Resizing photos to 4x6 inches

Using Photoshop, I'm trying to resize my large photos to the standard 4x6 inches for printing and then framing. However, once I get it down to 4x6 INCHES, the PIXELS become 432x288 and the filesize dramatically decreases (from megabytes to kilobytes). Then, when viewed at actual size, they're very small. Why is this? How do I get them to be actually 4x6 inches to be printed? Thanks.

Message was edited by: rsherid

Posted on Aug 23, 2009 2:15 PM

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3 replies

Aug 23, 2009 4:51 PM in response to rsherid

First crop the image to 4x6 size ratio in Photoshop.

Next, after cropping the image to the 4x6 ratio, go to the Image->Image Size menu and put in the dpi you want to print at in the Resolution field. Be sure to have Constrain Proportions and Resample Image both checked.

Or when you set the crop dimensions in Photoshop at the top put your dpi resolution value in the Resolution field in the top tool bar. Then when you crop to 4x6 it will create a 4x6 image at the resolution you selected.

This may be preaching to the choir but here are some tips on using PS from within iPhoto:

Using Photoshop (or Photoshop Elements) as Your Editor of Choice in iPhoto.


1 - select Photoshop as your editor of choice in iPhoto's General Preference Section's under the "Edit photo:" menu.

2 - double click on the thumbnail in iPhoto to open it in Photoshop. When you're finished editing click on the Save button. If you immediately get the JPEG Options window make your selection (Baseline standard seems to be the most compatible jpeg format) and click on the OK button. Your done.

3 - however, if you get the navigation window that indicates that PS wants to save it as a PS formatted file. You'll need to either select JPEG from the menu and save (top image) or click on the desktop in the Navigation window (bottom image) and save it to the desktop for importing as a new photo.


This method will let iPhoto know that the photo has been editied and will update the thumbnail file to reflect the edit..


NOTE: With Photoshop Elements 6 the Saving File preferences should be configured: "On First Save: Save Over Current File". Also I suggest the Maximize PSD File Compatabilty be set to Always.

If you want to use both iPhoto's editing mode and PS without having to go back and forth to the Preference pane, once you've selected PS as your editor of choice, reset the Preferences back to "Open in main window". That will let you either edit in iPhoto (double click on the thumbnail) or in PS (Control-click on the thumbnail and seledt "Edit in external editor" in the Contextual menu). This way you get the best of both worlds

2 - double click on the thumbnail in iPhoto to open it in Photoshop. When you're finished editing click on the Save button. If you immediately get the JPEG Options window make your selection (Baseline standard seems to be the most compatible jpeg format) and click on the OK button. Your done.

3 - however, if you get the navigation window that indicates that PS wants to save it as a PS formatted file. You'll need to either select JPEG from the menu and save (top image) or click on the desktop in the Navigation window (bottom image) and save it to the desktop for importing as a new photo.

This method will let iPhoto know that the photo has been editied and will update the thumbnail file to reflect the edit..




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Message was edited by: Old Toad

Aug 23, 2009 4:56 PM in response to rsherid

There's no need to resize in Photoshop. You can print directly to 4x6 paper from iPhoto using the original large photos.

1. Select the photo in iPhoto. Choose File->Print
2. Click on the Standard icon in the top left.
3. Make sure your printer is selected in the Printer popup menu.
4. Select a Preset for the type of paper you are using.
5. In the Paper Size popup select 4x6 (borderless if your printer supports it).
6. Click Print (after making sure your paper is loaded and printer is ready).

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Resizing photos to 4x6 inches

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