Monday 6 August 2012

Technical Note - Photo Resolution

How to enhance photos for printing (eg checking and increasing image resolution).

For things to do with resolution, especially for photos, there is one choice which is a free program. This is the Zoner Photo Studio.

Zoner Photo Studio
http://www.zoner.com/ww-en/photo-editor-viewer-manager
  1. Zoner Photo Studio has 2 panes, the View pane and the Editor pane.
  2. Click the View tab to view images/photos.
  3. Click the Editor tab to do editing.
  4. There are many functions in Editor, one is for checking size and resolution.
  5. To check the size or resolution, click Editor tab.
  6. Click Edit, then select Resize. Set the desired resolution in dots per inch (dpi).
  7. For print purposes, set the resolution to 300 dpi. Click OK.
  8. Then click File, select Save. Now the file is ready to meet printing needs.
  9.  Note: Archives may require higher resolutions, eg 400 dpi or 600 dpi.
This is an image (or photo). Double-click the image to view it in  Zoner Photo Studio.
This is the image in Zoner Photo Studio. This is the View pane or window. Then click the Editor tab.
This is the image in Zoner Photo Studio, but in the Editor pane or window. Click Edit, select Resize.
This is the Resize control box for the image. The resolution of the image is presently 96 dpi. Increase the resolution using the upper small pyramid icon till it displays 300. Then click OK. Now the image resolution is 300 dpi, and the photo size will re-adjust to meet that higher resolution. Now view the image (click View tab) and click the magnify (+) button to see the image at higher resolution.

Technical note - compressed files

How to create compressed files and how to open them.

There are many programs for creating compressed files but I only used 2 such programs, one is WinZip and the other jZip. Both are easy to learn and use. They are useful when you want to send many files as a big file (called archive, packed files or stack).

WinZip
http://download.cnet.com/WinZip/3000-2250_4-10003164.html

  1. Follow the instructions online
  2. The program may still be/may not be free now. Use it if it is free or locate and download the free version.
  3. Download and install. Just double-click whatever you downloaded and it will self-install. Follow the instructions on screen.
  4. To create a zip file, first create an empty folder. Drag some of your files into the folder (not exceeding 200MB total size). Then right-click on the folder. In the menu, select Apply to archive.... This will create a zip file of that folder. By zip file, it means all the contents of that folder are now packed as a single file, and with the same name. Rename and save the zip file.
  5. You can then send the zip file to sendspace.
  6. Gmail does not allow you to send zip files.


jZip
http://www.jzip.com/

  1. jZip is fast but quite tricky to use. The zip action takes place so fast that you wonder whether your files have been zipped or not.
  2. If you think you want to try jZip, then download and install.
  3. To create a zip file, first create an empty folder and name it. Drag some files into that folder. Then right-click on the folder and select jZip from the menu, and Add to jZip in the adjacent selection panel. Two things will pop up, one is the Add message box, the other is the jZip window. 
  4. To create a new zip file, click New. Your compressed file will show up in the jZip window. You will be able to see the icon and name of your compressed file.
  5. If you wish to add more files to the same jZip window, click Insert. All the files are viewable in the jZip window. That's it.
  6. To open a zip file using jZip, click View and select the file you wish to open. That's it.


Will edit the instructions later ...

Technical Note - Sending large files

How to send large files (eg digital photos; single file vs archive or zip) - PowerPoint (PPT) 5Aug2012

There are 2 programs for sending large files, one is YouSendIt and the other is sendspace. Both are good but have certain limitations. They are useful for sending photos and manuscripts.

YouSendIt
  1. Maximum file size: 20MB
  2. Limitation: cannot send zip file
  3. This program is free
  4. I have used YouSendIt since 2009. 
  5. YouSendIt is for instant download. It doesn't keep the files on the server for very long.
  6. Start with this program first and if this program is limiting, try sendspace next.
  7. Always start by sending a file to yourself. If it works, it will work for others.

sendspace
  1. Maximum file size: 200MB (sometimes 300MB)
  2. Limitation: cannot exceed total file limit size (1 GB)
  3. This program is free
  4. Good point: can send compressed files (zip files)
  5. Good point: files remain on the sendspace server for approx. 1 month, with constant reminder of time left (1 week) before files will be automatically deleted.
  6. Always start by sending a file to yourself. If it works, it will work for others.

How I have used sendspace:
  1. In 2012, when I wanted to send the manuscript to Xlibris, I also had 400+ photos to send. I could not use YouSendIt as it would not allow me to send that many files and such a huge volume of contents. I wanted to send compressed files (zip files) to save time. Xlibris suggested me to use sendspace to send my files to my editors. So I learned how to use sendspace (trial and error). When that worked ok, I then sent my files using sendspace. The files were downloaded by the IT Dept at Xlibris and then distributed to 2 depts - copy-editors and production team. 
  2. Sendspace became very essential for my work. Else I would have to spend a lot of money to send my manuscript and photos by courier to Xlibris for printing my books. I didn't have to buy tons of pendrives or any extra external harddisk. Learning how to use sendspace helped me a lot.
  3. I have prepared a PowerPoint (PPT) for how to use sendspace but give it a try first. Let me know if you get stuck and I will email the PPT to help you out. The PPT is gratis.
  4. You can send individual files or zip them first and then upload to sendspace. I will write a technical note for how to create compressed files.
  5. Read the sendspace instructions online carefully and follow strictly. 
  6. Just a note of warning: there is an advertisement button at the sendspace website. Do not click on that button. If you accidentally clicked on it, it will ask for your hp#. Do not fill in. Leave the application and go back (track back). You will lose about RM24 of you entered your hp# and find out later that it is a scam.

Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL)

Photos of Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL).

All photos of HKL below were kindly supplied by Dr Lim Ju Boo from his personal collection. All photographs were taken by Dr Lim Ju Boo.

HKL plaque
Front facade of HKL
Urology & Nephrology, HKL
Accident & Emergency (A&E) Department, HKL
A&E, HKL
Entrance to A&E at HKL
Ambulance at A&E, HKL
HKL: towards the A&E Dept and Main Block
HKL: New Specialist Block, former site of Blood Bank
HKL: same as above
Institute of Neurology, HKL