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Friday 2 December 2016

How to Re- Size Images for Projection

Club projected images for competitions are required at the default size of the projector. In the case of my club the size is 1400 pixels x 1050 pixels. This tutorial describes one method of doing this in Photoshop CS5 (other version should also be able to be used). In addition the tutorial also shows how to add a frame to the image. At the end of the tutorial is a link for an Action which can automate the process.

Create a Blank Background Image

The first thing I would suggest you do is create a new image with the size 1400 pixels x 1050 pixels (use the sizes of the intended projector).(File/New  Ctrl+N  Opt+N)

Use the paint bucket tool and fill with your chosen colour (e.g. Black as here).


Add an Image

Now we will add an image which will first need resizing.

As can be seen from the size dialogue this image is 4608 x 2184 pixels. It doesn't matter what the original image size is as this will be sized to fit, however it is advised to have an image of a higher resolution that the final size.

Now for the resize

Go to File / Automate /Fit Image


Set the sizes for the projector, here it is 1400 x 1050
As an option,  if the size is a little smaller,  say 1395 x 1045, the border would be away from the background edge by 5 pixels which may aliviate borders disappearing when projected. 

Adding a Border

You can now add a border.
If you don't want one,  you can skip this step.

Now Select All (Ctrl+A Cmd+A)

With the whole image  selected you can now add a border. Go to Edit / Stroke.


Choose the colour and size of the border. One pixel is a good size. The colour can be what you choose. If you select the colour box you can pick a suitable clorour from the image. Select "Inside" . All the other settings can be as shown. Now select OK.

Add This Image To the Background Previously Created

All the image should still be selected. If not selected, select all again (Ctrl+A  Cmd+A).

Copy the image (Ctrl+C  Cmd+C).  Now go to the background image and paste (Ctrl+V Cmd+V).

Save the image as a JPG file (File name using this format - IMAGE NAME by Your Name).


Use minimum  compression (12)

Now you have a resized image with a border.

Using An action

I have created an action that does this and some more. 
  • The action makes the image slightly smaller than the background. This is to help stop the border disapearing on some projectors.
  • It is full of comments and opertunities to change the default setings.
  • A doulble border can be created. I use this to have a border of the background seperating the outer border. Gives an offset appearance. 

Downloading and Installing The action

The Photoshop Resizing action can be downloaded from here.
Just open the download and it will install it in Photoshop.

To run the action go to actions and look for the group  


Using The action

When the action is running there will be a number of dialogues that are there for help or can be set. If all the defaults are used you will create a projectable image 1400x1050 pixels and it will have two borders.
These are the dialogue boxes that will be displayed





You can either ignore this dialogue(Click OK)  or enter the to-be-saved filename and then OK.
I usually do it at the end of conversation. Don’t change anything else.


Just informing you that the next dialogue allows the change of background.


Change the colour in the canvas extension colour if required. Click OK



This tells you what will happen next.



Change the colour by clicking the color box. Change the size to a number (1-5 recommended)
This is the outer line. If only one required change the color to the background colour.


This is the inner colour. I normally leave as the background colour.
If a single line change the first one to BG and this to the selected colour.


Save the file in the required file name format as described earlier in the tutorial. and that’s it.

One Final Note

If you intend to send images as an attachment to an email, ensure it is attached at the ORIGINAL size. 

Enjoy.

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