Inches, etc.

[Celebration]

So, I use Paint to see if I can get an animal picture to 7.5 inches by 10.0 inches, and that worked, and then I saved it. Success, right?

So, I open the same picture up in Infranview, and guess what it says? My picture is 10 inches by 8 inches!

hmmmmm

Plus, I don't really know what dpi is, or how to make it bigger or smaller.

[Mira]

1. I can only do this (other than feeling your frustration and knowing I'm not the

only one who does not understand things and has to ask)

Here is a link to having dpi explained.
http://www.ransen.com/Articles/DPI/Default.htm

The other, about losing the dimensions from one program to another I have no idea about.

I am putting off the task of chosing an animal picture to submit, because I dread my own frustrations, besides, just thinking about the impending creation of three preliminary threads of the contest gives me nightmares.

It too shall pass. Once you (we) get it, our minds won't go back to the original dimensions.

[Tindalos]

2. I don't know why it would resize like that.

That's weird. I'm cropping and resizing some too and freely admit I don't know anything about dpi.

[dbmk]

3. I'll try and explain it -. and bear with me if I state the obvious

(First, irfanview might round of the size indication. Don't know the program, but it might show 7.5 as 8.)

dpi = dots per inch = pixels per inch. How many pixels are crammed into an inch of print.
Visual example here:
http://www.ransen.com/Articles/DPI/Default.htm
(Ignore the abstraction of DPI and PPI in this link. Same-same.)

It is a value that ONLY comes into play when a picture needs to be translated into an actual print. It will not have relevance in terms of how it is presented on your screen.
(there are some disclaimers to that, but they are 99,9% not likely to have relevance here.)

There is two ways about it:
1) Crop the picture the way you would like to (in an aspect of 4 by 3 in this case). Take the width of the picture in pixels, divide it by ten (the ten inches). Thats the dpi the picture should be saved with in order for it to be 10 inches wide.

2) Decide on a dpi. Say 150. Multiply that by 10 and 7,5. That is now your pixel size of the image. 1500 x 1125. Resize the image to that size (make sure it is already in a 4x3 aspect, otherwise it will be stretched/squished).

Now attaining some of this might be problematic in any specific program. Let me know if you are stopped in this by something - and I'll try to help.

[Celebration]

4. Thanks, very helpful

Especially the last paragraph!! I haven't had a chance to go to the zoo anyway, and may just skip it this year.

I'll see how much time I have to deal with this. I'm not sure what (free)program can cram that much PPI into something 7.5 by 10 inches.

Honestly, this part of photography just hasn't excited me that much. I would rather it remain fun, rather than a chore.

Maybe at some point I will get more interested in the technical stuff, as I was always good at math. LOL, there is always hope.

[Tindalos]

5. Thanks, dbmk

I was doing #1 and hoping for the best with the dpi. Good to know I was on the right track.