Macworld: How to Compress? ...

Up to Discussions in Classic Mac OS

9 Replies Last post: Feb 2, 2004 4:09 AM by Maj_Salvo

Rcovell

907 posts since
Aug 7, 2001

Nov 13, 2003 10:15 PM

How to Compress?

I recently used my Umax scanner for the first time in years. I needed to scan a paper list so I could e-mail it to a relative. Everything scanned OK and the image defaulted to my Photoshop Elements program, which opened automatically and displayed my scanned image. However, the image file size appears to be very large, certainly much larger than I needed for my simple typed list.
How do you compress a file like this? I assume there are programs available that will do this, but, I don't know how. Also, is there a way to find out the size of a file?
I'm currently running an almost 4 year old iMac 400 DV with OS 9.0. Thanks, Bob

d00d

12,136 posts since
Apr 24, 2001

1. Nov 13, 2003 10:29 PM

in response to: Rcovell

Re: How to Compress?

Highlight the file's icon and press command (aka apple) - i. This will indicate the size of the file. There are several tacts for making the file sizes smaller.

One, use a different image format, such as jpeg. Most formats are lossy however, so too much compression makes the picture look shoddy and you will be unable to reclaim the original quality.

Two, use a program like Stuffit. This provides lossless compression by putting the files into an archive with a compression scheme that doesn't lose any information.

doggdamac

1,402 posts since
Jul 22, 2001

2. Nov 14, 2003 1:24 AM

in response to: d00d

Re: How to Compress?

Since this is just text, jpeg really isnt the best format. TIFF would be better.

But to get the file size down, check the dpi settings prior to scanning. It shouldn't really need to be higher than 100, if the list will be printed. If this list is going to be viewed only on a computer monitor, then 72 will be sufficient.......

As for emailing, you could still use stuffit to compress it further and make the email go easier/faster

GlennBlaylock

1,065 posts since
Mar 10, 2001

3. Nov 14, 2003 10:25 PM

in response to: doggdamac

Re: How to Compress?

One other option to look into is Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. If your scanner came with the same package of software that my Umax did, then you should have a Lite version of OmniPage. It's a fairly simple program to use and by using it, you can convert a scanned image of text into an actual text file. This would then be something that you could either copy and past into the text field of an e-mail message or attach to the message. In either case, it would be a lot smaller than any image that was of a high enough quality to read.

SueG

2,396 posts since
May 19, 2002

4. Nov 14, 2003 11:25 PM

in response to: Rcovell

Re: How to Compress?

Consider saving it in black and white or grayscale.

Rcovell

907 posts since
Aug 7, 2001

5. Nov 17, 2003 9:57 PM

in response to: Rcovell

Re: How to Compress?

Here's the latest update. I checked the resolution on the scanner, it was set way high. I reduced it to 72 and re-scanned. The file size dropped from 6.2 mb to something in the 11k range, much better.

The apple-I key is really helpful, thanks for the tip.

Dood-how do I select a different format, like the jpeg? The original file was saved in a tiff format, which I recognize as being data 'intensive'.

I did check the Stuffit programs, they want $50 for the compression version for Mac. I have the expander types on the HD, part of my original software package. For my limited need, guess I'll just have to get by.

Thanks for all the help. Bob.

RogueCrew

158 posts since
Dec 8, 2002

6. Dec 19, 2003 2:41 PM

in response to: Rcovell

Re: How to Compress?

If you have QuickTime PRO you can open your TIFF image then "export" it as a jpeg, then throw away the original TIFF.

Naphtali

1,019 posts since
Aug 12, 2001

7. Jan 2, 2004 9:25 AM

in response to: Rcovell

Re: How to Compress?

A way not yet mentioned is to covert the TIFF to .pdf file. Were Acrobat Distiller not available, there is a no-cost .pdf creator that works fine on text. The file is readable, printable, and by copying-and-pasting, transferrable to a word processor, or other application.

Depending upon how much control you have over conversion, file size can be tiny.

GlennBlaylock

1,065 posts since
Mar 10, 2001

8. Jan 2, 2004 10:17 AM

in response to: Naphtali

Re: How to Compress?

In reply to:<hr />
Dood-how do I select a different format, like the jpeg? The original file was saved in a tiff format, which I recognize as being data 'intensive'.

<hr />

You might also try GraphicConverter. This is shareware graphics program that allows you to open and save files in a number of different formats and you can scan images directly into it rather than saving them to you HD first. It is a very good program.

Maj_Salvo

41 posts since
Mar 19, 2003

9. Feb 2, 2004 4:09 AM

in response to: Rcovell

Re: How to Compress?

Rcovell,

Try this, while the scan is in Photoshop, use select all, or part of the text, copy to clipboard, Open simple text, and paste it, then save or save as, file. To an e-mail item folder either on your desktop, or My Stuff folder on your desktop. This way you can crop out any text, or copy and paste to an e-mail any time. If it's a large file, use Stuffit, then attach to an e-mail later. I've also use TextBridge Pro 8.0 in OS 9.

Maj. Salvo

Go to original post

Nov 13, 2003 10:15 PM

How to Compress?

Actions

More Like This