{"id":488,"date":"2017-03-23T16:16:11","date_gmt":"2017-03-23T16:16:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.revolutionsincommunication.com\/viscomm\/?page_id=488"},"modified":"2025-09-05T18:22:42","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T18:22:42","slug":"optimize","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/revolutionsincommunication.com\/viscomm\/optimize\/","title":{"rendered":"2.1 Optimize your image"},"content":{"rendered":"
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https:\/\/hdl.loc.gov\/loc.pnp\/ppmsca.51815<\/p><\/div>\n

This exercise<\/strong> walks you through the way we\u00a0 optimize the size and resolution of existing images.\u00a0 We’ll download\u00a0 a public domain photo from the Library of Congress,\u00a0 open it, and then:<\/p>\n

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  1. Reduce the size<\/li>\n
  2. Adjust contrast and brightness levels<\/li>\n
  3. Save as a jpg or png using file compression to further reduce the file size.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Then we upload it to your portfolio page.<\/p>\n

    You can use any of the millions of public domain images at the\u00a0 \u00a0Library of Congress web site. Maybe take a minute and browse the special collection galleries<\/a>.\u00a0 Not mentioned on that page but also worth a search: the Lewis Hine child labor collection and the Farm Security Administration collection.<\/p>\n

    The reason we need to do this is that very large files (20 – 100 megabytes) take too long to send via the web. We need much smaller files, around 400 to 800 kilobytes.\u00a0 We also need to be sure that we are saving in a web-friendly format, such as jpg or png.\u00a0 \u00a0So …<\/p>\n

    First, Download any public domain photo, such as this 1851 Daguerrotype photo<\/a> from the Library of Congress.\u00a0 \u00a0There are download options on the bar at the lower left of the photo.\u00a0 Pull the option bar down to TIFF 38.4 mb. Click on “Go” to download to your desktop or download folder.<\/p>\n

    Then open your photo in Gimp or in Photoshop.\u00a0 You’ll want to use\u00a0 the tool bar and the layers pallet.<\/p>\n

    1 Resize –\u00a0 <\/strong>– Open “Transform \/ Scale” in Gimp or “Image Size” in Photoshop.<\/p>\n

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    Photoshop “Image Size” box<\/p><\/div>\n

    In Photoshop,<\/strong> pull down from top menu Image \/ Image\u00a0 Size\u00a0 and change Image Resolution\u00a0 to 72 pixels\/inch.\u00a0 Also change your dimensions to about 7 by 6 inches. Your overall file size should now be around 300 kb\u00a0 instead of 38 mb.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>

    Gimp “Scale Image” dialogue box<\/p><\/div>\n

    In Gimp<\/strong>, pull down from top menu Image \/ Scale Image and change resolution to 72 pixels \/ inch and dimensions to 7 or 6 wide. Your overall file size should now be around 300 kb\u00a0 instead of 38 mb.<\/p>\n

    2. Level adjust brightness and contrast.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Photoshop<\/strong> – Top menu “Image” -> Adjustments -> Levels will bring up the dialogue box.<\/p>\n

    Gimp – Top menu <\/strong>“Colors” -> “Levels” and adjust using dialogue box.<\/p>\n

    3. Export – In both Gimp and Photoshop,<\/strong> you’ll export<\/strong><\/span> to a file format that can be used on a web site —\u00a0 jpg and png are best. Then post it on your portfolio site as 2.1.<\/p>\n

    Troubleshooting —\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n