Use IrfanView for Simple & Quick Image Editing

IrfanView is a simple-to-use, fast, and compact graphic viewer and image editing program. IrfanView is a freeware (for non-commercial use) program for the Windows environment (www.irfanview.com). With IrfanView you can edit your image files (photographs, screen captures, etc.) to create effective and properly-sized graphics for Web pages, PowerPoint slide shows, or print use. This instruction sheet covers the basic image editing processes.

When working with images for Web, PowerPoint, or print use, there are three basic formats to use: GIF, JPEG (or JPG), and TIFF. For an explanation of these formats, please see Using images: Select the correct file format and use the proper size.

Converting a JPEG file to TIFF format

If you have a JPEG image that needs editing, convert it to the TIFF format and edit the TIFF version. The JPEG format uses compression to shrink file size while maintaining image quality. Each time a JPEG file is saved, more information is thrown out and the image quality degrades. (video tutorial - Real* format)

1. Select File > Open from the menu bar and open your JPEG file.
2. Select File > Save As to open the “Save Picture As” dialog box. Make sure there is a check mark in the box in front of the “Show options dialog” option located at the bottom of the dialog box (see sample screen).
3. In the Save in: drop-down box, select the folder you want to save the file into.
4. If you want a different name, enter the name in the File name text box.
5. In the Save as type: drop-down box, select TIF - Tagged Image File Format. Make sure the “TIFF save options” is set to None for compression value (see sample screen at right).
6. Click the Save button.

Cropping an image

"Cropping" is used to select a part of the image that you want to use. By drawing around the area you want to keep, the Crop command eliminates what is outside the box you have drawn. (video tutorial - Real* format)

1. Select File > Open and open your TIFF or GIF file.
2. Click-and-hold the left mouse button and then drag the mouse to outline the area you want to crop. As you drag the mouse, you will see the new image’s pixel size displayed in the IrfanView title bar (blue bar at the top). Release the mouse button when you have the size of image you want (see sample at right).
3. Select Edit > Crop Selection. The area outside the outline will be thrown away, only the inside will be left. (Select Edit > Undo to reverse this action if it isn’t exactly what you want and then try again.)
4. Select File > Save As.
5. Rename your file and save it. If you rename the file, your original will not be changed. NOTE for GIF files: Next you will see the “Choose transparent color” dialog box. Press the Esc key to ignore this option.

Resizing an image

When working with digital images, you should resize the image based on the pixel dimensions needed (do not "stretch" or "shrink" the image in Dreamweaver or PowerPoint). For example, if you want a thumbnail image of a picture on the page or screen, you should create a second image file with smaller pixel dimensions (e.g., 50 pixels wide). (video tutorial - Real* format)

1. Select File > Open and open your TIFF or GIF file.
2. Next select Image > Resize/Resample.
3. At the top left of the Resize/Resample Image dialog box you will see the Current size of your image in pixels (see sample screen at right).
4. Under the "Set new size" option, type in the number of pixels for either the width or height of your image. With the "Preserve aspect ratio" option active (checkmarked), you only need to type in one dimension as the other will automatically change.
5. Click the OK button.
6. Select File > Save As.
7. Rename your file and save it. If you rename the file, your original will not be changed. NOTE for GIF files: Next you will see the “Choose transparent color” dialog box. Press the Esc key to ignore this option.

NOTE: Resizing an image to make it larger doesn't work — you get a fuzzy image. For more information on working with image size (and resolution), please view the video "Explanation of digital images - picture resolution and size" found on the Tips for Effective Presentations page.

Converting a TIFF file to JPEG format

TIFF files need to be converted to JPEG (or GIF) format to be used on the Web or in PowerPoint slide shows. NOTE for PowerPoint use: PowerPoint will allow you to insert TIFF files, but this will create a PPT file that is much larger and the slide show will run more slowly. (video tutorial - Real* format)

1. Open your TIFF image file.
2. Select File > Save As to open the “Save Picture As” dialog box. Make sure there is a check mark in the box in front of the “Show options dialog” option located at the bottom of the dialog box.
3. In the Save in: drop-down box, select the folder you want the file to be saved into.
4. If you want a different name, enter the name in the File name text box.
5. Click on the Save as type: drop-down box and select JPG - JPEG Files.
6. You will then see the "JPEG/GIF save options" dialog box. At the top of the dialog box is a sliding scale bar for selecting the JPEG quality (see sample screen at right). Slide the bar so it is between 70 and 80. The number above the bar shows the changed value. A value close to 70 works well for Web and PowerPoint images as it gives enough compression to make the file smaller but yet retains enough quality in the image to make it look good.
7. Click the Save button (in the Save Picture As dialog box) to save the file in JPEG format.

* Download the RealPlayer from the Real.com website.

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 Last updated March 8, 2007