IrfanView Photo Editing/Signature Creation

[Monica]

IrfanView

IrfanView is a free image editing software program that you can download at http://www.irfanview.com and is a simple and great way for novices to easily resize and edit photos!

Once you start the program, IrfanView will open with a black screen. To open a photo to edit, click on “File” and go down to “Open…”. From here, if need be you can rotate the image “Left” or “Right”, by going to “Image”, and going down to “Rotate Left” or “Rotate Right” . These are good to use if the image was taken with the camera sideways. After the photo appears right, you can then resize the photo by going to “Image”, and down to “Resize/Resample…”.

After clicking on “Resize/Resample…”, you can use the standard set dimensions on the right side for quick and easy resizing, or choose a size of your own under ‘Set new size:’. "Set new size" is great for smaller images or even thumbnails or avatars! Once you choose how you are resizing the photo, you can then choose the resizing method, i.e. “Resample” for better image quality, or “Resize” for smaller photo.

After you have resized the photo to the size that you want, go back to “Image” and go down to “Sharpen”. Clicking on "Sharpen" will make the image appear clearer and not blurry, which makes the image appear to be better quality (should appear to be similar quality to that of the original file before editing).

Once you are done editing your photo, go to “File” and down to “Save As” so that the original file still remains the same, and the image you just edited will be for your use.

IrfanView Signature Image

To create an image of your critters for your signature, you can use the Panorama option under “Image”. Simply click on “Create Panorama Image…”, choose horizontal, and add photos. If need be you can rearrange the photos. Once finished, click “Create Image”. This will show your images in a line with all the images being the same size. For best viewing, it would be a good idea to keep the entire image smaller than 700 pixels wide, and 100 pixels high. If you resize the image, be sure to use the “Sharpen” option afterwards for a clearer image.

If you would like to add text to your image, simply left click and drag the mouse to create a rectangle. The box that is created is only temporary and you can always make another one with the first disappearing. Once you have the box where you want it, go to “Edit”, and down to “Insert Text Into Selection…”. Once clicking on “ITIS”, you can add text into the white box, and choose to align it within the temporary box created within the image. You can click on “Choose Font” to change the size of the word(s), and color. Once you have chosen both, click on “Ok”, then “OK” in the next box, and the text will appear on the image. Just save the image and voila!



Quick Keyboard Shortcuts:

O --------------- Open an Image
R --------------- Rotate right
L --------------- Rotate left
I --------------- Image information
S --------------- Save as - dialog
CTRL + S --------------- Save - dialog
CTRL + R --------------- Resize Photo
CTRL + C --------------- Copy to Clipboard
CTRL + V --------------- Paste image from clipboard
CTRL + T --------------- Edit -> Insert Text into selection
CTRL + P --------------- Print dialog
CTRL+ Z --------------- Undo Last Action
SHIFT + S --------------- Sharpen
SHIFT + M --------------- Send image by Email


F1 --------------- Help
F2/F6 --------------- Rename

[Monica]

Just a note, I do not use IrfanView so am not all that familiar with the program. However, if you need something explained, I can try figuring it out! Normally though, I use Paint Shop Pro 7, or a Ulead program.

Otherwise, this is just a quick quide to simple photo editing, although it may be confusing! I hope that it helps for members who do not have a photo editing program and would like to share photos or resize them!

[cfulhage]

For some reason the post I wrote about 10 minutes ago isn't here...

Anyways- I just fixed my sig pictures using that panorama thing. Now all my pictures are the same size! Thanks Monica!!

[kvnband]

Again Monica, great job.
You do the work so I don't have to ;-)
Kevin

[Monica]

Actually, you made the post in the other thread... I made two and you made your first one in the OPL Archives...

Glad it worked! Just remember though that whenever you resize photos to sharpen them afterwards and they'll look great!

[Monica]

No Prob!

[cfulhage]

Oh Jeesh, I'm so stupid...

I sharpened it, but it looked too grainy so I undid it. I'd rather have it looking a bit blurred than too touched up.

[Monica]

It does look fine the way it is though! And your signature actually looks nicer with all of them the same size!

[Spinnergirl]

Alright I went back to "high" tech for me anyways and used the Irfanview program to make my siggie..only took about 1/2 hour all together. Now I want to go back and "play" some more..thanks Monica, like I need to be on the computer even more! LOL

Thank you Monica ~ really...wish it worked on macs I can only play with this program at work :(

[kvnband]

Is there not a windows emulator for macs? I use Linux and a program called 'WINE' to run my windows programs and it works great. A quick google search came up with this: http://www.macwindows.com/emulator.html#PCEmulators Apparently there are windows emulators for the mac, if you were ever so inclined ;-)
Kevin