I am using PSP Pro V8.1

I have previously, some months ago, used a function that allowed me to
resize an image to a stated size, maintain the aspect ratio and
offered options as to which part was cropped.

For example making a portrait style image from a square original where
the extreme vertical edges were not needed. The crop tool is very
arbitrary.

Whilst PSP is my major graphics application it is not the only one.

Is this a function of PSP or should I look elsewhere?

Thanks,

Robin Chapple

Robin Chapple wrote:
> I am using PSP Pro V8.1
>
> I have previously, some months ago, used a function that allowed
> me to resize an image to a stated size, maintain the aspect ratio
> and offered options as to which part was cropped.
>
> For example making a portrait style image from a square original
> where the extreme vertical edges were not needed. The crop tool
> is very arbitrary.
>
> Is this a function of PSP or should I look elsewhere?

Sure. Make a preset at your stated size which, for example, might be
1600 x 2000 pixels for an 8" x 10" portrait photo. Set the crop tool
for 1600 x 2000, check "Maintain aspect ratio," and save it as a
preset.

When you invoke that preset on a new image, you can drag the box to
outline the part you want to keep. If your stated size is not right
for this image, drag a corner or a side to change its size while
maintaining the aspect ratio.
--
Fred Hiltz,  fhiltz at yahoo dot com

Wasn't it Robin Chapple who wrote:
>I am using PSP Pro V8.1
>
>I have previously, some months ago, used a function that allowed me to
>resize an image to a stated size, maintain the aspect ratio and
>offered options as to which part was cropped.
>
>For example making a portrait style image from a square original where
>the extreme vertical edges were not needed. The crop tool is very
>arbitrary.
>
>Whilst PSP is my major graphics application it is not the only one.
>
>Is this a function of PSP or should I look elsewhere?

I'm sure that it would be possible to write a script to achieve that.
The tricky bit would be for you to decide precisely what you want the
script to do, particularly the bit about offering options as to which
part gets cropped.

If I were building such a thing I might write a dedicated plugin to go
with the script. The script would perform the resizing and ensure that
the background had been promoted to a full layer, then call the plugin.
The plugin would allow you to position a crop region and show you a
preview of the crop operation. Plugins can't actually perform crop
operations, but they can make the unselected regions transparent and the
script could finish the job by cropping to the region that was still
opaque. I might write two dedicated plugins, one for vertical and one
for horizontal trimming.

--
Mike Williams
Gentleman of Leisure