How to Prepare Show Images

Step One

Start by opening the editor in your computer browser:  www.pixlr.com/x/. 

Click on the “Open Image” button.  A window to your computer folders will open.  Find the folder where you put the original images and click the image you want to work with; then click “open.” 

A Popup screen will appear, asking you to “pre re-resize image”. You can select  Ultra HD or the Full HD, you can resize the image later in the process.  Select the "Apply" button.

Your image will open up in the Pixlr editor window with the toolbar on the left and Navigation on the right. 

Step Two   Crop your Image

In the tool bar on the left side Click the “Crop & Rotate” tool. Drag the edges to frame the image the way you want.  If needed, drag the slider to straighten the image.  For the best internet display, you would generally crop the image fairly close to the piece on all sides, leaving even space on either side and slightly more space at the top than on the bottom.   Click “APPLY” button, located on the lower left corner to save your crop changes.  

Step Three  Adjust & Filter

In the tool bar on the left side Click the “Adjust & Filter “. With this tool you can make, adjustments to lighting, color or focus changes.  Apply these changes sparingly and only to make the image look most like the work itself.   Below are some guidelines for using color, light and details sections of the adjustments.  You can also try the Auto Fix adjustment at the top.  If you don’t like the Auto Fix change, or any other adjustment, click the “Cancel” button at the bottom left.  If you like the change you have made, click the ”APPLY” button.  

Color	Light	Detail
Color adjustments include vibrance, saturation, temperature, tint.  Move the sliders to the left to reduce or right to increase.  Try moving the sliders and see if the effects make the image look more like the work itself.  Be cautious with these as too much here can make the image look fakey and click the “APPLY” button.	Light adjustments most used for artwork images are brightness, contrast and shadows.  Move the sliders small amounts to enhance the image and click the “APPLY” button.	Detail adjustments allow you to change the sharpness to correct for lack of clarity in the image.  Slide the sharpen till you are satisfied and click the “APPLY” button.

Note that changes you make and click APPLY can still be backed out by clicking the Undo button located in the lower panel of the screen.

Step Four  Save for Publicity  

Once you have made your changes, you are ready to save the file.  Click the" SAVE" button on the lower right. A pop-up screen will open called Save Image.

First change the file name at the top to be your LastnameFirstname_title#High Res.  Substitute your name, the title of your piece, and which entry number (1 or 2). 

Then set the image size by changing the height pixels, move the slider on Quality to 100% you will notice that the jpg size goes up.

For the publicity photos, you do not need to worry about the pixel size. Our graphic designer will be able to make any adjustments to the file size from here.

Next save the file by clicking the “DOWNLOAD” button and save to your computer in the file you have created.

Step Five  Save for Website

Once you have made your changes, you are ready to save the file.  Click the" SAVE" button on the lower right. A pop-up screen will open called Save Image.

Now you need to save a file with different specifications for uploading to the website.  Set the file name to your LastnameFirstname_title#.   

Set the Image height first, click the height box and set the image size.  The specifications are minimum 800 pixels on the Image height. The image width will adjust automatically to keep the image in proportion.

The file size should not exceed 100kb or 1MB

Check the image size just below Quality and the Low Med & High buttons.

This should be as close to 100KB (1mb) as possible.  Adjust the quality slider and or the Med and High button until you get it as close as possible. 

Then, click the “DOWNLOAD” button and chose the folder where you are storing the upload files for the show. 

Question and Additional Resources 

If you have questions about using this editing program send me an email leonard2leon@icloud.com. You can also look at the accompanying video for guidance. A PDF guide is also available.