, March 17, 2006

Obese pix need file size diet!

Many Windows XP users are in the bad habit of taking their photos and then attaching them to an email message without making any changes. It's not a big deal if you have broadband, right? Wrong. Consider that you may be sending your ultra-cool-gotta-see-it pix to people who really don't want to deal with huge images. The more megapixels your camera has, the more likely that you're a bloated pic offender.

The solution is to edit photos down to a reasonable file size before attaching to emails. Windows XP users can easily resize those images using Microsoft's free " Image Resizer" PowerToy. After you install the tool, just right-click on an image in Windows Explorer and choose to resize it to a smaller dimension better suited as an email picture or attachment.

If you have an image editor, it's a also good idea to improve the images where needed, then "optimize" them to further reduce file size before shipping them on to unsuspecting friends.

This information is based on a blurb by David Chernicoff in the "Windows UPDATE Client" email newsletter anyone get for free from Windows IT Pro. The magazine offers several of these free emailed newsletters. Drop by their site and make your choice.

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