Anyone know how to GIMP an image to 960x640?

brettw777

Hey all, newbie here. I am just really confused about this business of image sizing. I am told that for an iPhone in landscape, a background image needs to be 960x640. I used GIMP and even though cropping is easy, I cannot fathom how to make an image 960x640. I have Googled, searched youtube, here and I cannot find this answer.

I open my image in GIMP. I go to Image, Scale Image and change the dimension to 960x640. It immediately changes the height to 853. I cannot get around this. When I import the image to GS, of course it is distorted. I do not understand how to force the program into making an image 960x640. Can anyone point me to a tutorial that explains this? Thanks.

RexCarsalot

In the Tool Options dockable, check that the check mark next to Fixed isn't clicked. Also, check and see if it is set to Aspect Ratio or fixed size. You can type the desired aspect ratio size, width and height, on the text box, such as 1:1, or whatever size or ratio you chose. You also have controls to change the aspect from landscape to portrait. If you set the aspect ratio, drag one of the corners of the crop rectangle to update it. The rectangle changes to the chosen ratio, and when you drag it should maintain that ratio.

brettw777

OKAY, I have got it somewhat figured out. I am not understanding some of what I am doing but I am able to make it the right size by using the cropping tool. I have to eyeball what I am doing and instead of 960x640, I am often getting things like 959x637 or something close to that. Is there not a way to do it automatically and hit it right on the head? You said something about a crop rectangle but I only find the cropping tool so I feel like I am missing something. Thanks for your reply.

RexCarsalot

What size image are you starting with?

harrywatson

Ok just opened GIMP. Opening image which is 756X512.

going to: image > scale

dialog: 756x512 with a little chain-link next to it
so I click it so it's broken then I can add the dimensions
height and width sepretely.

I enter 960 x 640 then click 'scale image' Bingo!

I go image 'scale image' just to make sure. 960 x 512 there! Perfect!

Sorry I wrote that oddly but haven't used gimp for ages.
Glad to see people using it.

Hope that helps

RexCarsalot

@harrywatson

@brettw777 Or he could do that. He mentioned cropping, so I was thinking he was is trying to crop a larger image down to 960 x 512. In this case, say you have larger background image but need a smaller size, and are able to get away with cutting out unnecessary pixels outside the 960x512 frame, then I would click "fixed size" in the Tool Options menu, set the size I want the image to be (the default is 100x100), place the frame where I like it, and double click to crop.

However, if I have a larger image that I don't want to crop anything out of, but need it smaller, (let's say 1024x512 for the original size), then just go to SCALE IMAGE, CLICK THE CHAIN-LINK (as harrywatson said) set your size and click okay.

The chain link icon is important, because it's purpose is to maintain the original aspect ratio of your image. This is why it's auto setting the new size for you. You don't want it to do this, so make sure the chain is broken.

brettw777

What size image are you starting with?

Without touching it and sending it straight to GIMP, it is 3264x2448. Huge.

brettw777

@harrywatson

@brettw777 In this case, say you have larger background image but need a smaller size, and are able to get away with cutting out unnecessary pixels outside the 960x512 frame, then I would click "fixed size" in the Tool Options menu, set the size I want the image to be (the default is 100x100), place the frame where I like it, and double click to crop.

Rex, this is exactly what I want. Cropping some of the image out completely is fine as long as I can choose what to crop. I followed what you said and did it exactly right. Thanks a lot to you both!

RexCarsalot

@brettw777

Good deal. Happy to help.