How can I resize Canon 550D product photos for the web without losing quality?
Asked 12/8/2012
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I’m photographing books for my website with a Canon 550D. The original files are much larger than I need, and when I resize them in Windows Paint they look soft or distorted. I’d like small web images, around 200×150 pixels. What’s the best way to reduce image size while keeping them sharp?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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The aspect ratio of images from the 550D is 3:2, like the majority of DSLRs.
To avoid distortion, you have to resize to the same aspect ratio. 200x150 is 4:3 which does not match, but if you did 225x150, then there will be no distortion.
To get a different aspect-ratio without distortion, you have to crop first and that implies deciding which part of the image to keep. Most programs do this in two steps, first you crop to a desired aspect-ratio, then you resize.
When you resize, to obtain better quality, you have to use a better resizing algorithm. Photoshop for example, has many options and it says which one is best for reduction.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Your camera’s photos are typically 3:2 aspect ratio, while 200×150 is 4:3. If you force a 3:2 image into 200×150, it will look distorted. To avoid that, either resize to a matching ratio such as 225×150, or crop first to 4:3 and then resize to 200×150.
For better quality, use software with proper resampling/interpolation instead of Paint. Programs mentioned by the community include IrfanView, GIMP, Photoshop, Lightroom, and PaintShop Pro. In IrfanView, for example, keep aspect ratio enabled and use resampling rather than simple resizing.
A good workflow is:
- Crop to the aspect ratio you want.
- Resize to the final pixel dimensions.
- Save for web.
If you don’t need full-resolution originals for this use, you can also set the Canon 550D to record smaller image sizes in the camera’s Quality menu. That reduces file size from the start, though for best control many people still shoot larger and make web versions afterward.
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