Resizing a Photo for Digital Scrapping

[Sherrie]

I know there are several way to resize a photo in PS CS3 to use in a scrapbook layout but, I'd like to know which technique you prefer and why. You can Crop, Image Size and change the size by changing the pixel dimensions or using the transform controls and holding down the shift key changes the size that way. I used the last one and my picture was distorted. Any pointers or suggestions? Thanks.
Sherrie

[zippizip]

Sherrie,

I'll answer your question backwards -

About it being distorted - most of the time what happens is you hold down the shift key, drag to resize (and it stays proportional like we want) and then you let up on the shift key before you let up on the mouse click. It's really easy to do that (voice of experience ;)!) Always remember to let go of the mouse first and then the shift key.

About which method to use:

Image size is probably the best as you can see exactly what you are sizing it to AND you can select the image interpolation (resize) method.

Transform is more visual (drag it exactly to the size you need) but it uses the default interpolation method you set up under Edit-Preferences-General. Depending on the graphic, you may not have the right method selected.

Crop can be good if you know what's happening. We've seen way too many instances where people use crop and don't pay attention to the options bar along the top and end up ruining their graphic.

What's all the noise about interpolation method? Different methods get you different (and better) results.

http://www.scrappersworkshop.com/hosted/resize-methods.gif

Nearest Neighbor is the simplest and lowest quality but is fast. Not really used.
Bilinear is best for graphics and line art - anything not a photograph.
Bicubic used to be the one to use for pictures but with Photoshop CS and Elements 3 and higher there are
Bicubic Smoother - use it when you are enlarging the size the picture.
Bicubic Sharper - use it when you are reducing the size of the picture .

I hope that helps and sorry the answer is so long!

[Sherrie]

Thank you so much for the answers. I bet you are right. I bet I am letting off on the shift key first. I'll try to watch that. Because, some times it was happening and some times it wasn't. AND I had no idea that I should be using bicubic sharper to reduce the size of my photos, I was just using Bicubic. I am going to copy this over to word in case I forget which is which in the future. Ohhhh, thanks again this is really going to help me so much.
Sherrie:)