Use Windows XP for picture file type conversion and printing

Converting a Picture’s File Type

Pictures on your hard drive can be stored using one of several different file types. Think of a file type as a strategy for storing the picture information. Some file types try to keep every last detail of the picture intact, but end up creating very large files. Other file types attempt to make the picture file smaller, but compromise some detail in the process. Some file types are best for line drawings and others are best for photographs. You’ll find out how to convert a picture file from one file type to another. In the process you’ll discover the strengths and weaknesses of each file type.

1. Launch Paint.

2. Choose File > Open from the Paint menu. The Open dialog appears. Locate the picture you want to change to a new file type. Select it and click Open. The picture appears.

3. Choose File > Save As from the Paint menu. The Save As dialog appears. Select the location, and enter a name for the new picture.

4. Click the Files of Type drop-down list box. This shows you all the file types that are supported in Paint. There are dozens of file types in existence, but these five are the most common. Here’s a rundown of each file type and its strengths and weaknesses.

Bitmap (.BMP, .DIB). This is the standard, default Windows XP picture type. The picture quality is high, but the files it produces are huge. Although this format is common, there’s almost always a better option. The Files of Type drop-down list box in the Save As dialog includes several items that are all different kinds of bitmap files: Monochrome Bitmap, 16-Color Bitmap, 256-Color Bitmap, and 24-Bit Bitmap. The only difference among these types is the number of colors that are stored. If you create a colorful drawing and save it as a 16-Color Bitmap, the file will be smaller, but your colors will likely be messed up.
JPEG (.JPG, .JPEG, .JPE, .JFIF). The JPEG (pronounced jay-peg) format gets its name from the group that created it: the Joint Photographic Experts Group. Since they are experts, you probably think this has got to be a great format for photographs. You’d be right! This format is the most common format used for pictures on the Web, and it is also the one used by most digital cameras. It stores pictures in surprisingly small files with usually only a small loss in detail. If you’re going to email a picture to a friend, this is the format to use.
GIF (.GIF). GIF is the best choice for line drawings. If you have a cartoon, logo, or diagram, the GIF format will produce a crisp sharp image and take up a minimal amount of space. You can also buy software that lets you create GIF files that have several frames that play in sequence, creating an animation.
TIFF (.TIF, .TIFF). Another popular format for photographs. TIFF provides a picture with perfect quality, like a BMP, but usually with a much smaller file size (though not as small as a JPEG). It is also an older format, which means that almost every graphics software application out there supports it. If you need a highquality image for desktop publishing, TIFF is the way to go.
PNG (.PNG). Although some hail it as the graphics format of the future, right now it isn’t nearly as common as the other four.

5. Click the Save button. The file is saved with the name, location, and file type you specified. Now, you’ll want to go out and see how big the file is and if the quality of the picture is acceptable.

6. Use Explorer to locate the file on your hard drive.

7. Right-click the file and choose Properties from the pop-up menu. A little less than halfway down the dialog, you should see the Size for the picture. Click OK.

8. Double-click on the picture. The Windows Picture and Fax Viewer opens displaying your picture. Take a good, close look.

Printing a Picture

You might wonder why I ’d need to dedicate a article to something a simple as printing a picture. After all, isn’t it a matter of just selecting File > Print... from the menu in Paint? Well, yes, that’s one way to do it. But Windows XP has included another approach that is much more flexible and provides a whole lot more options: the Photo Printing Wizard.

1. Select Start > My Pictures to open the My Pictures window. Now double-click on one of the folders here that contains a picture you’d like to print. Double-click on the picture. The Windows Picture and Fax Viewer appears, displaying your picture.

2. Click the Print button. The Photo Printing Wizard appears. Click Next. The Picture Selection page appears. You’ll notice the picture you were viewing when you clicked the Print button is automatically checked. You can use this opportunity to click the check box for any other pictures from that folder you’d also like to print at the same time.

3. Click Next. The Printing Options page appears. Here you can choose which printer you’d like to print to (if you have several available). And you can click the Printing Preferences button to change settings for the selected printer. This allows you to select the paper type, black-and-white or color printing, the print quality, and other options.

4. Click Next. Now you see the Layout Selection page. This is where your choices get interesting! Scroll down the list of Available Layouts. Here are some things you should know about the different options presented here:

The Full-Page Fax Print is not just for faxes! It is a great option if you want to be sure that you get the biggest print of your picture possible without any cropping. All the rest of the layout options may crop (that is, shave off a little on the side or bottom), as necessary, to fit them onto the page.
8 × 10 In. Prints is similar to the Full-Page Fax Print and Full- Page Photo Print option, except that it ensures that picture ends up exactly 8 × 10. Since this is a standard frame size, it is handy. But, unfortunately, it will crop about 6% equally from the short sides of the image (assuming you are working with a standard, full-size, uncropped image from a camera).
4 × 6 In. Cutout Prints and 4 × 6 In. Album Prints can be used to get a standard size for use in albums or frames. However, these formats cut about 10% equally from the long sides of the image. That’s enough to shave the top of Uncle Ned’s head off! To avoid so much cropping, use 3.5 × 5 In. Cutout Prints instead.
Contact Sheet Prints crams a bunch (up to 45!) of small thumbnail images onto a page, and it puts the filename below the picture. This is a great way to get a look at your entire photo collection at a glance and help you remember which picture is which.

5. Select the layout that best suits your needs. The Print Preview window shows how the page will look with the pictures you selected. Decide how many copies of each picture you want, and enter that value for the Number of Times to Use Each Picture.

6. Click Next. Your pictures are sent to the printer. When they are finished, the final page of the wizard appears. Click Finish.

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