Create Stunning Photo Mosaics in PhotoPad

How to make the most of the Photo Mosaic Feature

Resize a Picture Easily with Pixillion Image Resizer

Resize a Picture Easily with Pixillion Image Resizer

There are times when you may have needed to upload or email a picture you have, only to find out that the file size is too large. Many websites and email clients have restrictions on how large an image can be. Large images take up a lot of space and may not be necessary for all purposes. Learning how to resize a picture is valuable knowledge to have when you encounter a situation like this. With Pixillion Image Conversion Software, you can quickly learn how to resize images with ease.

Download Pixillion for Windows

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Import Image

To resize a picture, launch your copy of Pixillion on your computer and open the image file you would like to resize. Click on the green plus sign that says Add Files and select your file or files from their location on your computer. You can resize a single image or batch resize multiple pictures at once.

759 KB image file size imported into Pixillion

Output Folder and Format

Next, select your output format and output destination folder at the bottom of the program. If you wish to change the file format of the picture you are resizing, this is where you can select a new file type. Once you have chosen the output folder where you would like your resized picture to be sent, you are ready to resize.

Resizing Options

With your image imported into Pixillion and your export format and destination folder selected, you can now click on the green Resize icon in the main toolbar. This will launch the Effects window where the resize tab will open by default. There are 5 different resizing options available to you in Pixillion.

1. Scale by Percentage
2. Scale by Long Side
3. Scale by Original Aspect Ratio
4. Scale by Predefined Frame Size
5. Scale by Custom Frame Size 

Scale by options 

Scale by Percentage

Using the Scale by Percentage option is one of the quickest and easiest methods to resize a picture. If you have been given a specific file size you need to achieve with your resize, you can easily adjust the percentage scale to bring your file down to that size. 

Resizing an image by Percentage Scale

Pixels and Resolution

When resizing a picture, the resolution of the image will change. The lower the resolution of an image, the fewer pixels the image will be made up of. Pixillon allows you to decide how it should handle those pixels when resizing an image. You can choose to have sharp square pixels or choose for them to come out smooth and blurry. The sharp and square option will make your picture more in focus, but the pixels may be more noticeable. The smooth blurry option will smooth out the harsh edges of pixelation more.

Square Pixels (left) vs. Smooth Pixels (right)

Effects

There are several other effects that can be applied to an image while resizing it. You can flip and rotate your image as well as add text and image watermarks. Use the Effect Preview window to view the effects before applying them.

Other Pixillion effects 

Finished Product

When you are finished applying the resize scale and any effects to your picture, click the OK button at the bottom of the effects window to save the settings. With the picture, you want to resize selected, click the Convert button in the bottom right corner of the program. You will see a pop-up window informing you that your conversion is complete. You can either open it then to view your resized image, or view it in the output folder you chose. Notice that our picture that started out at 759 KB has now been resized down to 160 KB with almost no loss in quality.

Resized image file size is 160 KB

Download Pixillion for Windows

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Add Text to a Photo Easily with PhotoPad

Add Text to a Photo Easily with PhotoPad

Adding text to a photo is a great way to send a message that a picture on its own might not get across. Learning how to add text to a photo can help you make your own advertisements, postcards, memes, and more. Using a simple photo editing program such as PhotoPad Photo Editing Software, you can easily add text to images of your own with ease.

Download PhotoPad for Windows

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Adding a Text Layer

To add text to a photo, open the image that you would like to use in PhotoPad. Under the Tools tab, you will find the Text button. When you click on the text button, your new text layer will open in the layers panel on the right-hand side of the program and your text box will appear on your photo. Use your keyboard to type your text directly into the text box. You can add as many text layers as you would like in order to move individual words or sentences around independently.

Adding a text layer

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Adjusting Your Text

You can move the text around your image by hovering the mouse over the edge of your text box until you see the 4 sided arrow. Then simply click and drag your text box into the position you would like. Use your mouse to resize the text box by clicking and dragging the white squares on the corners and in the center of your text box. You can also rotate your text using the curved arrow at the top of the text box. For a more precise rotation, you can type in the numerical value on your text layer in the layers and effects panel on the right.

Moving and rotating text

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Changing fonts

To change your font, select a new font option from the drop-down menu on your text layer in the layers panel. You can choose from a variety of font styles and types and then adjust the font size. You can select to have your font in bold, italics, or underlined and then adjust the alignment of your font left and right and up and down within the text box. Changes made to your text are only made to text that is selected or that has just been typed after making the change.

Changing fonts

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Styling Your Text

There are several different options for styling your text on your image in PhotoPad. You can add a drop shadow effect to your text by selecting the Shadow option on your text layer. You can adjust the sharpness and the distance of your shadow effect as well as change the color of the shadow. Use the Bevel and Emboss option to give your text more of a 3D look with rounded edges. You can choose to add an Inner Glow, and Outer Glow, or both to the text on your image. Choose the glow color from the color palette and adjust the intensity of the glow to your preference.

Adding text styles and effects

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Making Your Text Transparent

You can adjust the opacity or transparency of your text from the layer effects panel too. Changing the opacity of your text is a great option when you want your text to be a little more subtle against your image or when you would like to be able to see through it to the background.

Adjusting text opacity 

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Adding A Background Color to Text

You can also select to have your text appear against a colored background. Checking the Background Color box will fill your text box with a solid colored background that your text will appear on top of. You can change the color of the background and adjust the alignment of your text against it.

Adding text background-color 

Download PhotoPad for Windows

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For more on photo and image editing, check out some of our other posts:

• How to Make a Transparent PNG in PhotoPad
• Photo Browser in PhotoPad Photo Editor
• 5 Easy Vacation Photo Editing Tips
• Combine Black and White With Color In PhotoPad

New PhotoPad Embroidery Software!

PhotoPad Embroidery Software from NCH Software

Whether you are working on your first cross-stitch or you have been doing embroidery for years. PhotoPad offers the features you need to create an embroidery pattern from any image. The embroidery pattern tool is easy-to-use, so you can spend your time working on your project. Use PhotoPad to create custom embroidery designs from any of your favorite pictures or images!

Design custom cross stitch patterns with PhotoPad. Select the number of embroidery floss colors and the number of stitches in the project. The printed Key includes DMC Embroidery Floss codes and the printed image is converted to symbols which correspond to embroidery floss colors. This helpful software will assist you in spending more time working on your favorite embroidery projects!

http://www.nchsoftware.com/photoeditor/embroidery.html