Best way to reduce file size of .jpg

Hi

I've found a gorgeous photo that I want to use as the background for a website, but it's huge & takes too long to load:

504 Kb 1600x1200

What's the best way to reduce the file size to make it usable?

Thanks.

Reduce the physical size! Use a graphics editor to change the pixel dimensions to the size you actually require it to be.

Plus, most graphics editors offer a compression ratio. High compression gives small file size but poor quality, whilst low compression offers the reverse. Choosing a mid-point for equal trade off works best.

Irfanview is good for resizing and PNGcrush is great for reducing PNG file size.
just google the names.

I'm not good at graphics! I did a Photoshop course but it really was geared towards photographers rather than web graphics. I can't afford Photoshop so I have downloaded Serif PhotoPlus which is what my tutor recommended.

What is the optimum size to reduce a background photo to? (I've seen discussions about this on here before, but am unsure. some say make it much smaller then add a border for larger screens, but I don't think I could do that ).

It depends on what type of background it is, could you show us it?
By the way, paint.NET is a good graphics program. It's almost as good as photoshop and quite easy.

Have you try Online Image Re-sizer?
Normally I use Photoshop, but you are not good at it, so I give you this: Resize To Mail

Give it a try!
Cheers...

Thanks for the tip about paint.NET, I'm looking forward to seeing it. I tried to download it but it's a new version & the install doesn't seem to be working properly...I will try again in a couple of days.

You can see the photo here http://www.imageafter.com/image.php?...1fabric017.jpg

Thanks for the link to the photo editor. I don't have a problem resizing images in Serif PhotoPlus which I have on my PC, but I'm not sure what is the optimum size to resize it to plus I think I need to do more than resize it to reduce the size of the file drastically, but I'm just not sure what I need to do exactly (e.g. reduce pixels without reducing quality too much?)...so I'm still hoping to get some tips on how to reduce the file size!

Cheers

Thanks for tips. What about sharpen edge? what is it?
Anyone can tell the program to sharp it?

Hi Idezmax

Your question is different to the subject of my original thread. It would be better for you if you start a new thread for answers to your question.

Cheers

Ok, the professional way is with Photoshop! Learn Photoshop!
Sharpen edges, Resize, Reduce file size.. everything under one roof!

One thing that you should know when resizing your image is the concept: Interpolation
(Scaling an image often involve changing the number of pixel, this means trowing away or making up new one)

Yes, I did a Photoshop course but I can't afford Photoshop! Plus the course I did was aimed at photographers rather than websites or graphics in general, so I don't feel at all confident with graphics. As the course was really for photographers, although we did cropping & image resizing (which I know will reduce the file size) we didn't get tips on other ways to reduce file size as I suppose that isn't important for a photographer but is for a web designer!

So, basically I'm trying to get tips for reducing the file size, then I will try to do it in the free graphics software I have on my PC.

So, other than image resizing (which I don't think will reduce the file size enough), are there any other tips please?

Thanks

Ok then.. Here is a secret tips for you!
I usually do this trick and I manage to reduce the file size from 8mb to 1 mb without much different in their quality.

The Steps....

• Opens up the image that you want to reduce the file size in Paint (software bundled with MS Windows XP)
• Without doing anything to the image, just "save as" the image as JPEG.
• and walaaa.. you have a smaller file size image!

Try it and let me know if that helps
Cheers...

There are loads of free graphics programs that have JPG compression.

To reduce the file size:

• Use the smallest resolution image that you can. For repeating images, try to create a small tile.
• Choose a compression amount. More compression = lower quality (but smaller file size). Experiment and find a compromise that suits you.