can't shrink my photo for my PAL Photo

Woods12 · 04-13-2010, 08:50 PM

I can no tshrink a photo to look normal for my Possession and Acquisition Licence, the photo has to be 1 3/4" by 2 1/4" and the height of th ehead shot has to be 1 3/16" very time i try and adjust it gets all distored when i try and resize the original photo, should I do a close up or further back and then crop it in furstrated as heck.

MoiVous · 04-13-2010, 08:57 PM

Whoa!

What application are you using to size it? How are you resizing it?

If your using click and drag, then most applications support holding the shift key and dragging to keep it scaled.

If your resizing by entering values, make sure the application has the aspect ratio locked.

Cheers

Woods12 · 04-13-2010, 08:58 PM

I am using photoshop elements 7

Woods12 · 04-13-2010, 09:02 PM

Here is the picture at 4 by 2 3/4 I am going to have to retake any ways got to many shadows

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

MoiVous · 04-13-2010, 09:07 PM

In Photoshop (and probably Elements) you have an option to resize images:

Image>Image Size from the top menu
Enter your document size
make sure Constrain Proportions is set
in Resample Image choose Bicubic Sharper (best for reduction) from the list
Click Ok

Have a read of this for other descriptions from the source:
Resize and Crop images in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements

Hope that helps

Cheers

Woods12 · 04-13-2010, 09:10 PM

that is what I tried with the above photo, widlife photography I can do, portrait not so much

MoiVous · 04-13-2010, 09:10 PM

To get rid of the shadows - without cloning etc - you could try diffusing the flash (I assume your using the on board flash unit) with something like a handkerchief or a piece of thin styrofoam (makes a very good diffuser)

Cheers

Marc Sabatella · 04-14-2010, 03:03 PM

Your basic problem is that the apsect ratio (google it if unfamiliar) of your picture doesn't match that of the size you are trying to make it. So of course it gets stretched if you try to resize it - that's like trying to put a square peg in a round hole. You need to first *crop* your image to make it the right shape, then resize it as necessary.

Since this question is about post processing (PP), I'm moving it to the proper forum.

Woods12 · 04-15-2010, 07:19 AM

Thanks for the tip marc,and sorry about not putting in the right forum. Fairly new to posting to site, have used it lots to search through for lens but not tmuch more

04-13-2010, 08:50 PM	#1
Woods12 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kyle Photos: Albums Posts: 26	can't shrink my photo for my PAL Photo I can no tshrink a photo to look normal for my Possession and Acquisition Licence, the photo has to be 1 3/4" by 2 1/4" and the height of th ehead shot has to be 1 3/16" very time i try and adjust it gets all distored when i try and resize the original photo, should I do a close up or further back and then crop it in furstrated as heck.

04-13-2010, 09:07 PM	#5
MoiVous Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 677	In Photoshop (and probably Elements) you have an option to resize images: Image>Image Size from the top menu Enter your document size make sure Constrain Proportions is set in Resample Image choose Bicubic Sharper (best for reduction) from the list Click Ok Have a read of this for other descriptions from the source: Resize and Crop images in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements Hope that helps Cheers

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
New version of Pentax Photo Browser and Photo Laboratory	Ole	Homepage & Official Pentax News	5	12-09-2011 07:28 PM
Post your website/photo blog/photo hosting site	ltdstar	Photographic Technique	27	07-24-2009 07:07 PM
Photog posting a photo of my photo for sale..	palmor	General Talk	33	05-12-2009 02:35 AM
Dynamic Photo HDR & Photo Elements Combo	PhotoGator	Digital Processing, Software, and Printing	9	08-08-2008 12:08 AM
my 1 photo accepted for the Pentax Photo Gallery	little laker	Post Your Photos!	11	04-02-2007 02:40 PM

04-13-2010, 08:57 PM	#2
MoiVous Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 677	Whoa! What application are you using to size it? How are you resizing it? If your using click and drag, then most applications support holding the shift key and dragging to keep it scaled. If your resizing by entering values, make sure the application has the aspect ratio locked. Cheers

04-13-2010, 08:58 PM	#3
Woods12 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kyle Photos: Albums Posts: 26 Original Poster	I am using photoshop elements 7

04-13-2010, 09:10 PM	#6
Woods12 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kyle Photos: Albums Posts: 26 Original Poster	that is what I tried with the above photo, widlife photography I can do, portrait not so much

04-14-2010, 03:03 PM	#8
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Your basic problem is that the apsect ratio (google it if unfamiliar) of your picture doesn't match that of the size you are trying to make it. So of course it gets stretched if you try to resize it - that's like trying to put a square peg in a round hole. You need to first crop your image to make it the right shape, then resize it as necessary. Since this question is about post processing (PP), I'm moving it to the proper forum.

04-15-2010, 07:19 AM	#9
Woods12 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kyle Photos: Albums Posts: 26 Original Poster	Thanks for the tip marc,and sorry about not putting in the right forum. Fairly new to posting to site, have used it lots to search through for lens but not tmuch more