Reduce the image size on a file to print it.
Digital cameras take photographs that are often thousands of pixels in dimension to capture each tiny detail and nuance. However, home printers aren't capable of printing these large pictures. As a result, if you would like a printout of a large picture, you will need to use your photo editing software to shrink the photo to a manageable size. Each software program is different, but the general steps for reducing the size of a picture are similar.
Instructions
1. Open the picture file using your photo editing software.
2. Look for an option that says "Image," "Picture Size" or something that indicates that you will be able to reduce the size of the photo. Do not use the crop option, because that is designed to remove part of the picture.
3. Find the area on the image size menu that asks about the picture size. Some photo editing programs allow you to choose the size in inches. If this is available, set the vertical size to no larger than 11 inches and the horizontal size to no larger than 8 inches if you are printing in portrait orientation. Select the option that says "Constrain Proportions" to keep the image from distorting. If the program only allows you to choose pixel sizes, use trial and error to configure it, as pixels are relative to the resolution of the image. Begin with 1000 pixels and work down from there until the image fits on the paper when you print it.
4. Select "Save As" and choose the JPEG option. JPEGs are designed to retain most of the essential details on photographs. If you are prompted to choose a resolution, select "Best" or "Highest Quality." This will keep the image looking crisp and sharp.
5. Choose a name for the file that is different from the name of the original file so that you can start over or choose a different size later on.
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