1 Go to File and Open your Image.

2 Crop

Go to the Tool Palette and Select the crop tool. Drag the tool across the image. Adjust the corner handles to include all of the image you want to keep. Double click within the selected area to "crop down to" (keep) that portion of the image.

3 Adjust levels

On the menu bar, go to Image > Adjust > Levels. Look at the histogram (a map of pixel depth) and notice where the dark pixels begin on the left side. Move the left triangle until it is under the bulk of the pixels on the left side. Move the right triangle in toward the center until it lines up where the bulk of the lightest pixels start. Adjust the middle triangle either left or right until you like the image. Click OK.

4 Unsharp mask filter

The unsharp mask filter sharpens in a more sophisticated way than the Sharpen Filter. On the menu bar, go to Filters > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask (USM). Set the dialog box as in the illustration at left. If this does not improve the image, change the Amount percentage and the Radius (pixel range). Click OK. Use the Apple + Z to undo and redo the USM to see if it improves the image. You do not have to apply the USM if you don't like the effect.

5 Resize

On the menu bar, go to Image > Image Size. Set the resolution to 72 pixels per inch (ppi or, commonly, dpi). Adjust either the width or the height of the image. Don't enter a height or width greater than the original pixel dimension. (For the screen, it is best to not exceed 600 pixels in width and 400 pixels in height.) When Constrain Proportions is checked, if you change one dimension, the other dimension will change automatically. Click OK.

6 Save as

Go to File > Save As (pix). Save as jpeg image. Give your file a name with the .jpeg (or .jpg) extension. Use lowercase letters, no special characters. Click Save. The image file is now ready to ftp to your website or to use in electronic presentation. [See Save as JPEG and Save as GIFfor more detailed instructions on how to save a JPEG or GIF file.]

Scan | Edit | Size | Save