Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 12/9/2008

Question
Hi Kevin,
I'm hoping you can answer a Photoshop 7.0 Elements question. I am trying to make some jpg files fit into the requirements of a website template so the pics don't get skewed and distorted on the website. The template requires (JPG ONLY) 450 pixels x 450 pixels for the large images, and 150 x 150 for the thumbnails (we're talking about product images). Now, the manufacturer has provided many images and I need to resize them to the needed specs. Problem: (Just using one example) Width is 258
pixels and height is 500. I figured I would just resize the canvas to 500 x 500, and then resize the image to 450 x 450. Seemed like a good plan, but I get the opaque borders on the left and right sides of the image. I cannot
use gif or png (I understand both permit transparent canvas) because the website template won't allow them. What else can I do?
Thanks so much in advance!


Answer
Hi Meltem,

I would create a master file of 450 x 450 (at 72 dpi) and then copy and paste the images over to that template, then resize the image to fit inside. You will probably have to put this on a white background or something neutral and then remove the original background.

Elements is really not the best option for this, since it is a good app, but limited. This is something geared a little more towards the full version of PS.  


Thanks

Kevin