HELP! Problem with photo editing software

I have both PhotoStudio 2000SE (Came with Windows XP), and
PhotoImpression 4 (Came with my camera), and I can't get either
program to do what I think is a fairly basic function: I want to make
an elargement of something within a photo I've already taken, but I
want to MAINTAIN THE PROPER ASPECT RATIO. I've tried using the Select
tool, but it either wants me to draw the box freehand, or it wants me
to type in the exact dimensions (And it's really hard to guess the
dimensions of the part of the photo I want, and then make sure I've
got the width-to-height ratio right). Is there no way of simply
getting a proper-shaped box to appear on the screen, then size and
position it as needed? Thanks!

Ben

In article ,
says...

I have both PhotoStudio 2000SE (Came with Windows XP), and
PhotoImpression 4 (Came with my camera), and I can't get either
program to do what I think is a fairly basic function: I want to make
an elargement of something within a photo I've already taken, but I
want to MAINTAIN THE PROPER ASPECT RATIO. I've tried using the Select
tool, but it either wants me to draw the box freehand, or it wants me
to type in the exact dimensions (And it's really hard to guess the
dimensions of the part of the photo I want, and then make sure I've
got the width-to-height ratio right). Is there no way of simply
getting a proper-shaped box to appear on the screen, then size and
position it as needed? Thanks!

Ben

First, I do not know those two programs, but in most other image editing ones,
the tool that you want is the Crop Tool. In Photoshop one can specify the
dimensions WxH and even the resolution. In some others, you do have to make a
selection (which can be constrained by WxH), then choose Crop, or hit keyboard
shortcut. Check the programs' F1 Help for info on Crop.

Hunt

In article ,
says...

I have both PhotoStudio 2000SE (Came with Windows XP), and
PhotoImpression 4 (Came with my camera), and I can't get either
program to do what I think is a fairly basic function: I want to make
an elargement of something within a photo I've already taken, but I
want to MAINTAIN THE PROPER ASPECT RATIO. I've tried using the Select
tool, but it either wants me to draw the box freehand, or it wants me
to type in the exact dimensions (And it's really hard to guess the
dimensions of the part of the photo I want, and then make sure I've
got the width-to-height ratio right). Is there no way of simply
getting a proper-shaped box to appear on the screen, then size and
position it as needed? Thanks!

Ben

First, I do not know those two programs, but in most other image editing ones,
the tool that you want is the Crop Tool. In Photoshop one can specify the
dimensions WxH and even the resolution. In some others, you do have to make a
selection (which can be constrained by WxH), then choose Crop, or hit keyboard
shortcut. Check the programs' F1 Help for info on Crop.

Hunt

"Ben" wrote in message m...
I have both PhotoStudio 2000SE (Came with Windows XP), and
PhotoImpression 4 (Came with my camera), and I can't get either
program to do what I think is a fairly basic function: I want to make
an elargement of something within a photo I've already taken, but I
want to MAINTAIN THE PROPER ASPECT RATIO. I've tried using the Select
tool, but it either wants me to draw the box freehand, or it wants me
to type in the exact dimensions (And it's really hard to guess the
dimensions of the part of the photo I want, and then make sure I've
got the width-to-height ratio right). Is there no way of simply
getting a proper-shaped box to appear on the screen, then size and
position it as needed? Thanks!

Ben


Ben:

You are right; this should be easy. I use PaintShop Pro 7. If I understand your
request correctly, what I would do is:
1. Crop the portion of the picture I'm interested in keeping and modifying.
(This amounts to selecting the "crop" tool and drawing a rectangle around what
I want.)
2. Resize
(Either specifying the final x pixels by y pixels, which can be tough, or by percentage,
which is easy. I can either use the same percentage for both Horizontal and Vertical,
or I can check "maintain aspect ratio".)

What I find annoying, is that PSP 7 doesn't (but 8 does) allow me to simply crop with a
given aspect ratio. This is such a common activity. I.e. cropping a 4:3 original from my
camera to fit a 6x4 (3:2) print. I have calculate the ratio for myself (in this case, either
0.667 or 1.50 depending on orientation), and then draw my box (the ratio shows as I draw)
until correct.


--
Dan (Woj...) dmaster at lucent dot com
----------------------------------
"Creature comfort goals
They only numb my soul and make it hard for me to see
My thoughts all seem to stray, to places far away
I need a change of scenery"