How to resize by dpi in X8?

[Rick_R]

I download a lot of document images from Ancestry. Although the documents normally are actually 200 dpi or 300 dpi, they normally show up in PSP as 72 dpi with ridiculous dimensions. For instance, a 3x5 index card at 300 dpi may show up as 12.5 x 21 inches. That causes problems when trying to import the image into other programs.

Also, for "historical authenticity" / preservation purposes it's necessary to have an idea of the original print size. I do a lot of "cleaning up" such as removing bleed-through and facing-page marks. If the resulting document isn't close to the original size it can severely reduce the credibility of the image as an accurate representation of the original document.

Also, in a number of cases I have substantially enlarged old yearbook photos by scanning at 1200 dpi and then resizing to 400 dpi without changing the number of pixels.

Up through X7, I could resize simply by changing the dpi and it would automatically show the new dimensions. I don't see a way to do that in X8. It looks like I would have to manually do the calculations. That's particularly a pain when I don't know whether the correct dpi should be 200, 250 or 300. Or am I going to have to reinstall X6 or X7 just to be able to do that?

[LeviFiction]

You can still do this in X8. It's almost exactly the same. The problem people run into is they think that with the new design you can only use one resize method at a time. That's not true. You can mix and match before hitting the OK button.

The first three modes, By Pixels, By Percent, and By PrintSize are all linked. When you change the values in one mode they update the other modes. So here's how you do the same thing in X8.

Click "By Print Size" and change the DPI (This is the equivalent to doing the same thing in the old dialog) Then click on By Pixel and you'll see the values changed. Change these back to your original values. Then hit OK. You'll see the DPI changed but the pixel dimensions did not.

It's a few more clicks, fully acknowledge that. They could have handled the additional items without redesigning the whole dialog it has caused a lot of confusion. But we haven't lost any functionality this way. We've only gained functionality with the resize by single side.

Here is a video that demonstrates that. Please forgive the audio I don't have my good microphone with me at the moment.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8FlFL ... 9QdTA/view

[Rick_R]

Thanks!

I don't mind "a few more clicks". I actually like the idea of having the various options -- especially "standard sizes" although I doubt I personally will use any of them on a regular basis because the things I use PSP for aren't very common.

[MarkZ]

. . .". I actually like the idea of having the various options -- especially "standard sizes" although I doubt I personally will use any of them on a regular basis because the things I use PSP for aren't very common.

Be careful with "standard sizes" - the aspect ratio is no longer locked when selecting a standard size and the image will likely be distorted.

[JoeB]

. . .". I actually like the idea of having the various options -- especially "standard sizes" although I doubt I personally will use any of them on a regular basis because the things I use PSP for aren't very common.

Be careful with "standard sizes" - the aspect ratio is no longer locked when selecting a standard size and the image will likely be distorted.

Thanks for that reminder. It does become unlocked and you do have to make sure to click the box to lock the aspect ratio.

On another note, the subject of this thread is incorrect. You can't resize by DPI in any version of PSP because DPI is a function of printers, not video/image displays. PSP does allow you to set PPI, which will determine the size of any image you print using a printer. The printer determines the DPI depending on its abilities and settings. E.G., a setting for Fine or Photo, etc., will print more DPI than Draft, but has nothing to do with the size of the printed image, because this is set by the PPI you choose in PSP. Some printers allow you to choose the actual DPI by selecting 300, 600, 1440, etc., depending on their abilities and software.

[esprithk]

I am using COREL PaintShop Pro X9.

What I do is

(1)first choose "print size",
then, DO NOT select "maintain original printed size"
then I change it from 300dpi to 72dpi
then I change the size to 300% larger to compensate the reduction in dpi,

for example, if the printed size is 6" x 6", I type in 18" x 18" as the new size (while change it to 72dpi)

The result will be about the same 6" x 6" as before, but now is 72dpi (for web use)
*actually it shows me 510 x 510 pixels (72dpi)

(2)then I use it again, and choose "By Pixels" this time.
now I edit it to 500x500pixels, which is what I want.

[JoeB]

I am using COREL PaintShop Pro X9.

What I do is

(1)first choose "print size",
then, DO NOT select "maintain original printed size"
then I change it from 300dpi to 72dpi
then I change the size to 300% larger to compensate the reduction in dpi,

for example, if the printed size is 6" x 6", I type in 18" x 18" as the new size (while change it to 72dpi)

The result will be about the same 6" x 6" as before, but now is 72dpi (for web use)
*actually it shows me 510 x 510 pixels (72dpi)

(2)then I use it again, and choose "By Pixels" this time.
now I edit it to 500x500pixels, which is what I want.

There are a couple of misconceptions in this information.

First, if you open the Resize dialogue in PSP - and look closely - you will not find any setting for DPI, only a setting for PPI. That's because DPI is Dots Per Inch and is only a printer specification, not something that a graphic program has any control over. PPI, on the other hand, is Pixels Per Inch and is information embedded in the image by the graphic editor which, when sent to the printer, tells the printer how many pixels of the image you want printed per printed inch of paper. Hence PSP only has a method of setting PPI, not DPI.

Also, the PPI of an image has no bearing whatsoever on the size of the image as viewed on a web page. In other words, when uploading an image "for web use", the only reason for using a low print resolution (PPI) is to prevent people downloading the image from being able to print it at its intended size with decent quality - i.e., to prevent unauthorized printed use of the image. But if your only concern when uploading is how the image will display on the website, then it is only the pixels size that matters. It will display the same whether the PPI is 72 or 600.

If not sure about the concept, there is a more in-depth post here: viewtopic.php?f=56&t=61213#p339324

And if I read the original poster's query correctly, he/she was mainly concerned that the images be retained at what was the original intended print size (e.g., a 3 x 5 index card) to maintain credibility regarding the print size of the original document. So if he/she knows that it's an index card and the print size should be 3 x 5 inches, then all that is needed is to use the By Print Size dialogue, uncheck Resample Using, and put one of those dimensions in the proper dimension box. Assuming that the downloaded image was in the proper aspect ratio, the other dimension will properly appear in the other dimension box, and the PPI will change to the number necessary to achieve that printed size.

In the example he/she provided (an index card that was supposed to be 3"h x 5"w printed but downloaded with a PPI of 72PPI) entering the number 5 in the width box would cause a 3 to appear in the height box and 300 to appear in the PPI field. The image could then be shared with others (by email, posted on a web page, by flash drive, etc.) and would print with good resolution and the proper size.