[Gimp-user] problems with understand how to resize images properly

[rich404 <forums gimpusers com>]

> Hi, I too have an issue understanding how resizing works, especially
> with reference to Word.
> I wasn't sure if I should post a new thread, but decided this was sort
> of pertinent to my issue.
> Please let me know if I should create a new post.
>
> Basically, If I have a big image (a signature, black and white, about
> 1000 pixels wide), then insert into Word, and resize it ( to about a
> tenth of it's size) it looks fantastic.
> If I take the image, resize it in Gimp (or anything else for that
> matter) from 1000 to 100, it looks really bitty and blocky, and
> inserting to Word it remains bitty and blocky..
>
> Why is this? Is this to do with the dpi as well? And is there a work
> around?
>
> Thanks

Gimp is a raster editor and works in pixels. When you scale an image, the pixels
are not scaled they stay the same so for your signature image reduced to 10%
means several hundred pixels are crammed into maybe a dozen: see screenshot 1

You can get a little improvement by pre-blurring the large image but 1-10th the
size is asking a lot.

For a better result convert the raster image into a vector image, typically a
SVG. You can do this using freeware Inkscape or there are online converters.

In a document for comparison, the type size is 14 to give some idea of scale.
screenshot 2

rich: www.gimp-forum.net

Attachments:
* http://www.gimpusers.com/system/attachments/760/original/reduced.png
* http://www.gimpusers.com/system/attachments/761/original/example.png

-- 
rich404 (via www.gimpusers.com/forums)