Image Modifications

to reduce file size

Image modifications can be done in any graphics program. We will use Fireworks to try:

• Cropping to reduce file size.
• Image resizing to reduce file size.
• Saving in either jpg or gif format to reduce file size.

 

Assignment

 

1. Grab this image to experiment with (save it in your directory):
2. 
3. Open Fireworks (Start, Programs, Macromedia, <acromedia Fireworks).
4. Open the image (file, open, then find the file).
5. Take a look at the file properties and see how big the file is (upper right hand corner of the image box. Usually shown as ???k and a download time at 56k).

Topic 1 - Cropping

1. Fireworks has a tool that looks like below, on the tool bar (usually on the left side of the screen).
   
2. By clicking on this tool and dragging a box on the image you can specify an area that you want to keep. Everything else goes away when you...PRESS "ENTER". If you don't like the results click on "edit", "Undo".
3. Look and see what the change has done to the file size (you might need to click on the "preview" tab).

    

Topic 2 - Resizing an image

1. With the image open click on "modify", "canvas", "Image size"..
2. A box opens up with a couple of sections. Use the top section entitled Pixel Dimensions. It gives the size of the image We need to get it down to something reasonable...imaging it's size on the page.
3. Change the image size to something you would see on a web page (like a width of 300 pixels). Height should change automatically. You should see a huge change in the file size.

Topic 3 - Saving for the web

1. Find the panel marked "optimze". This is the panel that lets you do "what if" scenarios.
2. Also, click on the image area where it says "2 up". This will compare the unoptimized image with the optimized image.
3. it might be helpful to zoom in on an area of the image that has detail that you want to preserve.
4. Adjust the settings in the Optimize panel until the image is both small enough and nice looking enough to work well as a web page.
5. Remeber that photos work best as jpg files and clip art or other images with lots of the same color worjk best as gif files.
6. Once the file is optimized, click on "File", "Export". A box pops up that allows tyou to name the image. GIVE IT AS DIFFERENT NAME FROM THE ORIGINAL. NEVER SAVE OVER THE ORIGINAL..
7. Look at the file size and see how much smaller you have made it.

Put both images on a web page, put on a floppy disk and give it to me..