Managing Image Sizes

Abstract

Whilst Capable 21C has the ability to store images and documents against patient files, those images and documents can be very large. This results in rapid consumption of available storage capacity, and also results in poor performance from the image/document viewing functions within Capable 21C. This article describes how to reduce the size of image files to improve performance.

Underlying challenge

A typical computer screen has a display resolution of 640x480 through to 2000x1600. This means that images with a higher resolution (or image quality), will be squashed to fit on the available screen space. The squashing process slows down system performance, and also results in a degradation of the quality of the image.

Whilst Capable 21C supports the ability to zoom into an image, allowing a very small section of the image to be ‘blown up’ to fill the available screen space, it is rare that this kind of functionality is required or desired.

For the majority of images, the optimal size of the image is the same as the size of the screen.

Document scanners can typically scan images based on an image resolution of 300 dots per inch. For an A4 page, this results in an image over 4000 dots high and around 3000 dots wide. Much higher than the highest available screen resolution. Document scanners typically also have the ability to scan images at lower resolutions (eg 150 dots per inch), which results in images that are much closer to the resolution of the screen.

Resolution

To scan images at a specific resolution (eg 150 dots per inch), refer to the documentation for the scanner.

To reduce an existing image to a smaller size, refer to the documentation for the scanner, or the documentation for the office’s preferred image editing software. Sample instructions are provided below on how to reduce image size using the standard Windows MS Paint utility. /p>

Detailed Information

To reduce the size of an image using MS Paint:

  • Locate the image. It will typically be stored in a folder beneath the Capable\Images folder on the server (or the main PC). The name of the folder will be the same as the patient/client’s case number.
  • Open the image for editing with MS Paint. To do this, right click on the image and choose Open With. If MS Paint is not an available option, select the ‘Choose from list’ option and then select MS Paint.
  • Once the image opens in MS Paint, press CTRL-E to examine the image attributes. Make a note of the height and width of the image, but do not change the attributes yet. Close the attributes window.
  • Press CTRL-W to stretch the image. Enter percentage stretch values to reasonably closely match the size of the screen. For example, if the original image attributes were 4000 x 2500 and the screen resolution is 1024x768, a good approximate reduction in size is 25%. Ensure that both the height and width are reduced by the same amount to ensure that the image is not squashed out of shape.
  • Apply the stretch, and then press CTRL-E again to re-examine the image attributes. Change the image attributes in accordance with the factors applied to the original image. For example, if the original image was 4000x2500, and a stretch of 25% was applied, the new image will be 1000x625.
  • Apply the attributes and then examine the image briefly to ensure that the resultant image will approximately fill the screen, and that the edges of the image have not been accidentally cropped.
  • Save the image.
  • Close MS Paint.

    		• This knowledge resource is designed for use on a Windows (tm) XP system operating at a screen resolution of 1024x768 or better. Windows Media Player must be installed for this training resource to operate correctly.

    Copyright 2008 Capable Software Pty Ltd

    Training Sessions

    Fundamentals Training Modules

    Intermediate Training Modules

    Advanced Training Modules

    Other Resources

    Return to Capable Software home

    Contact Technical Support