I went to "Gif Works" in attempt to crop some pics. I clicked File, Open, Browse, My Pictures, clicked on a Pic, then clicked Upload Image.

After waiting 12 minutes & it was still going I gave up and closed it.

I'm new at this & this is the first time I have ever attempted anything like this.

Is this normal to take such a long time to upload a pic?

Is there a better site I could have gone to?

Any advice or help would be appreciated.

You could try freeware like Irfanview.

Dashwood is right on - as always!

Irfanview is a lifesaver for so many of us who work with images every day. I've been using it for ages and wouldn't be without it. It does a lot more things than just resize too! Give it a try - the download is smooth and easy, and you surely can't go wrong with the price ... FREE!

Regarding "Gif Works". I think either your computer or the "GifWorks" site must have just been suffering a temporary glitch. I use "Gifworks" somewhat regularly and have never had a download problem - usually only 15-20 seconds to download anything. If you really want to use that program, give it another try (perhaps with a different image) and see if it works better next time.

BTW: Thanks Dash for all your help with so many subjects - you are very knowledgeable about so much computer stuff and always willing to help everyone - your efforts are really appreciated.

GifWorks.com is a server based (remotely hosted) gif editor, so, if your local picture is too large or if the server is busy, it may not work.

As Dashwood said, try a local picture editor like Irfanview.

Chris

Dashwood, thanks for suggestion about Irfanview.

Mrs.Bond, thanks for info on both Irfanview & Gif Works.

Ironbender, thanks for your great advice as usual.

Now, here's my problem.....I'm new at this but I successfully d/l and installed Irfanview but when I opened it I did not know what to do next!!!!!

Could someone possibly give me step-by-step instructions.

Us "Beginners" are a real pain, aren't we.....LOL

You are so kind Mrs.Bond. I love reading your posts as well. Always so sweet and quick-witted!

twinkletoes,

Don't beat yourself up. Everyone has to start somewhere, and the willingness to learn is a greater definition of one's character than what they currently know how to do.

Try this tutorial for Irfanview:
http://comers.citadel.edu/tutorials/irfanv...view/irfan.html

or:
http://www.iss.k12.nc.us/schools/media/irfanv.htm

or:
http://skyscraper.fortunecity.com/bitmap/4.../irfanview.html

or:
http://www.somewhere-in-time.net/tutorial/irfanview/

and don't worry about being a beginner. If you still have problems after reading this, come back, I'll bet someone here will answer.

kenneth

Thanks Kenneth, for the links, I like the last two the best.

I put them in my 'Favorites'

twinkletoes, when you learn how to use IrfanView, you'll love it. It's the best little 'FREE' program there is.

It's very easy to use, and fast, and easy to use, when you want to do Screen Shots.

Lorraine

kennethr.....thanks for the 4 tutorials.....BUT

(1) this one was written back on Feb. 23, 2002 (3&1/2 yrs ago so I skipped this one!)

(2) I couldn't get past the 1st sentence which tells me to unselect BMP if I want my Paint Program to continue to open these files in the Paint Program. You may also want to go the Set Icon & select a diff. pic.
What is BMP and how do I unselect it?

(3) Starts off telling me latest version is 3.05!
The Irfanview program I downloaded was 3.97!
It also says it is a Zip File so I will need WinZip or another unzipping program to install it on my computer after downloading!
What is a Zip File?

(4) Says to make a Folder on my Desktop & name it Pictures!
How do I make a Folder for my Desktop?

I know you people want to help but remember when you first started & how dumb you felt, well that's exactly how I now feel. This computer language is so foreign to me that it makes absolutely no sense! I've spent my entire life mastering the English language and I am too old to start all over again...LOL

I really appreciate your help & advice.


LF from MC.....the key word is in your 3rd sentence....."when you learn how to use.".....LOL

[B]

twinkletoes, for the time being, let's go with #4. I think all of these are good as Irfanview has not changed that much. Anyway, to make a folder:

Select a spot on your desktop with your cursor that is empty. Right click. From the menu that comes up, select NEW. From that menu that comes up, select FOLDER and left click on it. That will make a folder on your desktop with New Folder underneath it and you can type the name of the folder (in this case we are naming Pictures), hit enter, and there is your folder.(if you are unable to type in the box under the folder, right click on the folder, select rename, and type the name in).

I believe you said your picture you were working with was in My Pictures. Go to that folder and right click on the picture you want--and hold the button down--and drag it to the new folder you made, Pictures. Put your cursor over the Pictures folder and release the button. That will move the picture to your new folder.

If you want to just move it there to experiment with (and that might be better) then go to the picture, and right click on it. From the menu select copy and left click on it. Then go to the Pictures folder you make, open it, and put your cursor in it, right click on a blank space in the folder and choose paste from the menu. That way the picture will be in both places and you can "work" on it without being afraid of ruining it.

You now have your folder with a picture in it (or you could put the picture they use in by following the tutorial instead of using yours.) This will leave you ready to open Irfanview and start the tutorial at Step One.....

Regarding number 3, ZIP files are compressed files.

Think of those food storage saving devices that suck the air out of bags or jars of food to preserve them. A program called Winzip (and others like WinRar) compress your files and make them smaller. Or they are used simply for bundling.

Imagine you had 50 pictures of your kids you wanted to email someone. Would you want to attach them individually to your email, or would you want one file that included them all? Imagine receiving an email with 50 attachments. Not cool.

You can get it free at their site but only for 21 days.

You can get older versions that may still be completely free at Oldversion.com.

Hi kennethr.....Thank you very much for your simple instructions on how to put a new folder on my desktop. I just learned how to do "copy and paste" so I used that method and it worked perfectly! I then transferred 8 pics out of "my pictures" into my new folder "pictures" on the desktop.

I also printed out all 7 pages of instructions on how to use infraview on the #4 site you suggested.

You give great instructions and this afternoon I will attempt to follow them!



Hi Dashwood95.....Thanks for info on WinZip. They want $29 to purchase it so I went with the Old Version and d/l it. I started reading it and I must tell you it was like reading Greek!!!!!I don't know what in the h--- they are talking about.....LOL

I actually found that tinkering around with Winzip was easier than reading directions.

QUOTE (Dashwood95 @ Aug 19 2005, 09:28 AM)

I actually found that tinkering around with Winzip was easier than reading directions.

When ALL else fails, read the instructions, right. My wife swears that is my theory.

HAHA! Tell your wife that directions are all well and good, but intuitiveness is better!

Hello,

I am not the sharpest crayon in the box. For unzipping/zipping I have used CAM This

If it is simple enough for me, the majority of the world population can understand it

Chris

I have used that also, and liked it. When I got my new computer it came with StuffIt and I have used that since. But, I agree with that being a nice program. There are a couple of more free ones also that I have used that I like.

Since twinkletoes has XP, doesn't it come with an unZip utility?

kenneth

kennethr.....Just wanted to let you know that I resized all 8 of my pictures using irfanview. Thanks again for your help.

VERY GOOD.