The Image Size dialog box offers two very different ways to resize the image, depend-
ing on whether the Resample Image check box is checked. This check box causes the
image to change dramatically through a process called interpolation. Interpolationis
a mathematical method that increases image resolution artificially.
If the Resample Image check box is not checked, changing the Width, Height, or
Resolution fields does not really change the file onscreen. Changes will influence
how the image prints, but the file will not actually change. Any modification to
these Image Size fields merely tells the printer to print the image larger or smaller.
If you only want to change the print size, uncheck the Resample Image check box. If
Resample Image ischecked and then you change the Width, Height, or Resolution,
the file will change in size, resolution, and quality.
When Resample Image is checked (see Figure 9.4), Elements changes the number of
pixels in the image. Resample Image fundamentally and permanently changes the
image; the computer increases or decreases the number of pixels in the image, data
is usually lost, and the file size is changed.CHAPTER 9 BASIC EDITING WITH PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS AND iPHOTO 117FIGURE 9.4
Resample
Image perma-
nently alters the
image informa-
tion. Only use
this when you
are forced to
resize an image.
The following steps explain how to use the Image Size dialog box to convert digital
photos and scans to a resolution that will produce the best photos. If you need to
resample an image, make sure you modify a copy of the original to keep any mis-
takes from ruining your original image:- Open an image in Elements through the file browser (Window, File Browser)
or through the File menu (File, Open). - Before you do anything, choose File, Save As and save the file with a new
name. - With the image onscreen, choose Image, Resize, Image Size.
- When the Image Size dialog box appears, uncheck the Resample Image
check box (see Figure 9.5).