How to Shrink a Photo to a Smaller Size for Printing

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Image Credit: Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images

Regardless of where you obtained your photo, it is seldom the perfect size for printing. For photos that are only a little larger than necessary, you can adjust photo sizes in word processing programs like OpenOffice. All photo and image editing software allow you to resize a photo to a smaller size, but if you only have a few photos to shrink or you don't want to take the time to learn to use new software, there are Internet-based photo resizing tools that are fast and easy to use.

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PicResize.com

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Step 1

Go to PicResize.com for easy photo resizing without adding their website information on the finished image.

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Step 2

Click the "Browse" button to select the photo from your computer that you want to make smaller for printing. Click the "Continue" button.

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Step 3

Enter your selection for how much smaller you want your finished photo. Options for special effects are also available but are not required to make your photo smaller.

Step 4

Scroll down until you see a drop down menu preceded by "Save As." Choose the final file format of how you want the photo to be delivered. The choices are JPG, GIF, PNG or BTP.

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Step 5

Click on the "Resize Pic" button.

Step 6

Wait. It will take a few moments for the image to render. When it has completed, you will be directed to a page where you will see the message: "Success! Please select a task."

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Step 7

Click on "Save to Disk." Follow the prompts to save the smaller photo to your computer.

ShrinkPictures.com

Step 1

Go to ShrinkPictures.com for easy photo resizing without adding the company's website information on the finished image. Scroll down the page to the box titled "Resize Images."

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Step 2

Click the "Browse" button to select the photo from your computer that you want to make into a smaller size for printing. Two additional options are available; one, Special Effects, is not necessary. Choosing "Better" for compression is fine for printing purposes.

Step 3

Click the red button "Resize."

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Step 4

Wait. It will take a few moments for your photo render to a smaller size. When completed you will be directed to a page showing "Your Image Has Been Resized."

Step 5

Scroll down the page until you view the image of of your photo. Click on the words in red text, located just above the image of your photo, that read: "Download This Picture Now." Follow the prompts to download the revised image to your computer.

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Word Processing Document

Step 1

Open your word processing program and insert your photo image into the preferred location of your document. If you are using OpenOffice, click on "Insert" in the tool bar menu. From the drop down menu, click "Picture" and select "From file" for the application to browse your computer.

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Step 2

Click on the image. The image will appear to be framed with small boxes at each corner and in the center of each side.

Step 3

Press "Ctrl " (or "Control") on your keyboard, and at the same time, place the mouse on the box that is on the lower right hand corner of the image and move the box toward the upper left hand corner of the image. This will allow you to push the photo to a smaller size of your choosing. This will shrink it while still maintaining its correct proportions.

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Step 4

To resume working on your word processing document, move your mouse to a blank spot on the page and left-click. This will cause the frame around the image to disappear so you can continue working on your document.

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