Bob Williams wrote:
Most monitors can be set at any of several screen resolutions (sizes),
anywhere from 800x600 pixels to 1400x1050 pixels or even greater.
Many photo editors can resize images to any desired size.
When sending pictures to this group, the optimum size is the largest
that can be viewed by the majority of viewers without scrolling.

Not true -- see below.

In order to send pictures at the optimum size for good viewing it is
necessary to know how each of us sets his/her monitor resolution.
What size (resolution) do you have your monitor set for?
Bob Williams


1280x768 an a 19" LCD monitor. This is its "native" (ie, actual,
physical) resolution. This gives the sharpest letters, the clearest
images, and the least blurring when scrolling. I don't mind scrolling
for larger images, since I keep few of them, and those I keep, I'll look
at with the image viewer anyway. I prefer larger images, but I realise
they pose a problem for people on dial-up. IMO 1200x800 is a good all
round size.

Some notes on resolution and image quality (tech talk):

Every monitor, even cathode ray ones (CRTs), has a physical resolution.
On a CRT that resolution is set by the the steel grille between the
glass screen and the electron gun at the back of the monitor. On an LCD,
it's set by the size of the LCD elements that make up the screen.
Setting the monitor to other resolutions will always produce a worse
image and fuzzier letters. I recommend that you set the monitor to its
physical ("native") resolution. Windows and MAC-OSX do this
automatically with all recent monitors, BTW, so when you plug in a new
monitor, just let it do its setup thing, and then leave it alone. With
other OSs you may have to run a separate setup utility: make sure you
set the monitor to the recommend specs.

If you need larger type, you can set the Windows scheme to a larger
typeface; and you can increase the type size displayed by Firefox,
Thunderbird, etc. (for example.) Windows also has an applet for setting
the display to show extra large type for visually impaired people.

All image viewers worth using can automatically resize the images to fit
the display area. If your doesn't do this, dump it, and get a better
one. I recommend Irfanview, which is free; or PMView, which costs about
$30. Both also do a surprising amount of basic image processing, and do
it well. Windows' built-in viewer up to at least Windows 2000 is limited
-- not recommended.

Irfanview distinguishes between oversize images, which can be reduced to
fit; and undersized images, which can be enlarged. I don't recommend
enlarging images to fit, as enlarged images often get the jaggies.

BTW, there are also colour balance ("colour temperature") settings.
That's a whole 'nother post. ;-)

HTH

--


Wolf

"Don't believe everything you think." (Maxine)