Not sure if you know what the words "pixel", "pixel dimensions" and "resolution" mean? If so, the explanation below will help you get the most out of your licensed image from CT-Graphics and makes sure your project looks the best it can!

A pixel is the fundamental building block of any digital photo. It's a tiny dot divided into red, green, and blue sections. If you look at your screen with a magnifying glass, you will see them. "Pixel dimensions" are the length and width of the image file measured in pixels. Think of it as a ruler where the units of measurement are pixels instead of inches or centimeters.

Resolution can be a confusing term. You will often hear resolution described in terms of "dots per inch" (dpi). However, it is best stated as "pixels per inch"(ppi). This phrase refers to how many pixels of the image file are used per inch of the final project.

You can improve the look of any photo project when you change the "resolution" to match the needs of your project.

The first step is to find out how many pixels per inch your photo needs for your project to look its best. If you use a resolution that is lower than what is needed, your photo will look blocky and jagged.

Steps for choosing the right resolution for your project:

The following are rules of thumb for the resolution needed based on how you are displaying your image. Determine which is best for you.

Electronic display Seventy-two (72) pixels per inch are usually what you need. Website images and PowerPoint presentations that will not be printed are two common examples.

Black and white laser printouts One hundred (100) ppi are all that is usually needed. Very sophisticated laser printers can sometimes take advantage of more.

Color inkjet printouts Two hundred (200) ppi are all you need. With expensive paper, a little more might be useful, but not very often. Experiment!

Four color offset lithography Three hundred (300) ppi is recommended. Ask your printing company for what they would recommend for your project.

For presentations, measure the area on your screen. Most monitors are set at 800 x 600. For projects that will end up on paper, measure the area on the paper. Record the length and width in inches.

Multiply the measured length by the ppi needed for your project. Then do the same for the width. The resulting two numbers are the ideal pixel dimensions for the finished image.

For example, if you need a 2 by 2 inch image in your PowerPoint presentation, multiply 2 times 72 for the length and width. You will need an image of 144 pixels by 144 pixels.

Now that you know what pixel dimensions and resolution you need, how do you adjust them?

To change your licensed CT-Graphics image file, open the image with an image editor. If you do not have an image editor there are some available on the web and on my contacts page. Look for the “image size" command under one of the menus. Usually a pop-up window will appear on which you can enter both the pixel dimensions and the resolution you want. If the pixel dimensions and resolution are in separate windows, enter the pixel dimensions first. Save the image with a new name. Don’t overwrite your original file!

Voila! Your image is ready for your project.